First The T-Shirt, Now His Hair

[Mistress]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21476982/ Che lives on..

[Txjake]

some folks have waay too much money (and not enough sense)

[Jim B.]

I liked looking at the old '49 Mercury in Havana in the link provided.

Beyond that, everything else shown was just trash culture. Probably 99% of the sheep who bought all the "Che" T shirts and backpacks know nothing of the man and what he really did.

I was made to read "Revolution in the Revolution?" by Regis Debray just like all the other college students were..........

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regis_Debray

Been there, done that, definately did NOT buy the T shirt.

Garbage culture, right up (down?) there with the likes of Michael Jackson, Paris Hilton and Britney Spears.

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.

[LaRondo]

Originally Posted by Jim B.

Been there, done that, definately did NOT buy the T shirt..

Been in Cuba lately?

Originally Posted by Jim B.

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.

I like his opinion on people with opinions.

[Jim B.]

Originally Posted by LaRondo

Been in Cuba lately?

HOW IT WORKS:uanas

Nope. Almost did though, several years ago.

The thing of it is though, The embargo is still in force (in effect? I always get the two mixed up and Americans can't go.

There is a way around it though. Fly to Toronto or Quebec, or to Cancun or Veracruz, in Mexico, and from there, fly direct to Havana. It can be done easily.

Evidently the aduanas (customs) in Cuba are aware of American gringo turistas coming in that way, and the agreement they have made, is that when you show your pasaporte to the aduanas, they won't stamp it when you enter Cuba, and they wont stamp it when your vacation is over and you fly back to Toronto or Cancun, and thence to the USA

the US customs would see your pasaporte, and be none the wiser, never would know you broke the embargo.

Of course if you had dozens of Montecristo #1 cigars in your bags you would have some explaining to do.........

The Cubans are connected to the net, there are agencias de viajes(travel agencies) there and nice Bedc and Breakfast places that will fix you up with a place to stay.

You can do it, break the embargo.

I am kind of conflicted. Castro was a horrible dictator, cozied up to the Russians against the USA, participated in the missile crisis, nationalized all of it, brutalized and tortured dissenters, fomented war in Angola and the Congo, and so on, and economy in the sewer. teen prostitutes, all of that.
Sent the Marielitos to the USA

Only those Cubans in Miami with influence keep the embargo alive.

And, Castro did well in education and health care, it is available. No HMO stuff there.....

But in the end I could not support him, so I stayed away.

I guess that answers more of your question than you wanted to hear.

I sure would have loved to have seen all those cars old American ones from the 50s, in Camaguey, Santa Cruz, Cienfuegos and Havana though. WOW.
What a museum of cars on the streets.

[Mistress]

No stamps on the passaport eigh?....hummm vacation plans brewing...

[LaRondo]

Originally Posted by Jim B.

HOW IT WORKS:uanas

Nope. Almost did though, several years ago.

The thing of it is though, The embargo is still in force (in effect? I always get the two mixed up and Americans can't go.

There is a way around it though. Fly to Toronto or Quebec, or to Cancun or Veracruz, in Mexico, and from there, fly direct to Havana. It can be done easily.

Evidently the aduanas (customs) in Cuba are aware of American gringo turistas coming in that way, and the agreement they have made, is that when you show your pasaporte to the aduanas, they won't stamp it when you enter Cuba, and they wont stamp it when your vacation is over and you fly back to Toronto or Cancun, and thence to the USA

the US customs would see your pasaporte, and be none the wiser, never would know you broke the embargo.

Of course if you had dozens of Montecristo #1 cigars in your bags you would have some explaining to do.........

The Cubans are connected to the net, there are agencias de viajes(travel agencies) there and nice Bedc and Breakfast places that will fix you up with a place to stay.

You can do it, break the embargo.

I am kind of conflicted. Castro was a horrible dictator, cozied up to the Russians against the USA, participated in the missile crisis, nationalized all of it, brutalized and tortured dissenters, fomented war in Angola and the Congo, and so on, and economy in the sewer. teen prostitutes, all of that.
Sent the Marielitos to the USA

Only those Cubans in Miami with influence keep the embargo alive.

And, Castro did well in education and health care, it is available. No HMO stuff there.....

But in the end I could not support him, so I stayed away.

I guess that answers more of your question than you wanted to hear.

