Fidel Castro, Would it be funny if...

[DawnCt1]

Originally posted by RoyalCanadian
A quick browse through the travel section of any non-American newspaper will leave one with the distinct impression that tourism in Cuba is doing just fine. In fact, my colleague's son and his GF are in Cuba right now, having bought a sell-off from Vancouver, Canada -- two weeks in Cuba, all inclusive for $1199 pp CDN. I know several people who have enjoyed vacations in Cuba and report that the Cubans are some of the friendliest people on earth.

I have watched, with great amusement, as historical re-enactor colleagues from the United States have made special trips to stores selling Cuban cigars in Canada -- all because they can't purchase a real Cohiba in the United States.

Fidel Castro has outlasted numerous American presidents, and I don't think there is any reason to doubt that he will outlast at least one more.

Personally, I do not find it humourous when a mishap befalls an American president, nor did I find it a laughing matter to learn of President Castro's accident or to speculate on his death.

None of us who know Cuban expatriots doubt that they are friendly and certainly industrious but perhaps you should take note of some of their opinions regarding their former dictator. I have a problem referring to him as a "president". Who ran against him? I think its unfortunate that some people will violate the trade embargo just to get a Cuban cigar. We cruise or travel to the Carribean, sometimes annually and you can buy them on many islands, remove the band and bring them back. We would never do that. To compare a misfortune that happens to an American president and a Cuban dictator really highlights just how out of touch you are.

 

[DawnCt1]

For those of you with a fondness and concern for dictators and bad guys, I hate to be the bearer of bad news but Yasur Arafat, (aka Yessir U R Fat) was visited by 7 foreign physicians in recent days. He has the "flu". He was advised not to fast during Rhamadan but being the pious, holy man with a reverence for human rights and religion, he has refused. What a guy!

 

[RoyalCanadian]

Originally posted by DawnCt1
To compare a misfortune that happens to an American president and a Cuban dictator really highlights just how out of touch you are.

Still a human being, aren't they? George Bush is very unpopular with many people outside the United States -- I don't particularly like him, and yet I did feel concern for him when he collapsed after nearly choking on a pretzel. Fidel Castro is very unpopular with many people outside Cuba -- I don't particularly like him, and yet I still feel concern for him after falling and injuring himself.

I wonder how truly out of touch is the person who finds humour in the injuries of an elderly individual.

The question remains -- why is Cuba any different than China? Why is it illegal to take a Cuban cigar into the USA, yet North American clothes shopping is founded on the "Made in China" label. Why does the American government forcibly separate Cuban-Americans from their relatives in Cuba with policies that forbid travel yet Americans are allowed to freely travel to China and adopt children there? How is it that the American government, with no jurisdiction in Canada, believes it is their right to prosecute Canadians who have legally travelled to and engaged in commerce with Cuba while thousands of containers filled with Chinese made goods arrive each day in American ports aboard Chinese owned and registered ships?

 

[bubie2.5]

The question remains -- why is Cuba any different than China? Why is it illegal to take a Cuban cigar into the USA, yet North American clothes shopping is founded on the "Made in China" label. Why does the American government forcibly separate Cuban-Americans from their relatives in Cuba with policies that forbid travel yet Americans are allowed to freely travel to China and adopt children there? How is it that the American government, with no jurisdiction in Canada, believes it is their right to prosecute Canadians who have legally travelled to and engaged in commerce with Cuba while thousands of containers filled with Chinese made goods arrive each day in American ports aboard Chinese owned and registered ships?

I have the same questions.

BTW tourism in Cuba is booming.

 

[RoyalCanadian]

There were Canadian travel agents whose entire business was based upon organizing travel for Cuban ex-pats living in the USA who wished to travel to visit their relatives in Cuba. For the most part, American officials knew this was going on -- there isn't much doubt why Cuban Americans were making regular trips to Canada during the winter. Recent changes in American laws have severely curtailed the ablity of Cuban Americans to travel home to visit and, in turn, is harming the perfectly legal business these Canadian travel agents were carrying out.

 

[DISJAZZ]

Ahh, the joys of Cuban tourism. "Let's go harvest some sugar cane!" 'Here we have our Cuban car show. There is a 57 Chevy. Next to it is a 56 Ford. The 58 Chrysler is at the People's repair shop." "Tonight, we have the ballet DANCE OF THE SUGARCANE FAIRIES at the People's Theater." "Let's go harvest some sugar cane." The Cuban Tourism Ministry is constantly booking trips to the US. Oh, I'm sorry. Those Cubans on those overcrowded tubs are coming to the US for freedom instead of tourism. You sure don't see a lot of Americans packing up and heading to the Socialist Paradise to enjoy their government, do you. Thank-you for giving us your unsolicited opinion of our country and government.

 

[AmyBeth68]

I'm sorry...but I have Cuban friends and it is no picnic in that country! The man is a dictator, he has stripped many people of their freedoms.. And to think that Cuban tourism is thriving, I'm sorry, there may be tourism but it is NOT what it once was. That's just a sad fact. In Cuba, their infrastructure has deteriorated. I blame Castro. Again...it did not make me laugh when he fell...and if he died I would not find humor. HOWEVER, he IS a dictator. MANY people have suffered under his regime. The country of Cuba would be better off without him in power.