The phone woke Yoani Sanchez long before dawn in her 12th-floor Havana apartment. It was a French TV network calling to get her reaction to the Cuban government's announcement: Fidel Castro was finally resigning as president. Half asleep and utterly stunned by the news, Sánchez could hardly think what to say.
That had to be a strange sensation. The 32-year-old Sánchez's fearlessly critical blog, Generación Y, has won rapt attention from Cuba watchers in recent months, making her an unofficial spokesperson for the island's young people. While the party newspaper, Granma, devotes its front page to ponderous "reflections" by the ailing, 81-year-old Castro on climate change, Sánchez writes stinging accounts of daily ordeals in Cuba—like the food shortages at her 12-year-old son's school, or the obstacles facing a young couple who want a place of their own instead of a room with their parents. Sánchez doesn't hide her disdain for Castro and his brother, Raúl, 76, who has sat in as president since Fidel fell ill in the summer of 2006. "They're washed up," she told NEWSWEEK last week. "With each passing day they have less and less time to fulfill their promises."
Most Cubans have been waiting all their lives for those promises to be met. Although the lot of some older Cubans may have been improved by the revolution that toppled dictator Fulgencio Batista in January 1959, an estimated 70 percent of Cuba's 11.3 million people weren't even born then. Younger Cubans now mostly identify "Fidelismo" with hardship, especially those who, like Sánchez, came of age during the 1990s. That was the island's "Special Period"—an era of extreme belt-tightening after Castro's aid pipeline dried up with the collapse of the Soviet Union. (The nickname Generación Y derives from a Cuban fad in the '70s and '80s for baby names beginning with that letter.) "Unlike our parents, we never believed in anything," says Sánchez. "Our defining characteristic is cynicism. But that's a double-edged sword. It protects you from crushing disappointment, but it paralyzes you from doing anything."
Raised on a relentless diet of antiimperialist harangues and exhortations to ever-greater sacrifice, millions of young Cubans want the regime to cut the rhetoric and make tangible improvements in their lives. Many have given up hope: from October 2005 through September 2007, an estimated 77,000 Cubans fled to the United States, the biggest exodus since the Mariel boatlift of 1980, when 125,000 Cubans escaped to Florida in six months. "Young people are very fed up with the situation," says Julia Núñez Pacheco, the wife of jailed independent journalist Adolfo Fernández Sainz. "Many are escaping, either by hurling themselves into the sea on a raft or arranging a marriage of convenience with foreigners." The couple's 32-year-old daughter, Joana, left Cuba to join her husband in Miami last year.
Most young Cubans' aspirations are decidedly apolitical. Forget about democracy or free speech; the serious focus is on things taken for granted by youngsters elsewhere: freedom to travel abroad, unrestricted access to the Internet, enough disposable income to buy a mobile phone or an iPod—even the simple right to walk into a five-star hotel in their own country and buy a beer. "These young students are asking, 'Why are things banned? Why are we not allowed to leave the island?'" says Miriam Leiva, a prominent dissident leader who once held a high-level post in the Cuban Foreign Ministry. "They look around at other young people grouped on the corner playing dominoes out of boredom, and they want something different."
Raúl Castro has only himself to blame for their undisguised impatience. Within weeks of stepping in for his bedridden older brother, he urged Cubans to blow the whistle on government corruption and to find new solutions for the country's many problems. Cuba's young could hardly have agreed more: sweeping changes were overdue. And what happened next? Nothing. In a major speech last summer, after nearly a year in charge, the younger Castro acknowledged failures that were painfully self-evident: salaries were too low, food production and distribution were dysfunctional and the system remained as full as ever of unaddressed problems.
See this needle...a see my hand...
Drop drop dropping it down...oh so gently...
Well here it comes...I touch the plane...
Turn me up...won't turn you away...
Not saying the gov't isn't corrupt, but I think the biggest reason there is so much poverty in Cuba is because of the embargo. Cuba has over 20,000 trained medical doctors working around the world, they offered to help the people of NO after Katrina...I mean they have the right idea, its just this embargo is preventing them from doing what needs to be done-and that's typical Washington policy-any alternative to capitalism is to be dealt with.
It will show you a side of reality the US media has repressed extensively to suit their private agenda.
Progress is not made by everyone joining some new fad,
and reveling in it's loyalty. It's made by forming coalitions
over specific principles, goals, and policies.
