Wikipedia:Requests for mediation/Cuba

Involved parties

 * Adam
 * Zleitzen
 * BruceHallman

Confirmation that all parties are aware of the request:


 * Article talk pages:
 * Cuba


 * User talk pages:
 * Adam
 * Zleitzen
 * BruceHallman

Other steps in dispute resolution that have been attempted:

 * Informal Mediation

Issues to be mediated

 * Restoration of civility to group conduct.
 * Mutual agreement to respect alternative points of view.
 * The depiction of Cuba. Whether the article should carry the words "Cuba is the only country in the Western Hemisphere that is not a democracy in addition to being the sole Communist state in the region" in the opening paragraph.
 * Agreement for all editors to follow Wikipedia policies, including WP:V and WP:NPOV.

Additional issues to be mediated

 * I ask that all parties agree to refrain from further personal insults. BruceHallman 15:39, 19 April 2006 (UTC)
 * Additional issue 2

Parties' agreement to mediate

 * I agree BruceHallman 05:01, 18 April 2006 (UTC)
 * Agree --Zleitzen 04:57, 18 April 2006 (UTC)
 * I have no objection, but reserve my rights. (Incidentally the wording above was not the wording on which I was insisting. The sentence I wrote was "Cuba is the only country in the Western Hemisphere that is not a democracy.") Adam 00:50, 19 April 2006 (UTC)
 * That's silly, Haiti's not a democracy either. Anyway, it doesn't matter what you or think. We need to identify and quote a primary source who says (a) that Cuba is not a democracy; and (b) that every other Western Hemisphere country *is*. If these points are so obviously true that you insist or your "right" to put them in (especially in the article's intro), surely you can find a published author who will commit himself in writing to making these points - other than yourself, professor! --Uncle Ed 14:29, 8 May 2006 (UTC)

Decision of the Mediation Committee
Pending acceptance. User:Adam Carr stated that he "reserve[s] [his] rights"; I'm concerned about the intended meaning of this phrase, as it suggests to me that the level of agreement necessary to have a productive mediation may not be present. I'd like Adam to clarify his intent before the matter is assigned to a mediator. Essjay (  Talk  •  Connect  ) 16:49, 28 April 2006 (UTC)

I'm sorry that I didn't notice this request for further comment when it was posted. My view now is that work is proceeding smoothly on the Cuba articles, major improvements have been made, there has been an outbreak of harmony over the past few days and I don't believe there are now any issues which require mediation. Thanks for your interest. Adam 13:39, 2 May 2006 (UTC)


 * Much to the contrary. Adam Carr has proceeded with his unilateral editing. Adam Carr has continued with incivil behaviour including personal attacks and personal threats. And, the NPOV dispute has grown worse not better.  BruceHallman 21:06, 2 May 2006 (UTC)


 * Also, it appears that Adam has not actually answered the question posed by Essjay: What is the meaning of the phrase "reserve[s] [his] rights". BruceHallman 21:06, 2 May 2006 (UTC)

It means that I reserve my right to edit the article so that it is true and accurate. Adam 01:24, 3 May 2006 (UTC)


 * I'm sorry, I just don't see a good faith interest in mediation here, and with the committee already shorthanded, I can't ask mediators to take on cases that don't at least demonstrate good faith desire for mediation. Case rejected. Essjay  (  Talk  •  Connect  )  06:49, 16 May 2006 (UTC)