Cuba: Cubans applaud U.S. bill easing trade, travel

[HURAKAN]

Cuba offers direct talks with US

Cuban President Raul Castro has said he is ready to hold direct talks with US President-elect Barack Obama, but played down any quick breakthrough.

Mr Castro described Mr Obama as an "honest man", but said his election had given rise to "excessive hopes".

Mr Castro, who took over from brother Fidel in 2008, was speaking a day after Cuba marked the 50th anniversary of its communist revolution.

Mr Obama has pledged to ease the 46-year-old US trade embargo against Cuba.

Speaking on state TV on Friday, President Castro repeated his previous assertions that Havana was ready for direct talks with the US "without intermediaries, directly".

"But we are in no rush, we are not desperate," he stressed.

Mr Castro said Mr Obama, who is due to take office on 20 January, could "do a great deal, could take positive steps".

"A president is coming in who has raised a lot of expectations in many parts of the world, hopes that are too high, I think," he added.

Muted celebrations

On Thursday, people across Cuba celebrated the anniversary of the revolution that brought Fidel Castro to power.

Speaking from the same balcony where his older brother declared victory on 1 January 1959, President Castro predicted the revolution would survive another 50 years.

The festivities were muted as Cuba struggles with big economic challenges and the aftermath of three hurricanes.

The frail health of Fidel Castro also dampened the mood of celebrations, says the BBC's Michael Voss in Havana.

The 82-year-old has not been seen in public since undergoing major surgery almost 18 months ago.

Reacting to the anniversary, a White House spokesman said the US continued to seek freedom for the Cuban people.

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/w ... 809308.stm

[JonathanBelles]

I would love to see communications open for the US and Cuba. Those people seem like good people with a bad government over their heads. Some day I would love to visit Cuba.

[HURAKAN]

I have always been pro opening up Cuba to the world. For 50 years they have tried to isolate Cuba from the world to see if the Castro regime would collapse on itself. It hasn't worked and I think we need a change.

[Ed Mahmoud]

Well, the Cuban regime had many of its opponents killed in the early days after the revolution, and Cuba is a communist dictatorship.


I'd have no problem keeping some forms of sanctions going.


Except the rulers of Communist China are just as bloody as the Castros.


But China is much bigger, and most Chinese-Americans came to this country as economic immigrants before the rise of Mao, and are thus not ardent opponents to the PRC, and are not concentrated in a single state with many votes in the Electoral College.


More exposure to American style freedom and affluence might actually accelerate a change of ruling systems, especially when both Castro brothers depart this world.

[HURAKAN]

More exposure to American style freedom and affluence might actually accelerate a change of ruling systems, especially when both Castro brothers depart this world.

That's my thinking. Isolation doesn't help in changing anything, especially for an island.

[george_r_1961]

I would love to see travel restrictions lifted for Americans. When this happens I would visit there.

[MGC]

Yep, time to open Cuba up as US policy of the past 50 years has been a failure. Once the Cuban people can see the advantages of being like America the dictators will not stant a chance......MGC

[HurricaneBill]

That's my thinking. Isolation doesn't help in changing anything, especially for an island.

True. Look at Myanmar and North Korea.

I agree it's time to at least ease some of the restrictions of the embargo. For example, let Cubans visit their relatives more often.

[Dionne]

It's time for our (U.S.) embargo to end. Although we still have the issue of freedom for Cubans. It is encouraging to know that Obama is leaving the door open. It would be nice to catch a direct flight from Miami into Havana rather than risking going through Mexico City and violating State Dept restrictions. I would enjoy visiting Cuba as a tourist. Do you think they would let us touch the missiles?

[Stephanie]

I think the biggest break was when Raul took office. I think that he understands the need of a relationship with the United States and that it could be beneficial.

I do hope that some of the sanctions are lifted, such as travel, etc.

[wyq614]

hehe, glad to hear that news.

In my opinion, the sanctions of the United States hurt both countries and it's time for change, because isolation can solve no problems, Cuba has struggled through the special time of 1990s and now fear nothing. And the bloqueo of the United States offers the reasons for the Cubans to hate Americans, not to work hard and not expect to leave poverty, and the latter two add more annoyance for the Cubans. What's worse, some of my professors still cannot use computers skillfully. If American government wants to teach Cuba what is democracy, why not open it up and let it see the achievement of democracy and capitalist economy all over the world?

By the Cuban highways, one can see frequently the big sign "x(time)'s blockade is equal to xxxx(necesities)... Down with the genocide blockade" US blockade has become Castro's tool of propaganda, making the Cubans hating US more day after day and thus believe and rely more on its Comandante en Jefe.

