Debate: Cuba

[Lanshark]

I know Castro is not dead but what do you think will happen in Cuba, politically, after Castro dies. From what I've read his brother is even more radical.

I head on the news that the US has a plan in place to help Cuba become a Democracy. Should the US have a role and what should it be?

 

[Christine]

I think the U.S. should quickly invade, take over, and turn Cuba into a fabulous vacation destination.

 

[Planogirl]

I think the U.S. should quickly invade, take over, and turn Cuba into a fabulous vacation destination.

Now you're talking!

Seriously, I think that the Cuban people should work it out for themselves and the US should stay out of it.

 

[ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!]

If the Cubans haven't been able to topple the government on their before, do you really think they'll be able to do anything now? Nothing is changing, the policy hasn't changed, only their leader has changed. If the US hasn't done anything in the last 20 years to try to invade what makes them think they will now?

The only way Cuba will reform is if their new leader decides to do so, if not, I don't see much happening.

 

[Lanshark]

I honestly don't know much about Cuba's politics except Fidel is a ruthless dictator and for some reason we have been tolerant of a communist country being 90 miles from our borders. I've never quite figured out why,it seems, we turn a blind eye to Cuba.

 

[Charade]

I'm thinkin'... DisneyISLAND!!

 

[luvwinnie]

I'm thinkin'... DisneyISLAND!!

 

[CapeCodTenor]

I'm thinkin'... DisneyISLAND!!

Now you're talkin'.

 

[LukenDC]

I honestly don't know much about Cuba's politics except Fidel is a ruthless dictator and for some reason we have been tolerant of a communist country being 90 miles from our borders. I've never quite figured out why,it seems, we turn a blind eye to Cuba.

The Cuban Missle Crisis was resolved when the USSR promised to remove its nuclear weapons from Cuba and the USA promised not to invade the island. Both countries have kept their promises.

I am no fan of Fidel Castro but, as far as dictators go, he's at the bottom of the ruthless scale. Most Americans would be surprised at the amount of respect that he receives from the Cuban people and it's never been clear if the majority of Cubans would support regime change. For a third world country, Cuba has an unusually high literacy rate (97%) and Cubans enjoy a high life expectancy (78 yrs for women, 75 yrs. for men). Both of those stats were in today's Washington Post.

 

[declansdad]

Even if something were to change, why should the Us or anyone else get involved?


I have been to Cuba and they people we talked to seemed happy. Let them chart their own course.

 

[charlie,nj]

I live next to Union City,NJ it has a very large Cuban population. This was in my local paper today.

*****************************************

WISHING HIM DEAD
Hudson Cubans don't mince words on ailing dictator

Wednesday, August 02, 2006
BY PAMELA CONCEPCION
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

Information on the health of Cuban dictator Fidel Castro has been kept private, but that hasn't stopped the large Cuban community in Hudson County from speaking out.

"If I could kill him right now, I would," said Gregorio Fernandez, of Union City. Fernandez, who fled Cuba in 1969, has always retained hopes of returning home.

"As soon as he's dead I won't hesitate to go back," he said.

Like him, many residents of Union City, having the largest concentration of Cubans in the United States outside of Florida, share similar anti-Castro views.

In El Artesano restaurant, a Union City hot spot for Cubans, opinions were sizzling.

"I hope he finally dies, but slowly, so he can suffer like we did," said Onia Ruiz.

Her husband Raul agreed. "I just want Cuba to have a chance at being free again, and as long as anyone with the last name Castro is in power, that won't happen," he said.

The island's acting president is Raul Castro, Fidel Castro's brother. Raul Castro took over after Fidel Castro entered a hospital for surgery to end intestinal bleeding, causing many to speculate he was nearing the end of his life.

"Raul is worse than Castro," Angel Yasell said.

A Vietnam veteran and participant in the Cuban Revolutionary War at Sierra Maestra, Yasell said that after working several years alongside Castro and his brother, he left when he started to realize what they were really about.

"I wouldn't put it past (Raul Castro) to be in a conspiracy with the U.S. to get rid of his brother and better himself by improving the situation in Cuba," he said.

While some believe that the younger Castro would be more willing to work toward a democratic Cuba, some speculate that he would not remain in power for long.

"The Cuban people will not let him take over like Castro has done," Fernandez said.

Even for those not born on the island, sentiments of anticipation over Castro's death are shared.

"Though older generations have stronger feelings, newer generations like myself that came here very young or have parents who fled Cuba, the attitude is the same," said Felix Alfonso, manager of El Artesano Restaurant.

According to Alfonso, during the weekend the issue of Castro's health and the possible succession was virtually the only topic on everyone's mind.

"You definitely hear people talking about it as they walk in," he said. "He needs to go."


© 2006 The Jersey Journal
© 2006 NJ.com All Rights Reserved.




.

 

[cgbsilver@hotmail.co]

I honestly don't know much about Cuba's politics except Fidel is a ruthless dictator and for some reason we have been tolerant of a communist country being 90 miles from our borders. I've never quite figured out why,it seems, we turn a blind eye to Cuba.

" I honestly dont know why Cuba has turn a blind eye on the US and has allowed a non communist country being 90 miles from their border. ?

Is there not enough wars going on in the world to start another one?

Live and let live I always say.

 

[PaulaSB12]

If and when Castro dies, I think things will get worse not better. Whoever takes over is going to be expecting to be the target of takeovers. So anyone who doesn't agree with them is going to be in trouble, and anyone who looks like they could take over is going to be got rid of either in prison or more perminantly.