Not saying the gov't isn't corrupt, but I think the biggest reason there is so much poverty in Cuba is because of the embargo. Cuba has over 20,000 trained medical doctors working around the world, they offered to help the people of NO after Katrina...I mean they have the right idea, its just this embargo is preventing them from doing what needs to be done-and that's typical Washington policy-any alternative to capitalism is to be dealt with.
Without sweeping change within Cuba, lifting the embargo will do little other than further enrich the existing Cuban elite. The embargo absolutely should be lifted, but internal change within Cuba is much more important. Having "over 20,000 trained medical doctors" is meaningless when they are forced by the government to operate in Venezuela and other places for political reasons. Cuba does not "have the right idea" anymore than Southern plantation owners or Soviet bureaucrats had the right idea. They have no idea, which is largely why their country is a mess.
Without sweeping change within Cuba, lifting the embargo will do little other than further enrich the existing Cuban elite. The embargo absolutely should be lifted, but internal change within Cuba is much more important. Having "over 20,000 trained medical doctors" is meaningless when they are forced by the government to operate in Venezuela and other places for political reasons. Cuba does not "have the right idea" anymore than Southern plantation owners or Soviet bureaucrats had the right idea. They have no idea, which is largely why their country is a mess.
All countries seem to have their share of wrong ideas and messes. It's all subjective as to who has the most mess.
If you want to tell people the truth, make them laugh, otherwise they'll kill you.
Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth.
-Oscar Wilde
Without sweeping change within Cuba, lifting the embargo will do little other than further enrich the existing Cuban elite. The embargo absolutely should be lifted, but internal change within Cuba is much more important. Having "over 20,000 trained medical doctors" is meaningless when they are forced by the government to operate in Venezuela and other places for political reasons. Cuba does not "have the right idea" anymore than Southern plantation owners or Soviet bureaucrats had the right idea. They have no idea, which is largely why their country is a mess.
From what little I have seen of cuba from documentariers and so on, and from what I've heard from people who have visited Havana, the general feeling was very positive. The people were poor but very optimistic and full of life. THe sense of community was widespread. there is a strip of a beach in Havana that is basically a party strip, all day every day. The people are so full of life and stress the arts-music and so on, over personal gain.
There is John Lennon park, where the glasses on John Lennon's statue don't need to be welded on because very few peopl would steal them. Its a much more open society, and very positve. Teh embargo puts them in an economic pinch, but their way of life overcomes that obstacle and they all seemed very full of life, strssing the arts and music ove3r personal gain or wealth.
Their definition of success is different than ours.
From what little I have seen of cuba from documentariers and so on, and from what I've heard from people who have visited Havana, the general feeling was very positive. The people were poor but very optimistic and full of life. THe sense of community was widespread. there is a strip of a beach in Havana that is basically a party strip, all day every day. The people are so full of life and stress the arts-music and so on, over personal gain.
:rolleyes:
Cuba probably has the highest suicide rate in the world (they stopped publishing statistics in the 90s). The people are poor, and most are not optimistic at all about things getting better. Those who dare to be optimistic and push for change in even their own lives are just as likely to end up in jail as they are to succeed.
Certainly there is a strong sense of community. And yes there are many areas that are "full of life" and generally fun. It's a beautiful country. But to suggest that Cuba is successful, by any measure, is frankly silly. The Cuban leadership has destroyed their best and brightest, unfortunately.
There is John Lennon park, where the glasses on John Lennon's statue don't need to be welded on because very few peopl would steal them. Its a much more open society, and very positve. Teh embargo puts them in an economic pinch, but their way of life overcomes that obstacle and they all seemed very full of life, strssing the arts and music ove3r personal gain or wealth.
Their definition of success is different than ours.
Each person's definition of success is different than the next. It's a damn shame that the Cuban leadership forbids people from holding and seeking out their own personal definitions as they apply the leaderships' definition upon everyone.
If you actually believed your own words and sentiments about the validity of each person's "definition of success", you'd despise Cuba's government as much as many do. But what you really mean is that Cuban leadership is willing to forcibly impose your definition of success upon its people.
there is not one person in Cuba who has a say in anything that they do. They cant take a shit in hotel if they needed to. (look up the civil rights movement here in the states)
They are told where to live, what to do for a living, and how much to eat for a month.
They steal from the gov't to trade for necessities (soap, toilet paper, tampons)
The embargo should lifted, then the dictatorship will not have anyone to blame for the problems but themselves. FYI Cuba bought over $400 mil in 2007 alone from the US. Mainlly from farmers in Nebraska, Iowa and Texas.
Oh and if your visiting you can buy windex, carona, hineken, sony, sharp etc. etc with the euro or the dollar. But you must be tourist. so the embargo my ass.