I sure would have loved to have seen all those cars old American ones from the 50s, in Camaguey, Santa Cruz, Cienfuegos and Havana though. WOW.
What a museum of cars on the streets.

Yeah it really sucks, I'd love to go to Cuba. I've got friends in Europe, who go there. What a trip. They say it's so cool. And those folks have been around on the planet.

I always wanted to mention this:
It's about the Cuban people, not about the regime.

Yeah, the avatar was free! I wouldn't spend a dime on a Tee, much less wearing it. Maybe just another way to say: Cuba, our heart is with you!

I thought I could raise a little arousement with this avatar
A few guys might see RED!

To me it's not about Che either, even though, I share his weakness for the Andean people and hope I can travel as much as he did across the Andean region and the Altiplano, before I leave the planet all together.

[TheDon]

Originally Posted by Jim B.

I liked looking at the old '49 Mercury in Havana in the link provided.

Beyond that, everything else shown was just trash culture. Probably 99% of the sheep who bought all the "Che" T shirts and backpacks know nothing of the man and what he really did.

I was made to read "Revolution in the Revolution?" by Regis Debray just like all the other college students were..........

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regis_Debray

Been there, done that, definately did NOT buy the T shirt.

Garbage culture, right up (down?) there with the likes of Michael Jackson, Paris Hilton and Britney Spears.

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.

I made my own Che shirt with a stencil... and I am not one of the sheep that think its a fashion icon now...

[BENZ-LGB]

Originally Posted by Jim B.

...

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.

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.

[LaRondo]

I am not going to comment on this, for the sake of the forums peace.

I only say this:

You're not only discrediting today's people of Cuba, particularly also Germans and other nationalities in general , with certain sections of your post.

[BENZ-LGB]

Originally Posted by LaRondo

I am not going to comment on this, for the sake of the forums peace.

I only say this:

You're not only discrediting today's people of Cuba, particularly also Germans and other nationalities in general , with certain sections of your post.

You have no idea what is like to be a Cuban living under kommunism. Do not, EVER, presume to tell me about conditions in Cuba under kastro's regime.

I know more about the people of Cuba today that you, hanging around your German friends will ever know.

Do you or your friends have relatives living in Cuba who get sick and cannot get well because they cannot get basic medications that are routinely available to foreigners in Cuba?

Do you or your friends have relatives in Cuba who have been sent against their will to the countryside to "voluntarily" cut sugar cane in order to meet insane production quotas imposed by ignorant bureacrats?

Do you or your friends have relatives in Cuba who have been sent to do hard labor in a Cuban prison because they are "gay" and in Cuba being "gay" is considered a disease that can be cured by beatings and hard labor?

Do you or your friends have relatives in Cuba, with professional degrees, who beg you to send them money because they do not make enough money (in kastro's workers paradise) to buy even essential foodstuff that is only available at "dollar" stores (at inflated prices)?

Unless you and your friends can answer yes to all of the above, neither you nor your friends have the qualifications (nor the right) to speak about how wonderful the kastro regime is.

Cuba is a beatiful land (Columbus called it the most beautiful land he had ever seen). The Cuban people are a wonderful, hardworking, motivated and intelligent people (look at what Cuban-Americans iimigrants have accomplished in the USA in the span of one single generation). Cubans will outlast kastro and will eventually kommunism.

You know nothing about Cuba or Cubans. All you know are the accounts from fat European tourists who go to Cuba and see what the regime lets them see and experience what the government lets them experience. Or perhas, you have been reading the glowing reviews from European pedophiles who go to Cuba on sex tours to have sex with underage Cuban boys and girls.

Let any of your fat tourist friends spend a year living like the overwhelming majority of real Cubans live and then let them tell me, cara a cara, what a wonderful paradise Cuba is.

You discredit all the people of the world who love freedom, social equality and justice.

Tell you what...you think life under the kastro regime is so wonderful, then trade place with an average Cuban.

And as for keeping the peace, being polite and keeping the peace have never been my top priorities.

You started this with your insensitive and ignorant comments ("Cuba would be a cool place to visit... ." I suppose that to you visiting Cambodia during the Pol Pot regime would have been an "interesting" experience or going to Burma, while monks are being beaten and thrown into prison would be a real "rush."). You then stepped into it further by suggesting that I, of all people, discredit my fellow Cubans.

I have no problem, nor will I shy away from, finishing it.

Capice paisan?