how could they possibly make paradise gulag better?......I ask facetiously....The high party stooges are packing their suitcases......the end is near....let us hope this transition to democracy can take place without violence.....we all know a cuban makes 20 dollars a month and a cellphone cost 80 dollars but the point is it is no longer illegal or a black market item....these things are presently laughable to a cuban citizen but idealogically it is very important....Eastern Europe went through a similar period of readjustment and with few exceptions revenge was not taken on the collaborators only the highest criminals guilty of the most serious human rights violations......VIVA CUBA LIBRE

north korea you will soon be alone in the crazy world of orthodox nutty communism .....that is unless nutty hugo can swindle his country into more insanity and slavery.....It will cost him alot of money to prop up the rotting foundation of the castro brothers goofball ideas of the communist dream...Russia tried for years until they were completely bankrupt of money and ideas......the countdown is beginning.....UNO DOS VIVA CUBA LIBRE

How strange as we speak nutty hugo is confiscating land a la Mugabe for political gain and the castro brothers are trying to give it back to buy more time for party stooges and apparachiks

These whiners and complainers in cuba and elsewhere cannot blame the embargo for their stupid failures any longer.....information has a way of getting to the people.....no one in cuba except the party hacks and stooges with their privileges are going to miss the blood sucking politburo when they are gone...now maybe the little guy will get to own his own ice cream stand in havana......Thats how baskin robbins started...

WTF gouletcolonial Please get some help........you are about to hit that NERVOUS breAK DOWN POINT, AT ANY MOMENT NOW. LORD HAVE MERCY.

Time2rize: gouletcolonial loves the sound of his own voice... jajajajaja

gouletcolonial, are you Cuban?

Time2rize: gouletcolonial loves the sound of his own voice... jajajajaja

*********************************
He most definitely does.lol

The truth is that the embargo has played a major factor in current state of Cuba, as well as the communist economic system. Most Cubans in the U.S do not want to accept this realty.

Question:
Would China have grown to the level it has if their was a strict GLOBAL embargo? No! I don't thinks so. As a matter of fact the tremendous growth in China the last 8-10 years has been attributed to it's entry in the WTO and the laxed trade opportunities and preferential treatment china has lobbied for, as well as other U.S. concessions. I can tell you this, If the U.S. had had not slapped Cuba with a trade embargo, Cuba would not be in the state it is in today. This is a hard truth most Cubans in " el exilio" do not like to swallow. The absence of an embargo would have allowed Cuba to trade goods and services in other markets, which ultimately would have provided some economic growth and prosperity. But this growth and prosperity would have only delegitimize their the Exile's cause.......

(continued from above. system is buggy failed to log my username)

...... The truth does hurt. Don't believe me, just look at China. A communist regime that is an economic powerhouse. In addition look at the growth of Vietnam lately, another communist Regime. Want to here another sad truth. When anyone makes truthful statements that are different or in stark contrast to that of others i.e "el exilio" The Bush Regime, The Religious Right, African Americans, The Neo-Conservatist, or Minority Rights Groups, you are quickly labeled a Racist, Communist, Anti-American, Leftist, a War monger, a pacifist, a Homosexual and so on. This is the truth!

And finally the truth is...............,some people just can't handle the truth. Because it does hurt.

The 1963 US "embargo" on Cuba is Congress' transliteration of Economic Minister Che Guevara's 1961 embargo against the US after two years in which the Cubans would not negotiate. It never was enforced anyway, but for youngbloods who don't know their history it makes a convenient rallying point as they march toward repeating the sorry history of command economy dictatorships (called "communism").

pelaut...that is the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth.....the tropical gulag

ladronazo would be arrested if he spoke his mind in cuba ....little does that fool know

Why are you so angry? I see that you are very angry. Expressing yourself in that way demonstrates that you are truly hurt. If I hurt your feelings, I deeply apologize.

But it is what it is!

Why call someone a fool for expressing their viewpoints. FYI, I am not a communist, I love being an American and a Dominican. I enjoy the freedoms that this country has afforded me. Freedoms that no other country can provide. I appreciate the freedoms to speak my mind and to question government and the system. The freedom to challenge ignorance in all its forms and derivatives.

In addition, I have been in the military so I know how the military works, I have travelled around the world, therefore I consider myself pretty worldly. I am a college graduate with more than one major, so I consider myself well read. How can I talk about Cuba? Based on reading, education and from experiences with Cubans. By the way, these are some of the things I also know:.........

Many Cubans are bitter about Castro for all they have lost in "his" revolution, i.e. property family and country. It is because of John F. Kennedy and the Bay of Pigs so many Cubans are Republican, and not because they have an unwavering dedication to GOP principles. I have learned that most of the Cubans in the U.S. are white while the Cuban population on the Island is mostly black or mulatto.

Why?
Because it was the rich white Cubans (los hijos de mami y papi) that left the Island while the poor black and disenfranchised remained. Why? Because they felt, they had the most to gain. Not to mention the U.S civil rights dilemma. But rather than leaving, they remained and dealt with the problems, with Castro and the hardships, all while clinging to hope that one day things will changed. I know that Cubans do want their freedom and a better life. I also know that Cubans on the Island don't want the exiles to return for fear that they will be exploited once again...