Miami terrorists? give me a fuckin break. Who do they terrorize? The cuban people, is that why they risk their lives to cross shark infested waters or if they're lucky, have family members pay 3gs a head to be smuggled.
And for all this shit there are flights on Continental and American to Cuba.
Che and Castro are mudering fucks just like Pinochet, Mussalini, Hitler, Stalin
FYI - Cuba had the color tv and the fridge before the US
Look up Orlando Bosch, Luis Posada Carriles, Jorge Mas Canosa, Gaspar Jiménez, Pedro Remón Rodríguez and Carlos Muñiz Varela. All of these men at one point in time have been linked to terrorist activity. All of these men are Cuban-American based in South Florida back by the CIA to undertake covert missions against the Castro regime. Some of their atrocities include the bombing of the Cubana Air flight 455 in 1976 that killed 73 people. The bombing of ocean side resorts in Cuba in 1997 that resulted in the death of an Italian tourist. The assassination of Orlando Letelier in Washington DC in 1976. The list of bombings, assassinations, and attempted bombings and assassination goes on. All of them attributed to one or all of these men and their associated. All carried out in the name of freeing Cuba and many carried out while these men where in the employ of the CIA.
Some of these men along with Guillermo Novo Sampoll where the founder of Coordination of United Revolutionary Organizations (CORU) which the FBI had classified as a terrorist organization. So in short our government has ,since Castro first took office, been the instigator and proven itself a far greater threat to Cuba than Cuba ever posed to us.
So next time before you spout off about things you know nothing about educate yourself on the topic a bit more.
"When one gets in bed with government, one must expect the diseases it spreads." - Ron Paul
I dont see how anyone here can defend a system that wouldnt allow a band like PJ with its outspoken lead singer to play its music.
What would Castro do if ev spoke about him as he does about Bush?
See this needle...a see my hand...
Drop drop dropping it down...oh so gently...
Well here it comes...I touch the plane...
Turn me up...won't turn you away...
I dont see how anyone here can defend a system that wouldnt allow a band like PJ with its outspoken lead singer to play its music.
What would Castro do if ev spoke about him as he does about Bush?
What does Fidel Castro have to do with the American band Pearl Jam? When did Fidel say they couldnt play Cuba? Audioslave did and im sure Pj could if they wanted to.
Freedom is my point. Some of you are so blind that you cant see the most inherent fact of this whole thread.
Change.
Some have taken the wrong approach to try to achieve this change, I agree.
The fact that we sit at home with a pc, buy all kinds of food and clothes, SPEAK OUR MINDS OVER WHATEVER, WHENEVER, AND ABOUT WHOMEVER WE WANT and in Cuba this liberty does not exist.
It is sad that some dont see this. But it is easy to be leftist, commy, marxist when you live in a country that allows you to be so.
Audioslave played there, yes, I have seen the video. They were led around by govt personel. Just like they would in the USSR, China and N Korea. Not Italy, Germany, Canada or the rest of the free world.
By the way, the plaza where Audioslave held the concert was in the process of being built b4 the success of the revolution.
Carlos Muñiz Varela was a cuban op, Mas was not a member of the CORU - "So next time before you spout off about things you know nothing about educate yourself on the topic a bit more."
Fidel has committed more terror on the Cuban people the the CORU has.
Again to blame the embargo is assenine. There are 193 other countries in the world. The US has that much pull so that the people of Cuba suffer? Canada cant do anything, GB, Italy, Germany, Seden? Hell, any other country that is part of the UN? The embargo does not do anything!! You can get a Heineken in Havana as well as in Omaha!!
The cuban people dont own anything. If the govt wants them out of the house, they are out. If you are a comp tech and they want you cutting cane, you are cutting cane.
Sleep tight, dont let the commies bite.
See this needle...a see my hand...
Drop drop dropping it down...oh so gently...
Well here it comes...I touch the plane...
Turn me up...won't turn you away...
Cuba probably has the highest suicide rate in the world (they stopped publishing statistics in the 90s). The people are poor, and most are not optimistic at all about things getting better. Those who dare to be optimistic and push for change in even their own lives are just as likely to end up in jail as they are to succeed.
Certainly there is a strong sense of community. And yes there are many areas that are "full of life" and generally fun. It's a beautiful country. But to suggest that Cuba is successful, by any measure, is frankly silly. The Cuban leadership has destroyed their best and brightest, unfortunately.
Each person's definition of success is different than the next. It's a damn shame that the Cuban leadership forbids people from holding and seeking out their own personal definitions as they apply the leaderships' definition upon everyone.