I have been in Cuba for 3 total months, and watch the news of Cuban Television often, and Granma is also available for us. I did not see any news about election except the presidential election of the US and regional election of Venezuela. People know little about other countries but they talk to us about US embargo very often. They say they have to import something from some countries very far from Cuba, paying several times of cost and losing a lot of money, etc., because of American bloqueo.

I can't help asking American government, how can you expect Cubans to love democracy while the most democratic country in this world is making Cuba endless politic and economic troubles? It's just like that A beats B every day and still hope that B will love A and accept A's thoughts. It is impossible. US government should take this into consideration.

See it, during the 50 years of embargo, Cuba established diplomatic relations with about 180 countries of the world, this number is even greater than China's.

They continue feeling proud for their free education (without innovation) and free medical care (not very good in our opinion), sometimes even we Chinese students think their pride is very absurd.

So why don't you export medical equipments to Cuba and let them know what medical care means in the most developed society?

What's more, Cubans expect very much about Barack Obama. They strongly believe that Obama will treat Cuba very well without more sanctions...

[Derek Ortt]

some of this is punishment for the Cubans shooting down a civilian US plane in 1996

[wyq614]

some of this is punishment for the Cubans shooting down a civilian US plane in 1996

Cuba can be punished but what about Orlando Bosch and Luis Posada? What they shot down were Cuban military planes invading US air zone? Bosch said that all Cuban planes are military planes, you believe his words?

PS: That's just a question about historical events, or something to think about. I don't intend to be political, if you find this reply inappropiate or incomfortable, feel free to delete it.

[Dionne]

Since October of 2000 the U.S. has been supplying Cuba with medicine and agricultural foods for humanitarian reasons. It's called the Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act.

The last published figures show that Americans favor (62%) restoring diplomatic relations and lifting the embargo with Cuba. Meanwhile only 6% of Cubans favor the current political regime in Cuba.

Any ship that currently ports in Cuba is restricted from entering any U.S. port for 6 months. Obviously our embargo extends well beyond Cuban borders.

I found it interesting that JFK had 1600 of his favorite Cuban cigars purchased and delivered before he closed the doors on Cuba.

[Ed Mahmoud]

I'm pretty sure the PRC has committed atrocities at least as bad, and it would seem the Communist junta has eased up the repression a little in Cuba.

But just as a counter-balance to Michael Moore, Sean Penn, Danny Glover et al's visits to Cuba and stories of how charming Fidel is...

“In one week during 1964 we counted 400 firing squad blasts from our cells," recalled former Cuban political prisoner and freedom-fighter Roberto Martin Perez to this writer. On April 7, 1967 The Organization of American States Human Rights Commission issued a detailed report on an overlooked facet of “President” Castro's much-lauded health-care:

"On May 27 1966 from six in the morning to nightfall political prisoners were executed continuously by firing squad in Havana's La Cabana prison. One hundred and sixty-six men were executed that day and each had 5 pints of blood extracted prior to being shot.

Extracting this amount of blood often produces cerebral anemia and unconsciousness so that many had to be carried to the execution wall on stretchers. The corpses were then transported by truck to a mass grave in a cemetery outside the city of Marianao. On that day, the truck required seven trips to deliver all the corpses. On 13th street in Havana's Vedado district, Soviet medical personnel have established a blood bank where this blood is transported and stored. This blood is sold at fifty U.S. dollars per pint to the Republic of North Viet Nam."

Carlos Machado was 15 years old in 1963 when the bullets shattered his body. His twin brother and father collapsed beside Carlos from the same volley. All had resisted Castro's theft of their humble family farm.

On Christmas eve 1961 Juana Diaz spat in the face of the executioners who were binding and gagging her. They'd found her guilty of feeding and hiding "bandits" (Cuban rednecks who took up arms to fight Castro and Che's theft of their family farms. Farm collectivization was no more voluntary in Cuba than in the Ukraine. And Cuba's kulaks had guns—at first anyway. Then the Kennedy-Khrushchev pact left them helpless against Soviet tanks and flame- throwers.) When the blast from that firing squad demolished her face and torso Juana Diaz was six months pregnant.

You will search the MSM 50th Anniv. stories in utter vain for any mention of (fully documented) mass-murder and jailings or torture—on the part of the Castros that is.

http://www.babalublog.com/archives/011060.html

[gtalum]

I can't wait until Obama lifts the embargo. I want to go down to Havana and buy up a bunch of '57 Chevies to sell here in the US.