Question:
Why hasn't their been serious revolt against Castro? Why was their a revolt against the Czechoslovakian communist regime in the 90's which ended the communist regime as it was? Because the Czechs wanted change in their heart, in their bones, in their soul. Perhaps, just perhaps, Cubans on the Island really don't want change from "Castro", just change in the system.

This is what I foresee will happen with Cuba. Which is what the exiles don't want. Cuba with time may gradually ease up restrictions slowly, as not to overwhelm the Cuban society. And the exiles, well, they'll just have to learn to live with it, and accept it.

.........and dude lighten up.

As for your comment Pelaut:
I am very aware of 19th and 20th century Cuban history. The issue is not about the details of the "cause and effect" of embargo but the effect part of the equation. Has the embargo affected the Island? Yes it has. Did it succeed in getting Fidel to kneel and capitulate to the empire? No. It just made Fidel more resilient. Has it burdened the Cuban people as a whole? Yes. This truth is what "The Old Establishment" and the Exiles do not want to accept. Why? Because it hurts. It's painful to accept defeat. Painful to accept that this one arrogant bearded cigar smoking fool has been able to smoke his cigar and flip his finger at us right in our own back yard.

ladrone get over your complex with cubans ...freedom is freedom ....hungary poland , ukraine .....ask them about it you will get a near full....so stop feeling inferior to cubans...and yes consider how lucky you are not be in Pedernales or where ever your family came from..... a dont let your attitude toward the gringos show to much ...just because you gotta file all that paper and the cubans dont....and the beard has not smoked cigars in years senor man of the world...you just wish you were cuban so you would not have to kneel to the empire...you should be deported to cuba ...then see how you like it.....I kow your type

you come back to the DR on vacation to visit your little abuela and talk like senor big pants at the colmado......well put that baseball hat on strait and go to university so you can learn something....and if you were in the army use your GI bill for something before its to late

ladronazo you and belial can get together and refuse to bow to the evil empire USA....

the shallowness of your thought is reflected in the concept of conspiracy and the exile community.....their opinions are as diverse as any group across all ages....your pride in castros suppression of freedoms of his people only shows your own Hispanic insecurity.....you in your mind are saying "he really showed those gringos"....yes thats correct and now you can own a cell phone and go to hotels with other people...what took you so long to give a little land to a farmer bearded one the embargo dont make me laugh

First of all I have no issues with Cubans, Haitians, Blacks, Anglos etc. I don't support or condone Fidel Castro or his regime or ideology. I don't feel inferior to anyone except .....God. I don't agree with command economies i.e Communism or dictatorships. My issue is discussing the truth about certain issues. But many of us don't like to the truth. Just as someone who is fat short and suffering from halitosis or an invasive body oder doesn't want to hear why he is unpleasant to talk to, or look at. In addition my comments have taken in consideration the diverseness of the Cuban exile community in many corners of the globe. Had I not, I would have only supported a one dimensional view. Your view.

If I discuss my views on religion than I will labeled as an atheist. If discuss my views about race inequality then I am labeled a racist. If I discuss the truth of the hypocrisies and injustices of this country I am labeled un-American a communist an anarchist......

An example of this the Dixie Chicks when they made their comments about Bush. Lets get real. Issue are multi dimensional with many dark sides. The normal human experience is to avoid or just ignore as if non existent, or to condemn. Instead we should learn from the truth by unfolding, dismantling and reconstructing.

Sorry, but I'm not from Perdenales and I don't hang out at the colmados and I don't ware hats or Jersies. Piece of advice you shouldn't get so worked up about people's views and ideas. Because, I do think you are a bit more intelligent, than what is reflected in your writing.

LADRONAZO your theory is . all the blancos got kicked out and left ...the most educated ....then the remittances are being sent to white cubans am I correct......yes I am....I know I am.....is this another reason for your resentment....you are now dealing me the slimy race card off the bottom of the deck....please ladronazo say it aint so ...on top of everything else you are an uber racist as well

and the dixie chicks got what they deserved because they sux

I am beginning to wonder if you are purblind or just have an LD. It just now dawned on you what I had said at 9:am. The statements which caused you to phsycho-fulminate. Maybe I'm wrong but aren't there more White Cubans in the United States than Black Cubans?

Aren't there more mixed, colored or non whites (whatever you want to call it) on the Island of Cuba than white. All I did was make a statement. If those statements are false, well. Prove me wrong, the power is at your finger tips. And I don't play race cards, I play truth and facts.