If you actually believed your own words and sentiments about the validity of each person's "definition of success", you'd despise Cuba's government as much as many do. But what you really mean is that Cuban leadership is willing to forcibly impose your definition of success upon its people.
its no differnet than any gov't. Its just that in Cuba they stress cooperation as opposed to competion, and the moral of teh peopel says much,.
Or for us to assist them in aquiring their Democracy.
I agree, I'd love to visit Cuba legally. And I'm sure the people of Cuba wouldn't mind a modest improvement of their standard of living in exchange for a few more gringo tourists.
i already can visit cuba legally. hurrah for 'democracy'.
hear my name
take a good look
this could be the day
hold my hand
lie beside me
i just need to say
Freedom is my point. Some of you are so blind that you cant see the most inherent fact of this whole thread.
Change.
Some have taken the wrong approach to try to achieve this change, I agree.
The fact that we sit at home with a pc, buy all kinds of food and clothes, SPEAK OUR MINDS OVER WHATEVER, WHENEVER, AND ABOUT WHOMEVER WE WANT and in Cuba this liberty does not exist.
It is sad that some dont see this. But it is easy to be leftist, commy, marxist when you live in a country that allows you to be so.
Audioslave played there, yes, I have seen the video. They were led around by govt personel. Just like they would in the USSR, China and N Korea. Not Italy, Germany, Canada or the rest of the free world.
By the way, the plaza where Audioslave held the concert was in the process of being built b4 the success of the revolution.
Carlos Muñiz Varela was a cuban op, Mas was not a member of the CORU - "So next time before you spout off about things you know nothing about educate yourself on the topic a bit more."
Fidel has committed more terror on the Cuban people the the CORU has.
Again to blame the embargo is assenine. There are 193 other countries in the world. The US has that much pull so that the people of Cuba suffer? Canada cant do anything, GB, Italy, Germany, Seden? Hell, any other country that is part of the UN? The embargo does not do anything!! You can get a Heineken in Havana as well as in Omaha!!
The cuban people dont own anything. If the govt wants them out of the house, they are out. If you are a comp tech and they want you cutting cane, you are cutting cane.
Sleep tight, dont let the commies bite.
My parents emigrated from Cuba in the late 60's early 70's. I still have family there today. I am well aware of the conditions in Cuba and in no way to I support the Castro government or the way it has treated the Cuban population. My point is that this countries calls for democracy in Cuba are pure and utter bullshit. They do not want democracy in Cuba they want a government that will allow our interest to supercede that of the Cuban peoples. This country has had a long history of supporting and maintaining corrupt and often brutal dictators in Cuba. Fidel,s predicessor, Batista, was such a person. Selling his people's furure and land in order to line his pockets.
When Castro first took power our government was happy to see Batista go. He had become to greedy and they figured that Castro was some back water revolutionary who could be easily bought off and business could continue as usual. It wasn't until they realized that Castro had no interest in please our interest that the relationship soured. Our government decided that action must be taken to preserve our interest in Cuba. Our government decided that it would carry out aggressive and covert actions against Cuba. The Castro government never once threaten this country, never once carried out an aggressive act against it yet our government decided to carry out a secret and violent war against Castro and the people of Cuba. Castro, who initially was no fan of the Soviets, had no choice but to accept their aid.
I'm no fan of Castro, but I can't help but wonder how things could have been for the Cuban people had the US never meddled in our affairs. Had the US government not decided that our corporate interests where more important than the interest of the Cuban people. Had we not undertaken such hostile actions against him would he have become the monster he became. Would he have turned to the Soviets for aid. I agree whole heartedly with you that Castro is a brutal dictator and I will be happy the day he dies, if he hasn't already, but our government shares the blame for what happened and is happening to the Cuban people.
Finally I find it a bit suspicious that these renewed calls for democracy in Cuba, by this administration, coincided with the discovery of a large oil reserve of the northern coast of Cuba in the North Cuba Basin.
"When one gets in bed with government, one must expect the diseases it spreads." - Ron Paul
Carlos Muñiz Varela was a cuban op, Mas was not a member of the CORU - "So next time before you spout off about things you know nothing about educate yourself on the topic a bit more."
I know that Jorge Mas Canosa was not a member of CORU, he was the head of
Cuban American National Foundation. Through CANF he also established a paramilitary wing of the organization, with Jose "Pepe" Hernandez, in 1992 to carry out actions in Cuba to overthrow Castro. All of the men mentioned had ties, wether directly or indirectly, with CORU. While you are correct that Castro is probably responsible for more Cuban deaths than CORU that does not excuse our government from funding a terrorist organizations that is responsible for hundreds of innocent lives.
