INTERNATIONAL

Island of Failed Promises

Younger Cubans have waited all their lives for Fidel to deliver. And now?

By Joe Contreras | NEWSWEEK

From the magazine issue dated Mar 3, 2008

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Posted By: Q-Tex1966 @ 04/19/2008 4:12:32 PM

Comment: A great article. Most people that live in the United States do not realize how hard daily life is in Cuba, for the average citizen. Having been born in Cuba, and presently looking from the outside, I can only imagine, but I do remember the good days, while growing up. People ask me "why can they revolt?" What the citizens in this great country do not realize is that while one can purchase a weapon, of almost any kind in the US, in Cuba a weapon is owned by the army, and it would be almost impossible for anyone that lives in the island to get one. We (in the US) take a lot for granted, but just imagine if your teenage son or daughter did not have access to the internet, or if they could not drive 20 miles to see a friend. Small things like that do not happen in Cuba, since there are very few cars available to the public, and is costs a lot of money to get on the internet. Of course, you would have to own a PC for that, and probably over 90% of the people in the island do not. Be glad you can post a comment, just as I am doing now, it means you, as well as I, are FREE, something else you do not have in Cuba, freedom.
One last thing, while the article mentions the newspaper Granma, the word does not mean grandmother. Granma was the name of the boat that Fidel Castro and his group used to go from Mexico to Cuba. A lot of people also ask me why they have a newspaper called "grandmother." They don't. Finally, just imagine living under the same government for 50 years, same head honcho, same news, same TV, and all is owned by the state. It would get old after a while, wouldn't it? Now, for those under 40 years old, imagine no MTV, no HBO. Ho wlong would it take you to make a rubber rafgt and try that risky trip to the US. Lets not forget, you have to make it to land, if not they will send you back to the island, what a bummer! I grew up there, loved it then, but now I would even be concerned about visiting.
Posted By: Q-Tex66 @ 04/19/2008 4:11:25 PM

Comment: A great article. Most people that live in the United States do not realize how hard daily life is in Cuba, for the average citizen. Having been born in Cuba, and presently looking from the outside, I can only imagine, but I do remember the good days, while growing up. People ask me "why can they revolt?" What the citizens in this great country do not realize is that while one can purchase a weapon, of almost any kind in the US, in Cuba a weapon is owned by the army, and it would be almost impossible for anyone that lives in the island to get one. We (in the US) take a lot for granted, but just imagine if your teenage son or daughter did not have access to the internet, or if they could not drive 20 miles to see a friend. Small things like that do not happen in Cuba, since there are very few cars available to the public, and is costs a lot of money to get on the internet. Of course, you would have to own a PC for that, and probably over 90% of the people in the island do not. Be glad you can post a comment, just as I am doing now, it means you, as well as I, are FREE, something else you do not have in Cuba, freedom.
One last thing, while the article mentions the newspaper Granma, the word does not mean grandmother. Granma was the name of the boat that Fidel Castro and his group used to go from Mexico to Cuba. A lot of people also ask me why they have a newspaper called "grandmother." They don't. Finally, just imagine living under the same government for 50 years, same head honcho, same news, same TV, and all is owned by the state. It would get old after a while, wouldn't it? Now, for those under 40 years old, imagine no MTV, no HBO. Ho wlong would it take you to make a rubber rafgt and try that risky trip to the US. Lets not forget, you have to make it to land, if not they will send you back to the island, what a bummer! I grew up there, loved it then, but now I would even be concerned about visiting.
Posted By: eddiewhere @ 02/29/2008 2:12:10 AM

Comment: IN THIS ENVIORNMENT OF ECONOMIC FEUDALISM WHERE THE MIDDLE CLASS MUST SUFFER IN ORDER TO INCREASE THE pROFITS OF MULTINATIONAL CORpORATIONS, WHO BENEFIT FROM CHEAp LABOR, THE AMERICAN DREAM HAS BEEN LOST.
MULTINALTIONALS FROM INDIA HAVE BROUGHT THEIR CHEAp WAyS TO AMERICA. WE NOW HAVE AMERIANS GOING TO GET HEART SURGERy IN INDIA BEAUSE IT IS CHEApER. OUR INFORMATION TECHNOLy JOBS HAVE BEEN OUTSOURCED TO INDIA.
CHINA WAITS UNTIL WE INVENT IT AND THEN THEy STEAL IT. WHy REINVENT THE WHEEL.
ARABS FINANCIERS OWN OVER TWELVER pER CENT OF OUR ECONOMy AND IN RECENT MONTTHS HAVE "BAILED" OUT OUR BANKS. IN ADDITION, ARAB INTEREST FROM DUBAI AND KUWAIT HAVE FINANCED OUR pOLITICAL LEADERS ENDEVOURS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE pOLITICAL SpECTRUM.. IT IS TIME FOR A CHANGE.