I think the Dixie Chicks and all those Americans purchasing their music can care less what someone on a blog thinks about them. My case in point, anyone who is not within the sphere of your approval, is a resentful communist, Un american, an uber racist an atheists, a leftist, a polygamist, fascist, socialist, a pitiful definition of human existence. As some would say Dude, tiguere, chamo, compai, consorte, asere, monina, get real.

bottom line.....they have to change....the people have lived in slavery to long and are learning it was a lie....the party stooges will be gone by 2009...just like east Germany the other workers paradise....then Ladronazo can cheer for north korea

All the experts of the world on political issues and idealogies are missing the real concerned of the Cuban's leaderships. Mr. Raul Castro is following an agenda that has been drawned by his brother to create a more competitive economy. The fears of other nations such as the U.S. is that a new Cuban Model of Socialism may be in the making and if they are not aware of this then all experts on these issues shall retired. People are not told the true about what Socialism and Communism are about. In the first place Communism is just a name given to a Social process that the creators of it were hoping it will lead through the different stages of Socialism and eventually to the beginning stages of Communism. This idea or idealogy may never be possible cause it calls for very deep sacrifices on the individual freedom of thoughts, creativities and others things. We all know that the present system as is the U.S. model is not the answer and perhaps the European Union may be somthing closer.

The European Union as it is developing may become the new standard and bring about other localities to do the same or something similar. Free trade as has been designed by the United States and Latin America is not the road to take cause it only creates more poor people and give the big players more economy powers. The big players are the chain-store owners, the big producers of farm products and the governments in concerned. Everyone else is force to paid the price of the so called "Free Trade". Free trade ; and all the basic food is costing more while some are predicting that the costs of food may cause unrest throughout the world in the near future. It seems that the United Nations and all politicians come from another world to practice their trade on us humans, some of us who are so ignorant, to vote when we know that they cheat and lie. Is voting a feeling of freedom? no, is your ticket to allow someone to chained you, and make you paid a price.

hectorvargas, 14 Apr 2008 8:58 PM
With regards to your statements about communism being the same as socialism. That may depend on whether you are looking at political governance or economics. If politics then I agree. If economics then I differ. In economics socialism does allow market forces to work where in communism there are no market forces. Government controls all forms of production therefore the forces of supply and demand are vitiated or just non existent. And though their is no perfect system, with mixed economies (in my opinion) being the best there are times when even mixed economies need a little overhauling.

this is about cuba not Finland or Sweden....cuba is totalitarian communist...no freedoms market or otherwise

stop making apologies for a totalitarian dictatorship that imprisons thousands for political reasons.....they will not let the little guy own his own ice cream wagon so there will never be a Baskin Robbins

I think you really don't "read" and comprehend the contents and meaning of everyones comments. Yes, we are and have been talking about CUBA, but we are not talking about where Cuba is going in regards to the past. We are discussing the future of Cuba, where it is going based on the current changes it is making and the possible changes that will come.

The only variable in life that is a constant, is change. It is apparent that Cuba is making change. For the better yes. At the rate that the Exiles, gouletcolonial, the old establishment and the rest of the world wants it. No. Rome wasnt built in a day. But change is in inevitable and it's coming to Cuba.

However, the change that comes should be and perhaps it will be, change that is molded by the people of Cuba. The people who stayed, suffered and persevered, and not by the exiles or anyone else outside of Cuba, for that matter.

Seven members of the Spanish Ballet of Cuba have defected, with four of the troupe members having already made their way into the United States via Mexico.

they stayed and suffered because they had no choice .....they were slaves to communism a totalitarian system.....but it is all over coming to an end the nightmare....just like Poland East Germany and Hungary etc.....your latino hangups about gringolandia will have nothing to do with the commie collapse.....

Cuba and The United States. Some want to know the truth about Communism and Socialism. In the first place Communism has not existed in our world The ideaology and the so called " Communits Manifiesto " design for the so called " Proletariat "; in a class struggles for the possesions of a country wealth and its distributions in an equal basis --- for the working class. This idea has some merit and hummanitarian concerned but in practice it leaves many things in conflict with the same power structures that seek to implement a type of government that will be fair and just to all. Depriving their citezen with basic rights and brain washing them is not part of a communist/socialist state. Their excuses are (among others )the infiltrations of others systems such as practice in the U.S. The embargo was and is a sort of punishment ( political punishment), a double standard, that the U.S. can rent a space in cuban soil for its milatary base and paid the Cuban government.

the cubans will now be on their new cell phones complaining about this from the lobbies of the hotels and on their computers via the universal internet .....hector you are so...... I dont know what to say except the workers paradise is getting even better

there are two types or kinds of Cubans in the U.S. (1) the old generation after Castro took over that settled in the U.S Their offspring that inheretet their claims.and (2) the new Cubans who receantly had entered into the U.S. If anyone has a truthful serious conversations with the second it will find that they don't agree with the old Cubans. They see both the positive and negatives of their systems while and even living in the U.S. many regret coming over. This I know first hand while working amongs many cubans in Naples Florida and the reasos as to why they had left Miami. Cuba is not as its being painted here. I don't agree with its system but at least tell me the truth or I will find it as I had.

"Raul Castro Is Bringing Hope & DVD Players and Rice Cookers To The Average Cuban...Or Those Who Can Afford them...Which Is No One" thank you Raul you are to kind the workers paradise is becoming to wonderful we must tighten immigration laws or we will be overun with immigrants from less fortunate places