So I do know what the hell I'm talking about. Not to toot my own horn here but I can be pretty sure that not many on this message board have studied the history of Cuban-American relationships as much as I have.
"When one gets in bed with government, one must expect the diseases it spreads." - Ron Paul
My point is that this countries calls for democracy in Cuba are pure and utter bullshit. They do not want democracy in Cuba they want a government that will allow our interest to supercede that of the Cuban peoples.
I believe the US trully wants freedom for Cuba and they do have their agenda, but so do countires like Germany, France, China and Spain who deal with this oppressive regime. Calling out the US as the only country who "allow our (foreign) interest to supercede that of the Cuban peoples" is unjust as the afore mentioned countries do that now.
This country has had a long history of supporting and maintaining corrupt and often brutal dictators in Cuba
I believe there has been only 2 dictators - Batista and Castro. The presidents of cuba were "elected" as was Batista the 1st time he was in office. I understand that there were corrupt officials, but they were not dictators.
Fidel,s predicessor, Batista, was such a person. Selling his people's furure and land in order to line his pockets
Agreed. That is why there was a rebellion with so many different agendas. The SNFE aqnd DRE for democracy, The July 26 movement and PSP for communism. When Castro sent out che to unite the rebels, he approached the PSP b4 the SNFE. This made the SNFE suspiciuos of the July 26 movement, and were ultimately correct in the assumption. As che and Castro were already conspiring to lean towards comminism. This is the reason why Frank Pais left Castro in the Sierra Maestra and hid in Santiago. Pais had such a strong influence in the rebellion that he had him killed. Rauls wife, Vilma Espin, ratted him out to Batista's army. And they still have the gaul to say Pais was a martyr!!!
I'm no fan of Castro, but I can't help but wonder how things could have been for the Cuban people had the US never meddled in our affairs. Had the US government not decided that our corporate interests where more important than the interest of the Cuban people. Had we not undertaken such hostile actions against him would he have become the monster he became. Would he have turned to the Soviets for aid.
Yes. When Castro decided to take govt control of all foreign entities in Cuba (just like his buddy in Venezuela is trying to do)
Finally I find it a bit suspicious that these renewed calls for democracy in Cuba, by this administration, coincided with the discovery of a large oil reserve of the northern coast of Cuba in the North Cuba Basin.
This has been common knowledge for some time now. There was an agreement between the US, Mexico, and Cuba that there would be no drilling. There is also a basin off the coast of FLA and I believe Mex as well.
These countries/companies involved with oil in Cuba -
Spain’s Repsol-YPF announced it was partnering with India’s Oil and Natural Gas Corp., and Norsk Hydro ASA of Norway to explore for oil and gas in six of the 59 deep-water blocks along Cuba’s maritime border with the United States. (Sherritt International Corp., the Canadian oil company, has acquired exploration rights in four of the deep-sea blocks.)
Free Cuba!!
See this needle...a see my hand...
Drop drop dropping it down...oh so gently...
Well here it comes...I touch the plane...
Turn me up...won't turn you away...
Money isn't freedom and democracy ins't the same as free markets or free trading. Would you say that you're free because you vote for a candidate once every 4 or 5 years? or because you're capable of saying, buying or do whatever you want? Are those things real? Are you free? Aren't the big corporations trying to manipulate you? Does your social level allowed you do whatever you want, buy whatever you want, work whereever you want, live as you desire?
I'm not trying to say that Dmocracy is an illusion, but let's think a little bit about our way of living before suggest a solution for another country, in this case Cuba.
If we look the results of Castro goverment, maby the best way for Cuba is Democracy, but what kind of democracy? US democracy, where big corporations have influency in their goverment? Or maby Latin American democracies like my country Peru, where the goverment is almost invisible and we have republic without citizens?
Perhaps we should think more about this things before giving a solution. Talking about other countries freedom might be one starting point for thinking about our own condition.
Comments
http://www.newsweek.com/id/114720
The phone woke Yoani Sanchez long before dawn in her 12th-floor Havana apartment. It was a French TV network calling to get her reaction to the Cuban government's announcement: Fidel Castro was finally resigning as president. Half asleep and utterly stunned by the news, Sánchez could hardly think what to say.
