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U.S. House votes to allow Cuban tourism
Mike Schumann wrote:
It's interesting that anyone with family in Cuba is free to go there. If everyone was prohibited from going there, regardless of family connections, you'd hear some real screaming from some of the most vocal opponents to tourism in the Cuban exile community, who want to take away our rights to travel freely anywhere in the world, while they preserve their rights to visit their families and send them money, which is where Castro is getting the biggest chunk of his foreign exchange. I always figured they knew a good thing and happened on a scheme to keep it to themselves. miguel -- Hit The Road! Photos and tales from around the world: http://travel.u.nu Site remodeled 10-Sept-2003: Hundreds of new photos, easier navigation. |
#12
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U.S. House votes to allow Cuban tourism
Casey writes
if Cuba had been opened to tourism 30 years ago -- it would probably be a democracy today -- this of course may not be what the exiles want -- Cuba is open to tourism, from everywhere except the US. Very true. I think it will require the death of Castro to free Cuba, just like the death of Stalin radically changed the USSR, albeit not as radical as 1991. I hope you're correct in your suggestion that the death of Castro will improve things in Cuba. There are plenty of scenarios where life won't improve at all (and could even get worse) for most ordinary Cubans. IMHO one reason that tourism hasn't caused bigger changes in Cuba is the subtle and not-so-subtle apartheid where tourists are kept apart from the realities facing ordinary Cubans, especially outside Havana. In the large holiday resorts the only Cubans you'll meet are behind the bar. It's possible to visit Cuba and remain in your tourist bubble. It takes a little effort and a little knowledge of Spanish to get out there and meet ordinary Cubans. But it's well worth it. In spite of the various little local difficulties, they seem to be a fabulous bunch of people who don't let things get them down! -- Simon Elliott http://www.ctsn.co.uk/ |
#13
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U.S. House votes to allow Cuban tourism
Simon Elliott wrote:
Casey writes if Cuba had been opened to tourism 30 years ago -- it would probably be a democracy today -- this of course may not be what the exiles want -- Cuba is open to tourism, from everywhere except the US. Very true. I think it will require the death of Castro to free Cuba, just like the death of Stalin radically changed the USSR, albeit not as radical as 1991. I hope you're correct in your suggestion that the death of Castro will improve things in Cuba. Yeah, like how the US thought that Cuba would be better with Castro than with Batista. |
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U.S. House votes to allow Cuban tourism
"Casey" wrote in message link.net...
if Cuba had been opened to tourism 30 years ago -- it would probably be a democracy today -- this of course may not be what the exiles want -- Cuba is open to tourism, from everywhere except the US. Very true. I think it will require the death of Castro to free Cuba, just like the death of Stalin radically changed the USSR, albeit not as radical as 1991. Casey Free Cuba from what? All I want is a free Cuba (from Uncle Sam) for us to visit. |
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U.S. House votes to allow Cuban tourism
Meghan Powers wrote:
U.S. House votes to allow Cuban tourism Current law allows Americans to visit Cuba but only with special U.S. government approval. President Bush has said he will veto the appropriations bill if it contains the Cuban travel amendment. Good for Bush Baby! German, French, British and Canadian tourists all agree that we need a holiday destination that is free of 'mericans. -- Stephen There were no weapons of mass destruction, just words of mass deception. |
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U.S. House votes to allow Cuban tourism
stephen wrote:
Meghan Powers wrote: U.S. House votes to allow Cuban tourism Current law allows Americans to visit Cuba but only with special U.S. government approval. President Bush has said he will veto the appropriations bill if it contains the Cuban travel amendment. Good for Bush Baby! German, French, British and Canadian tourists all agree that we need a holiday destination that is free of 'mericans. I totally agree with that. Yes, this embargo the US has put on Cuba for the past 40 years is nuts. Yes, it's unexplainable how a country that claims to be the bastion of freedom and liberty of the known universe (ie the USA) can block it's citizens from travelling to certain countries. Yes it's created a nice side effect of a tropical vacation destination that's probably got more supply than demand. Yes it points out why the US invaded iraq - they didn't like the way that Saddam was shaping up to be the Castro of the middle east. Saddam already had 10 years of sanctions under his belt, and with support for the continuance of the sanctions beginning to decline, and with Iraq just a little too far away from the US to exert control, the Bush neo-cons in their thinking had no choice but to assassinate Saddam (or spend BILLIONS trying) just like the US tried to do to Castro. |
#17
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U.S. House votes to allow Cuban tourism
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#18
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U.S. House votes to allow Cuban tourism
Simon Elliott wrote:
IMHO one reason that tourism hasn't caused bigger changes in Cuba is the subtle and not-so-subtle apartheid where tourists are kept apart from the realities facing ordinary Cubans, especially outside Havana. In the large holiday resorts the only Cubans you'll meet are behind the bar. It's possible to visit Cuba and remain in your tourist bubble. We were in a resort in the south east, a long way from Havana. About an hour from Santiago. Horse and buggy rides through the nearby village were common. We were taken inside the home of the driver. On the outside it was a non-descript shack. On the inside, it very well done. Tiled bathroom and kitchen. He had a TV, VCR and many dozen English videos. The VCR and videos were gifts from returning tourists. The Cubans place a high value on being able to speak English. I presume they believe it is an economic advantage, and will become more so after Castro dies. Any Cuban interacting with tourists is very well off. The average wage was US$13, and a typical tip was a dollar. I think the maids did very well. I have no idea if they were allowed to keep their tips. The prostitutes were discrete, young and attractive. At $40 plus ten to rent a room, they could be very choosy in who they saw. They seemed to like the young Russian men (from Canada) -- Stephen Did Colin Powell know he was lying to the United Nations and US allies? |
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U.S. House votes to allow Cuban tourism
It's about American's FREEDOM TO TRAVEL. Period.
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#20
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U.S. House votes to allow Cuban tourism
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