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Originally Posted by Jim B.
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I hope BENZ-LGB weighs in on this. As far as I am concerned, his opinion counts for a lot more than the rest of ours.
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JimB, thank you for the sentiment. The same people who see President Bush as pure evil incarnate, rush to worship at the altar of kastro-kommunism-che.
Stupid is, as stupid does and there is no point in educating those who lack the capacity to see just a few centimeters in front of their noses.
I wish I had had the ready cash to buy this bit of memorabilia, then I'd have performed a couple of bodily function on the dead-a@@hole's hair and then I'd have finally burned the sorry mess.
As in most cases, there is a disconenct between a nation's people and a nation's government. That is not always the case,however. At the conclusion of WWII, Eisenhower forced common Germans to go into the concentration camps and witness, first-hand, what their quiet complicity with the Nazi government had wrought upon their country. (Eisenhower also wanted Germans to witness, first-hand what the Nazis had done so there would be no future denial of the existence of the Genocide).
For the most part common Cubans love the USA and love the American people. There is a huge reservoir off goodwill towards Americans. Cubans may march carrying signs CUBA SI - YANQUIS NO, but if you ask them in private, most will say something different.
JimB, as you and Carl and I discussed over dinner, the embargo has done a lot more harm than good. It has done harm because it has given kastro an easy scapegoat for all the failures of his regime. No diapers? Blame the embargo! No beans? Blame the embargo! No civil rights? Blame the embargo! and so on and so forth ad infinitum.
But to sing the praises of kastro's kommunist paradise? That is a horse of an entirely different color.
If someone tells you that life under kastro's regime is good, then he is either or a liar or a fool he has an "in" with the government. It is easy to go to Cuba as a tourist and then go back to Spain, or to France, or to Canada or to Germany and sing the praises of the dictator's paradise.
Try living as an everyday Cuban, standing in line all day to buy scarce commodities, having to shut your mouth up because any comment you make can be seen as critical of the regime, try living where you are not free to worship as you wish....that, my friend is the true litmus test. I am willing to bet my next Benz that after one one year as a "commoner" in kastro's paradise that erstwhile fan of the dictator will be singing a different tune.
But as I've said before, tehre is no point in educating those who refuse to be educated.
Don, I am glad that you are happy with your che shirt. It is a testament to the great country that you live in that you can wear that shirt, or any oteh shirt you wish, and not run afoul of the government. Growing up in Cuba I did nothave the same freedoms, which is why I am here.
I personally like Chris Bell's avatar. I bet you, however, that none of us could wear a t-shirt with his avatar in Cuba.
JimB, I look forward to the First Annual So-Cal/Nor-Cal GTG @ Enrique's. Seeing you guys and having lunch at the Cuban restaurant will be the icing onthe cake. thanks for helping put it together. I will bring the 300TE, in case I neeed to shuttle some of you guys to the restaurant (Paul can walk ifhe likes, I think it is too far to go by foot!).
See you all then.