That had to be a strange sensation. The 32-year-old Sánchez's fearlessly critical blog, Generación Y, has won rapt attention from Cuba watchers in recent months, making her an unofficial spokesperson for the island's young people. While the party newspaper, Granma, devotes its front page to ponderous "reflections" by the ailing, 81-year-old Castro on climate change, Sánchez writes stinging accounts of daily ordeals in Cuba—like the food shortages at her 12-year-old son's school, or the obstacles facing a young couple who want a place of their own instead of a room with their parents. Sánchez doesn't hide her disdain for Castro and his brother, Raúl, 76, who has sat in as president since Fidel fell ill in the summer of 2006. "They're washed up," she told NEWSWEEK last week. "With each passing day they have less and less time to fulfill their promises."
Most Cubans have been waiting all their lives for those promises to be met. Although the lot of some older Cubans may have been improved by the revolution that toppled dictator Fulgencio Batista in January 1959, an estimated 70 percent of Cuba's 11.3 million people weren't even born then. Younger Cubans now mostly identify "Fidelismo" with hardship, especially those who, like Sánchez, came of age during the 1990s. That was the island's "Special Period"—an era of extreme belt-tightening after Castro's aid pipeline dried up with the collapse of the Soviet Union. (The nickname Generación Y derives from a Cuban fad in the '70s and '80s for baby names beginning with that letter.) "Unlike our parents, we never believed in anything," says Sánchez. "Our defining characteristic is cynicism. But that's a double-edged sword. It protects you from crushing disappointment, but it paralyzes you from doing anything."
Raised on a relentless diet of antiimperialist harangues and exhortations to ever-greater sacrifice, millions of young Cubans want the regime to cut the rhetoric and make tangible improvements in their lives. Many have given up hope: from October 2005 through September 2007, an estimated 77,000 Cubans fled to the United States, the biggest exodus since the Mariel boatlift of 1980, when 125,000 Cubans escaped to Florida in six months. "Young people are very fed up with the situation," says Julia Núñez Pacheco, the wife of jailed independent journalist Adolfo Fernández Sainz. "Many are escaping, either by hurling themselves into the sea on a raft or arranging a marriage of convenience with foreigners." The couple's 32-year-old daughter, Joana, left Cuba to join her husband in Miami last year.
Most young Cubans' aspirations are decidedly apolitical. Forget about democracy or free speech; the serious focus is on things taken for granted by youngsters elsewhere: freedom to travel abroad, unrestricted access to the Internet, enough disposable income to buy a mobile phone or an iPod—even the simple right to walk into a five-star hotel in their own country and buy a beer. "These young students are asking, 'Why are things banned? Why are we not allowed to leave the island?'" says Miriam Leiva, a prominent dissident leader who once held a high-level post in the Cuban Foreign Ministry. "They look around at other young people grouped on the corner playing dominoes out of boredom, and they want something different."
Raúl Castro has only himself to blame for their undisguised impatience. Within weeks of stepping in for his bedridden older brother, he urged Cubans to blow the whistle on government corruption and to find new solutions for the country's many problems. Cuba's young could hardly have agreed more: sweeping changes were overdue. And what happened next? Nothing. In a major speech last summer, after nearly a year in charge, the younger Castro acknowledged failures that were painfully self-evident: salaries were too low, food production and distribution were dysfunctional and the system remained as full as ever of unaddressed problems.
Drop drop dropping it down...oh so gently...
Well here it comes...I touch the plane...
Turn me up...won't turn you away...
It will show you a side of reality the US media has repressed extensively to suit their private agenda.
and reveling in it's loyalty. It's made by forming coalitions
over specific principles, goals, and policies.
http://i36.tinypic.com/66j31x.jpg
(\__/)
( o.O)
(")_(")
Without sweeping change within Cuba, lifting the embargo will do little other than further enrich the existing Cuban elite. The embargo absolutely should be lifted, but internal change within Cuba is much more important. Having "over 20,000 trained medical doctors" is meaningless when they are forced by the government to operate in Venezuela and other places for political reasons. Cuba does not "have the right idea" anymore than Southern plantation owners or Soviet bureaucrats had the right idea. They have no idea, which is largely why their country is a mess.
All countries seem to have their share of wrong ideas and messes. It's all subjective as to who has the most mess.
Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth.
-Oscar Wilde
There is John Lennon park, where the glasses on John Lennon's statue don't need to be welded on because very few peopl would steal them. Its a much more open society, and very positve. Teh embargo puts them in an economic pinch, but their way of life overcomes that obstacle and they all seemed very full of life, strssing the arts and music ove3r personal gain or wealth.
Their definition of success is different than ours.
Absolutely! But this does not make them all equally bad.
