August 12, 1999  If Castro goes to Seattle, ask him these
questions  Frank Calzón Published Thursday, August 12, 1999, in
the Miami Herald  In his recent invitation to Fidel Castro to
visit Seattle this November, Rep. Jim McDermott, D-Wa., said
that the city would be eager to hear from Castro, adding that he
``would be received respectfully, graciously and warmly.''  If
Castro goes to Seattle, he presumably will spend his time
blaming the United States for Cuba's woes and presenting a
glossy image of his government. But perhaps it wouldn't
transgress protocol for McDermott to ask Castro when average
Cubans will be allowed freely to present their opinions about
conditions in Cuba to their neighbors, schoolmates and fellow
workers -- much less to government officials.  If Cubans could
engage Castro in a dialogue without fear, if the mothers of
political prisoners could be received by authorities, if Cuba's
independent journalists could question official policies as
American papers do every day, what would they