[wyq614]

I'm pretty sure the PRC has committed atrocities at least as bad, and it would seem the Communist junta has eased up the repression a little in Cuba.

But just as a counter-balance to Michael Moore, Sean Penn, Danny Glover et al's visits to Cuba and stories of how charming Fidel is...

“In one week during 1964 we counted 400 firing squad blasts from our cells," recalled former Cuban political prisoner and freedom-fighter Roberto Martin Perez to this writer. On April 7, 1967 The Organization of American States Human Rights Commission issued a detailed report on an overlooked facet of “President” Castro's much-lauded health-care:

"On May 27 1966 from six in the morning to nightfall political prisoners were executed continuously by firing squad in Havana's La Cabana prison. One hundred and sixty-six men were executed that day and each had 5 pints of blood extracted prior to being shot.

Extracting this amount of blood often produces cerebral anemia and unconsciousness so that many had to be carried to the execution wall on stretchers. The corpses were then transported by truck to a mass grave in a cemetery outside the city of Marianao. On that day, the truck required seven trips to deliver all the corpses. On 13th street in Havana's Vedado district, Soviet medical personnel have established a blood bank where this blood is transported and stored. This blood is sold at fifty U.S. dollars per pint to the Republic of North Viet Nam."

Carlos Machado was 15 years old in 1963 when the bullets shattered his body. His twin brother and father collapsed beside Carlos from the same volley. All had resisted Castro's theft of their humble family farm.

On Christmas eve 1961 Juana Diaz spat in the face of the executioners who were binding and gagging her. They'd found her guilty of feeding and hiding "bandits" (Cuban rednecks who took up arms to fight Castro and Che's theft of their family farms. Farm collectivization was no more voluntary in Cuba than in the Ukraine. And Cuba's kulaks had guns—at first anyway. Then the Kennedy-Khrushchev pact left them helpless against Soviet tanks and flame- throwers.) When the blast from that firing squad demolished her face and torso Juana Diaz was six months pregnant.

You will search the MSM 50th Anniv. stories in utter vain for any mention of (fully documented) mass-murder and jailings or torture—on the part of the Castros that is.

http://www.babalublog.com/archives/011060.html

Well, in order not to go politics, here I just want to do no more than suggest you that when talking about atrocities, not only cite, or believe western media report, it is more reasonable reading various kinds of reports because reports can be of political intentions, and we have to learn how to extract the more reasonable information that is more close to the truth. My professor told me that some Cubans who exiled to the US did complain about the "atrocities" of Castro, but they have their intention to get supported politically and economically by the Americans by telling them "The police tortured me" or "Communist is nothing but a xxxx.", I don't know whether my professor's words are true, but at least they are worth considering.

Socialist regimes can be rough, but socialist, or communist party members, or for example me (a Communist Youth League member) are not monsters, we also think about new ways to make our life perfect, think about our own interests like you do, think about economic reforms, marketing economy and hold a fiesta in KFCs and McDonald's (which are not available in Cuba), we know that Marxist and Leninist and even Maoist theory may contain errors and free economy and democratic elections may have their advantages. If you are sensitive about the Chinese politics, you see our leaders talking about Marxism-Leninism less and less as time goes by

[wyq614]

As for the Cubans, I can tell you a secret, that is, our Chinese student have had some conflict with our Cuban professors because sometimes we can't accept their way of thinking and their "autocracy" towards us.

[Dionne]

As for the Cubans, I can tell you a secret, that is, our Chinese student have had some conflict with our Cuban professors because sometimes we can't accept their way of thinking and their "autocracy" towards us.

Does this mean they are telling you what and when to do something and expect you to comply without question?

Kind of like our U.S. Army?

[wyq614]

As for the Cubans, I can tell you a secret, that is, our Chinese student have had some conflict with our Cuban professors because sometimes we can't accept their way of thinking and their "autocracy" towards us.

Does this mean they are telling you what and when to do something and expect you to comply without question?

Kind of like our U.S. Army?

Yes, and we also dislike their way of dealing things and their sense of "authorization", for example, everyday we eat in the dining hall, despite that we are in winter, the air-conditioner of the dining hall is always on with cold wind and makes us feel cold, when we try to turn it off, we are stopped by the Cubans because we don't have the "autorización" to turn off the air-conditioner, it should be turned off by the responsible of the dining hall.

Another example, one day when we had finished all the tasks for the class but there were still 10 minutes left for the lunchtime, our professor refused to dismiss the class because we should "respect the schedule" and "If I let you go, my jefe will scold me" and kept us in the classroom doing nothing, when we arrived at front of the dining hall we found that now we had to stand in line for lunch.