Again, absolutely. But there's a reason you don't see too many Americans building boats out of old cars and seeking asylum in Cuba.
:rolleyes:
Cuba probably has the highest suicide rate in the world (they stopped publishing statistics in the 90s). The people are poor, and most are not optimistic at all about things getting better. Those who dare to be optimistic and push for change in even their own lives are just as likely to end up in jail as they are to succeed.
Certainly there is a strong sense of community. And yes there are many areas that are "full of life" and generally fun. It's a beautiful country. But to suggest that Cuba is successful, by any measure, is frankly silly. The Cuban leadership has destroyed their best and brightest, unfortunately.
Each person's definition of success is different than the next. It's a damn shame that the Cuban leadership forbids people from holding and seeking out their own personal definitions as they apply the leaderships' definition upon everyone.
If you actually believed your own words and sentiments about the validity of each person's "definition of success", you'd despise Cuba's government as much as many do. But what you really mean is that Cuban leadership is willing to forcibly impose your definition of success upon its people.
Look up Orlando Bosch, Luis Posada Carriles, Jorge Mas Canosa, Gaspar Jiménez, Pedro Remón Rodríguez and Carlos Muñiz Varela. All of these men at one point in time have been linked to terrorist activity. All of these men are Cuban-American based in South Florida back by the CIA to undertake covert missions against the Castro regime. Some of their atrocities include the bombing of the Cubana Air flight 455 in 1976 that killed 73 people. The bombing of ocean side resorts in Cuba in 1997 that resulted in the death of an Italian tourist. The assassination of Orlando Letelier in Washington DC in 1976. The list of bombings, assassinations, and attempted bombings and assassination goes on. All of them attributed to one or all of these men and their associated. All carried out in the name of freeing Cuba and many carried out while these men where in the employ of the CIA.
Some of these men along with Guillermo Novo Sampoll where the founder of Coordination of United Revolutionary Organizations (CORU) which the FBI had classified as a terrorist organization. So in short our government has ,since Castro first took office, been the instigator and proven itself a far greater threat to Cuba than Cuba ever posed to us.
So next time before you spout off about things you know nothing about educate yourself on the topic a bit more.
What would Castro do if ev spoke about him as he does about Bush?
Drop drop dropping it down...oh so gently...
Well here it comes...I touch the plane...
Turn me up...won't turn you away...
Change.
Some have taken the wrong approach to try to achieve this change, I agree.
The fact that we sit at home with a pc, buy all kinds of food and clothes, SPEAK OUR MINDS OVER WHATEVER, WHENEVER, AND ABOUT WHOMEVER WE WANT and in Cuba this liberty does not exist.
It is sad that some dont see this. But it is easy to be leftist, commy, marxist when you live in a country that allows you to be so.
Audioslave played there, yes, I have seen the video. They were led around by govt personel. Just like they would in the USSR, China and N Korea. Not Italy, Germany, Canada or the rest of the free world.
By the way, the plaza where Audioslave held the concert was in the process of being built b4 the success of the revolution.
Carlos Muñiz Varela was a cuban op, Mas was not a member of the CORU - "So next time before you spout off about things you know nothing about educate yourself on the topic a bit more."
Fidel has committed more terror on the Cuban people the the CORU has.
Again to blame the embargo is assenine. There are 193 other countries in the world. The US has that much pull so that the people of Cuba suffer? Canada cant do anything, GB, Italy, Germany, Seden? Hell, any other country that is part of the UN? The embargo does not do anything!! You can get a Heineken in Havana as well as in Omaha!!
The cuban people dont own anything. If the govt wants them out of the house, they are out. If you are a comp tech and they want you cutting cane, you are cutting cane.
Sleep tight, dont let the commies bite.
Drop drop dropping it down...oh so gently...
Well here it comes...I touch the plane...
Turn me up...won't turn you away...
its no differnet than any gov't. Its just that in Cuba they stress cooperation as opposed to competion, and the moral of teh peopel says much,.
i already can visit cuba legally. hurrah for 'democracy'.
take a good look
this could be the day
hold my hand
lie beside me
i just need to say
My parents emigrated from Cuba in the late 60's early 70's. I still have family there today. I am well aware of the conditions in Cuba and in no way to I support the Castro government or the way it has treated the Cuban population. My point is that this countries calls for democracy in Cuba are pure and utter bullshit. They do not want democracy in Cuba they want a government that will allow our interest to supercede that of the Cuban peoples. This country has had a long history of supporting and maintaining corrupt and often brutal dictators in Cuba. Fidel,s predicessor, Batista, was such a person. Selling his people's furure and land in order to line his pockets.