We have been fooled by our own government and there is no way any Republican is going to win this election. THE Middle class has had it with all this Bin LADEN terrorist crap. WE are now scared of our own government more than we are of the terrorist because the decisions this government is making on our behalf is not in our best interests and it is killing us. The government is now dominating our civil liberties. They are giving the states millions for Real ID Cards. This is just the start of government intrusion. Combine this with the misuse of the Patriot Act and the future Plans of insurance comPanies and corporations to have full access to our personal records and we have a real crisis.
Credit Card companies have already started selling and sharing our personal information with the private sector. We really have to wake up and protect our constitution it is all we have to defend ourselves against interests that become too rich and powerful in this country. The government keeps expanding and is being predominantly controlled by special interest and lobbyist. The middle class is being weakened and our civil liberties are being threatened. Real ID Cards will not make "us safer" infacat terrorists can obtain fake ones and move about freely. The American people did not vote on Real ID Cards, we need a vote. Our constitution would have to be ammended in order for Real ID's to become legal. I do not know what has happened in Washington but it is getting out of hand. They know what they are doing is unconstitutional so they are trying to bribe the states by offering them money. I hope every state agrees with me and Prevents the federal govenment from imPosing THIS unconstitutional law. If the states allow the government to do this then they would have set a bad Precedent that could lead to further government violations.
WHy IS THERE A NEED TO WIRE TAp EVERy CITIZEN. ARE yOU KIDDING ME. yOU NEED A WARRANT. THIS IS MADNESS. GOVERNMENT IS USING TERRORISM AS AN EXCUSE TO INTRUDE ON OUR CIVIL LIBERTIES. THIS IS INSANE.

McCain will continue to implementt these misguided REpublian policies. McCain's ONE HUNDRED year agenda is not in AMERICA"s BEST INTEREST.
Posted By: VAKent @ 02/27/2008 12:21:57 PM

Comment: Lets take off your rose colored glasses and pull you from under that rock you've been living under and be realistic here: Democracy is not a pill to fix all that ails you! Cuba cannot go to democracy overnight, they will collapse. Plus, US is an Oligarchy, by the way, few ruling the many, look it up and look around you. Democracy cannot exist in large societies, you need socioeconomic and education level to be about equal for democracy to exist and work. Otherwise, you need leaders and subcultural groups. Cuba needs leadership and someone in control with a vision. It's romantic to dream of change and say there needs to be change, it's completely another story deciding on the desired results and what that change should and will be and making that vision a reality.
Posted By: CityChic @ 02/26/2008 12:38:09 PM

Comment: It's so sad to know this island is stuck in time. They are so ready for change and for a sense of belonging. They are trapped and closed off to the rest of the world, something so simple as buying a cell phone or getting on a plane to visit your tia or abuelita in another country is banned. My family is from Puerto Rico and it would hurt me deeply if I didn't have the freedom to visit them. I pray for a new positive change in Cuba. I hope families can be reunited.
Posted By: x00x @ 02/26/2008 1:06:45 AM

Comment: ipfreak: lol. So now it's America's fault? You're blaming Communism's failure because it didn't,
couldn't implement Capitalism's #1 rule. trade. How insanely illogical is that?
Posted By: ipfreak @ 02/25/2008 1:25:17 PM

Comment: democracy? hu? when did america give cuba an option of choice? cuba has problems and needs to reform its system, but who doesn't? imagine what will happen if the sanction against cube is lifted. i would say the life would be much better, with reform or not.
Posted By: mksl1 @ 02/24/2008 8:59:13 PM

Comment: It's amazing how little most americans know about Cuba.
The Cuban standard of living is very low.The per capita daily caloric intake is lower than any country in the hemisphere except Haiti.There's simply very little food and the quality of want is available is poor.But because Cuba is a Soviet style economy that does permit any private ownership Cubans have no opportunity.
Cuba's economy is going to libralize now.They will start to head the way of China and Vietnam.That is,they will begin to loosen some economic restrictions and start to allow Cubans to own small businesses and employ each other.It won't come overnight but that's where they're heading.They see what's happening in China and they want a piece of that free market growth.They have begun to allow Cuban employees of foriegn companies to be paid directly by their employers,albeit with heavy taxes.Those co.'s used to be required to send all paychecks to the central bank in Havana where the workers would then be paid a small percentage of the actual salary,and in pesos which are useless in dollar only stores.
If Cuba loosens the economy the U.S. should then,and only then,reciprocate by loosening trade restrictions.The change in U.S. policy should include de-emphasizing political change in favor of economic change.The Cuban govt. will not agree to political changes that threaten it's rule.But economic chnages will directly benefit the Cuban people and it time,will lead to political change.
Food first.
Then the vote.
Posted By: nealoff @ 02/24/2008 3:46:53 PM

Comment: Whether we, in the US, agree with how Cuban society functions or not really doesn't matter. What does matter is that there appears to be growing dissatisfaction of Cubans themselves. That isn't the same as saying they want an American system which has many problems that overall most Cubans might find less desireable. Hopefully, Cubans will be allowed to find their own path. Removing US sanctions would be a good step towards giving Cubans the ability to choose their own destiny.
Posted By: nawawimohamad @ 02/23/2008 10:30:00 PM

Comment: I have not been to Cuba, but I don't think the situation is that bad and even in the US you have pockets of the same scenario! Yes corruption is everywhere even in the US. However the US is still imposing sanctions against Cuba and that is what causing all the problem! This is a free world, the US should allow Cuba have its own system to run their country. What has the US gained so far from the sanction against Cuba? NOTHING!
Posted By: phiomalibumalibu @ 02/23/2008 10:27:53 PM

Comment: Must be an interesting time in Cuba, This will be the 2nd time I visit with a program USCubanTravel.com

I bet there will be lots up excitement in the air
Posted By: observer101 @ 02/23/2008 9:17:58 PM

Comment: Those ppl have more power than they think....They can change there country by demanding or mass demonstrations..Scare the dictatorship into change...They cant possibly arrest every single freedom wanting citizen there... Get into the aging , decaying minds of the socialists that there ways no longer appease the ppl.
Posted By: observer101 @ 02/23/2008 9:17:24 PM

Comment: Those ppl have more power than they think....They can change there country by demanding or mass demonstrations..Scare the dictatorship into change...They cant possibly arrest every single freedom wanting citizen there... Get into the aging , decaying minds of the socialists that there ways no longer appease the ppl.