Converting Castro

As long as the worst terrorist that were 6000 miles from our shores, till Bush had them ALL transported 90 miles off our coast, real bright? Take care of American Buisn and allow Cuba to grow as fast or slow as THEY see fit. If all else at least there new government will not have "shoot first ask questions later" Bush to deal with. Lets just hope they ask for the help THEY NEED, and get what they ask for, and nothing to any extrem, from us! Send the terrorist back, 6000 miles from our coast ,and deal with Gitmo when it's empty and ALL terrorist, have been returned to there own shores, for questioning! 90 miles is to darn close coupled with our lack of security. I hope they build what we should be doing, ourselves, TODAY! Good luck,[no insult or sarcasm]

I am an Amercian born daughter of Cuban parents who migrated to the United States in the 1950's prior to Castro's Revolution. At that time very few Cubans actually lived here. Batista was in power and most Cuban's goals were to see him overthrown. Many of those Cuban who resided here during that time supported Castro's revolution in hopes a new change only to find out that they had been fooled not knowing his communist intent. My mother has always believed that the embargo was not the solution, but only a great assistance to keep him in power since his revolution at that time was supported by many Cubans living in the US sending weapons smuggled into Mexico at the time. Much of this weaponry was put into gutted washing machines and refrigerators and shipped to Cuban military bases where they eventually made their way into the Sierra Maestra Mountains and were used by them to take possession of Cuba. Castro purposely has not wanted this embargo to end nor promote free trade in Cuba knowing that how he attined his power could once again be utilized to his demise and he could be overthrown in the future. Therefore, if the embargo had been lifted many years ago, this probably would have occured and we would be seeing a possibly free and democratic Cuba since many years ago. Cuba's mentaility under Castro's regime has been very primal and people do not have the sense of what we consider every day life. Their daily main focus is to get up and find whatever is needed to sustain themselves. They live day to day foragin, not planning for a personal future. This mentality has been burned into the society firmly and are kept mostly drunk all day to quell any thoughts that may endanger the current government. If Cuba is ever to be free, just the challenge of turning this wasted society into a prodcutive one will take generations. The issues are just too many to say this country will change into a free democratic society very soon. The future of this island nation remains to be seen.

This is this country's opportunity to end the embargo that should have been lifted a long time ago.

Although there are hardships in Cuba, having universal health care and education for everyone through college, as well as ending racism, are accomplishments that we as an advanced nation haven't achieved.

There's only one reason this embargo has lasted this long - politics. I think the day where all of the Cuban/Hispanic vote is dependent on maintaining the embargo are over - that generation no longer has the clout it once had and people would like to assist their relatives and friends in Cuba and visit them.

So the ferocious lion of Cuba can no longer roar. Great! Old age and sickness seems to have done what we could not do. I think Cuba has a chance now to revert decades of lies, half truths and false pride they lived under. He brainwashed his people with the slogan that they were standing up to the United States, that they were creating a better society and if the price was perpetual suffering, so be it, it would be worth it in the long run. But it wasn't, was it, Fidel? All you succeeded in doing was creating a society deeply oppressed by your iron hand and poverty. You sold Cuba a bill of goods but you were a force to reckon with. And I think you will go to your grave believing your own fantasy - thumbing your nose at us and showing us "the best way to live." Yet your women sell themselves to tourists for the filthy dollar you so repudiated, your people seek drowning and death to reach our shores. I think we had the last laugh Fidel and some day your dormant people will wake up and tear down your statues feeling at last the rage of having been had by you for decades.

FLets clean up the discussion a little. The issue we are faced with is not Canada, nor is it Bush or any view of America???s current place in the world. The issue concerns what is good for Cuba and the Cuban people. It would not be helpful to discuss whether or not the embargo policy of the past half century has been justified or not. But it would be helpful to discuss whether or not it should be continued under the conditions and the opportunities presented by current conditions. I suggest that 1) the United States in concert with the Organization of American States move quickly to normalize all relations with Cuba and 2) that within a relatively short period of time not to exceed five years Cuba should be considered for membership in CAFTA by all its current members and 3) congress appropriate modest USAID funds to demonstrate that a new day has arrived. Taking these three steps would serve the interests of the American people and all the people of the Americas for years to come. Furthermore it would respect the traditional friendship between the two countries and the sacrifices of those Americans who gave their lives to secure the freedom of Cuba from Spain.

Or we could take a petulant view (and petulant views and those based on hatred and half-truths are always popular) and see if that approach contributes more to human welfare in the next half century.

Too bad we Amerucans can.t accept diversity in the world. We measure the importance of every country by how man Wal-Marts we can build there.

Too bad it all has to come down to how American business can profit. We see lots of opportunity to exploit the cheap labor in China so we will over look their dismal human rights record. But we see no such opportunities in Cuba. Maybe we can start fresh with new leadership in both countries.

Liberate the CUBAN PEOPLE! What do the presidential candidates have to say about this?

Posted By: Yubano1948 @ 02/19/2008 9:59:13 AM - you forgot to add George Bush

The USA is today's aggressor, tyrant, adultress, the unforgiver of sins against past history. If we were able to forgive the USSR and so many other tyranical entities it's long overdue to forgive our closest neighbors - especially Cuba's children. Clinton and/or Obama have a formidable task in the coming years - I wonder if anything will change - if this campaign is only words in the wind or will the next President become a real hero and protetor of the most vulnerable - the children of the future of the poorest of the poor

The USA is today's tyrant , the occupier, the adultress, the unforgiver of sins. I hope whomever wins the elections of President of the United States - has some real sympathy towards the peoples of Cuba - it's long overdue.

the arrogance of the american mind set just kills me! your going to step in and save Cuba "with the warm embrace of america????) PLEASE!!! while America has done nothing but piss off every nation on earth ? pull your head out of your ***! does it occur to anyone that all along Canada has had nothing but friendly trade relations with every country on the planet? Canada is friendly with China Russia Cuba the middle east in fact, i challange you to name any enemy of Canada...hmmm...resounding silence...dont take the future of Cuba for granted and dont be so quick t carve it up as another "american state" lets ask Hawaii how they feel about it! arrogance is the Worst human trait

It is time to open up trade. Step up to the plate congress. Need we remind you that China who we do billions in trade with is communist. This is embargo is the most childish foreign policy.

It is time to join the rest of the world and embrace Cuba. This is the most stupid embargo of all time. We do billions of dollars of trade with China. Do I need to remind everyone that China is still a communist nation and has missles that can reach the US. Step up to the plate congress and Mr. President. Reach out now.