When Castro first took power our government was happy to see Batista go. He had become to greedy and they figured that Castro was some back water revolutionary who could be easily bought off and business could continue as usual. It wasn't until they realized that Castro had no interest in please our interest that the relationship soured. Our government decided that action must be taken to preserve our interest in Cuba. Our government decided that it would carry out aggressive and covert actions against Cuba. The Castro government never once threaten this country, never once carried out an aggressive act against it yet our government decided to carry out a secret and violent war against Castro and the people of Cuba. Castro, who initially was no fan of the Soviets, had no choice but to accept their aid.
I'm no fan of Castro, but I can't help but wonder how things could have been for the Cuban people had the US never meddled in our affairs. Had the US government not decided that our corporate interests where more important than the interest of the Cuban people. Had we not undertaken such hostile actions against him would he have become the monster he became. Would he have turned to the Soviets for aid. I agree whole heartedly with you that Castro is a brutal dictator and I will be happy the day he dies, if he hasn't already, but our government shares the blame for what happened and is happening to the Cuban people.
Finally I find it a bit suspicious that these renewed calls for democracy in Cuba, by this administration, coincided with the discovery of a large oil reserve of the northern coast of Cuba in the North Cuba Basin.
I know that Jorge Mas Canosa was not a member of CORU, he was the head of
Cuban American National Foundation. Through CANF he also established a paramilitary wing of the organization, with Jose "Pepe" Hernandez, in 1992 to carry out actions in Cuba to overthrow Castro. All of the men mentioned had ties, wether directly or indirectly, with CORU. While you are correct that Castro is probably responsible for more Cuban deaths than CORU that does not excuse our government from funding a terrorist organizations that is responsible for hundreds of innocent lives.
So I do know what the hell I'm talking about. Not to toot my own horn here but I can be pretty sure that not many on this message board have studied the history of Cuban-American relationships as much as I have.
As mine did in the early 60s
I believe the US trully wants freedom for Cuba and they do have their agenda, but so do countires like Germany, France, China and Spain who deal with this oppressive regime. Calling out the US as the only country who "allow our (foreign) interest to supercede that of the Cuban peoples" is unjust as the afore mentioned countries do that now.
I believe there has been only 2 dictators - Batista and Castro. The presidents of cuba were "elected" as was Batista the 1st time he was in office. I understand that there were corrupt officials, but they were not dictators.
Agreed. That is why there was a rebellion with so many different agendas. The SNFE aqnd DRE for democracy, The July 26 movement and PSP for communism. When Castro sent out che to unite the rebels, he approached the PSP b4 the SNFE. This made the SNFE suspiciuos of the July 26 movement, and were ultimately correct in the assumption. As che and Castro were already conspiring to lean towards comminism. This is the reason why Frank Pais left Castro in the Sierra Maestra and hid in Santiago. Pais had such a strong influence in the rebellion that he had him killed. Rauls wife, Vilma Espin, ratted him out to Batista's army. And they still have the gaul to say Pais was a martyr!!!
always a choice. Cuba was getting much more than they were giving to the soviets.
Yes. When Castro decided to take govt control of all foreign entities in Cuba (just like his buddy in Venezuela is trying to do)
Agreed, but again, other countries must push for this change as some have recently. A little late but at least in the right direction.
This has been common knowledge for some time now. There was an agreement between the US, Mexico, and Cuba that there would be no drilling. There is also a basin off the coast of FLA and I believe Mex as well.
These countries/companies involved with oil in Cuba -
Spain’s Repsol-YPF announced it was partnering with India’s Oil and Natural Gas Corp., and Norsk Hydro ASA of Norway to explore for oil and gas in six of the 59 deep-water blocks along Cuba’s maritime border with the United States. (Sherritt International Corp., the Canadian oil company, has acquired exploration rights in four of the deep-sea blocks.)
Free Cuba!!
Drop drop dropping it down...oh so gently...
Well here it comes...I touch the plane...
Turn me up...won't turn you away...
I'm not trying to say that Dmocracy is an illusion, but let's think a little bit about our way of living before suggest a solution for another country, in this case Cuba.
If we look the results of Castro goverment, maby the best way for Cuba is Democracy, but what kind of democracy? US democracy, where big corporations have influency in their goverment? Or maby Latin American democracies like my country Peru, where the goverment is almost invisible and we have republic without citizens?
Perhaps we should think more about this things before giving a solution. Talking about other countries freedom might be one starting point for thinking about our own condition.