 

[tigerdragon]

I think it is up to the citizens of Cuba to rise up and overthrow the government, which I don't think will happen. I heard something on the news last night that said that the US would not get involved with Cuba as long as Raul Castro was in the government. I don't remember exactly what was said, though. My dh has read a lot about Cuba and says that Raul is worse than Fidel.

 

[bubie2.5]

Even if something were to change, why should the Us or anyone else get involved?


I have been to Cuba and they people we talked to seemed happy. Let them chart their own course.

 

[GeorgeG]

I thnk it takes more than just one man to maintain a dictatorship. Castro could die today and someone else would pick up the ball and run. There would likely be a big power play, but if the people of Cuba haven't changed things in all these years, it won't happen overnight.

I also think we need to stop trying to establish democracies all over the world and focus more on salvaging what's left of our own.

 

[disneyfan67]

Even if something were to change, why should the Us or anyone else get involved?


I have been to Cuba and they people we talked to seemed happy. Let them chart their own course.

If anyone was to get involved the U.S would be the least harmfull of all the options that are currently available. I say the words least harmfull because bringing some form of modern Democracy to Cuba isn't going to be a cake walk or easy task by any means. You have a rich, powerfull thug named Hugo Chavez, who is pouring money into Cuba and would love nothing more than gain some or all control of Cuba. It's bad enough that he controls a good chunk of the worlds oil market and basicly owns Citgo, to have him perched 90 miles off our shore is intolerable. He just purchased 3 billion dollars of military hardware and equipment from Russia and is stupid enough to try and use some of it. I would love nothing more than to leave Cuba alone, but I don't think we can afford to make Cuba worse than it already is. It seems like there is no good solution to this problem.

The Cubans who live on the Island aren't going to tell you the complete truth Declansdad, because of the fear of what will happen to them. So that statement of yours that is bolded above, isn't quite accurate. I don't think the Cubans on the Island are capable of charting their own course after 40 years of being fed and in essence, told what to do and say. Cuba is basicly a welfare country that was supported by the former Soviet Union until the early 90's. How can you change 40 years of that type of mentality and get those people to accept Democracy and a free market society? It would be a painfull process and it's not as easy as some of the Cuban exiles that live in the U.S, would lead you to believe.

These are some scary times we are living in and there's no easy answer, that's for sure.

 

[declansdad]

[/B]


The Cubans who live on the Island aren't going to tell you the complete truth Declansdad, because of the fear of what will happen to them. So that statement of yours that is bolded above, isn't quite accurate. I don't think the Cubans on the Island are capable of charting their own course after 40 years of being fed and in essence, told what to do and say. Cuba is basicly a welfare country that was supported by the former Soviet Union until the early 90's. How can you change 40 years of that type of mentality and get those people to accept Democracy and a free market society? It would be a painfull process and it's not as easy as some of the Cuban exiles that live in the U.S, would lead you to believe.

These are some scary times we are living in and there's no easy answer, that's for sure.

While I can agree with some of what you said, why do you assume that the people who live in Cuba would not be happy? While they certainly don't have the same standard of living that you or I have, they do have free health care and receive a free education. That is more than what you receive in your country or me in mine. Who would tell you exactly what it is like for the people of Cuba? The Cuban who are living in South Florida. I think that their view may be slightly jaded as well.

I think that you are not giving the Cuban people enough credit to run their own country. If they ask for help, by all means offer it but don't assume the US needs to be the white knight riding in to show them the way.

 

[ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!]

[/B]
to have him perched 90 miles off our shore is intolerable. He just purchased 3 billion dollars of military hardware and equipment from Russia and is stupid enough to try and use some of it.

I agree with a lot of things you said except this. Hugo Chavez does NOT have the guts to try to position himself in Cuba to become a threat. Remember, we have military presence on the island (Guantanamo Bay) and Im pretty sure we have the rest of the island covered in terms of military intelligence. If he even tried to start moving some muscle over, we will intercept it.

 

[disneyfan67]

While I can agree with some of what you said, why do you assume that the people who live in Cuba would not be happy? While they certainly don't have the same standard of living that you or I have, they do have free health care and receive a free education. That is more than what you receive in your country or me in mine. Who would tell you exactly what it is like for the people of Cuba? The Cuban who are living in South Florida. I think that their view may be slightly jaded as well.

I think that you are not giving the Cuban people enough credit to run their own country. If they ask for help, by all means offer it but don't assume the US needs to be the white knight riding in to show them the way.

Let me clear a few things up, so you know where I stand.

I don't think any people that can't freely express their opinions without threat of jail, torture, or both are not truly happy or free. I may be wrong about the Cuban people and they might choose goverment provided health care and education over basic freedoms that many Americans take for granted. They have been basicly provided for and told what to think, do, and say for decades. That type of mentality is hard to overcome and if Cuba does finally rid it self of Castro and his crew, they have a long, hard road to travel if they want to choose Democracy. Part of me thinks they won't, I do hope I'm wrong on that one though.

The only people who gained in the Cuban Revolution is Castro and his crew. Castro is a very rich man and has enjoyed absolute power for many decades. His people on the other hand don't come close to living as well. That's probably one of the many reasons people risk death on makeshift rafts to reach the U.S.A. Usually that's how those "Worker or People's Revolutions" end up. Leaders get it most of feast and the litte people end up with scraps. In the end, "Power to the People" is just a slogan.

Who knows if the Cubans even want it? The U.S can't afford to get in another round of nation building at this moment. No "White Night" moments for me, thank you. The Iraq war has clearly shown me that if people want freedom you have to fight for it and with that country getting ready to explode in civil war, it shows me that road to freedom is a hard one. I want the Cuban people to control their own destiny and hopefully choose freedom and become a sucessfull and prosperous nation.