An opinion...from a Cuban please?

[Tim]

I have written to this noticeboard couple of times asking for opinions regarding Che Guevara, Fidel Castro and the current state of Cuba. I have also suggested my difficulties in the conciliation of my admiration for Guevara and Castro and the atrocities that I have heard attributed to them.

Many of the posters on this site are well informed and helpful and I thank them for their responses. The issue is that pretty much EVERY opinion posted on this site is from an American, a Swede, a Canadian, Australian etc etc. ie. pretty much every other national BUT a Cuban. I'd also suggest that while many of the posters are academically educated, it would also appear that very few, if any of them, have actually lived in Cuba or even been there. This lessens their credibility I feel.

What I would give for a CUBAN opinion on the matters at hand. The point is, does your average Cuban have access to the internet? How much freedom of speech does you average Cuban have under Castro? Or does the lack of Cuban opinion on this very much Cuban-interest website answer these questions for me?

Any Cubans out there - currently living in Cuba - want to let me know?

[Des]

cant use the internet in cuba..

but cubans love castro and they adore che!

free speech and free elections are A-OK in cuba..

[redstar2000]

Did you search the Spanish language forum? If any Cubans have posted here, that would be the most likely place to find them.

http://www.websmileys.com/sm/cool/123.gif

[Latin America]

I meet a lot of Cubans but the ones who live in the United States only talk nonsensel shit agains Castro! I believe that the Cuban revolution is a step to show the rest of the world that we can make a change! I meet many cubans but the ones in the US, they will only talk bad things, I am sure of that!
And one thing; I believe myself that spending resources putting cables all over Cuba specially for the use of internet is useless instead it will be better a school or a library.

[Monty Cantsin]

It’s quite well known that Cubans or most Cubans don’t speak English…also to find them on the internet could be hard because there internet is pretty limited.

I’ve watched a tourist program (I think it was lonely planet) which they went to a Cuban dissident. She was once part of the revolution but she now critical of the government but doesn’t get much trouble from the authorities because she’s not a Pro-USA functionary.

Western press often criticise Cuba for having political prisoners while being very hypocritical the truth is that there are political prisoners, but their incarcerated after being founded by US gold.

[fernando]

Well..I read a book about this guy who went to take the same journey as Che did in Latin America during his Motorcycle Diaries days...however he first was in Cuba and spoke to some Cubans...they werent too happy with the situation in Cuba, not specifacally Castro, but the economic problems in Cuba and other problems...they also claimed that these things wouldnt be if Che was still with them...

[FeArANDLoAtHiNg]

...they werent too happy with the situation in Cuba, not specifacally Castro, but the economic problems in Cuba and other problems...they also claimed that these things wouldnt be if Che was still with them...
...and if their wasn't an outrageous embargo.

[anarchialibertad]

I got a question about Cuba. I have seen a documentary and some of my teachers have told me that in Cuba the public are not allowed in certain areas like malls and museums?? I was also told that this places were only for tourist and the military elite. Is this true

[Kaan]

sounds like horseshit. You should ask your teacher for specific sources for her information, and then look at those sources yourself, shes not allowed to make baseless claims like that, especially since shes supposed to be teaching children.

And I live in Miami, and the Cubans around here aren't exactly the ones to ask about Cuba. A lot of the younger generation Cubans don't even know why they hate Castro so much, just because they're supposed to I guess. When I ask them the response is usually something like "He's fucking everything up", which is a pretty weak argument, considering Batista and all.

[anarchialibertad]

well he said that his "friend" went to cuba in a tourist trip with a class, and he notice this fact. I dont think he said this because he was against cuba, he just mentioned it in a conbersation we were having.

[FeArANDLoAtHiNg]

I am pretty sure, actually, the most common cuban citizens aren't allowed into the "tourism" areas, unless they work there. Also, I don't think it's very easy for tourists to get into the regular areas of Cuba either.

[fernando]

Originally posted by [email protected] 14 2005, 09:36 AM

...they werent too happy with the situation in Cuba, not specifacally Castro, but the economic problems in Cuba and other problems...they also claimed that these things wouldnt be if Che was still with them...
...and if their wasn't an outrageous embargo.
True...but if people suffer for so many years they also get pissed off at the politics, or might get anyhapy with their leaders...Im not saying that people are unhappy with Castro (because I dont know that), but they claimed things would have been better if Che was still there

[Spartacus2002]

When I was in Cuba I only talked in depth about Che with one guy and he loved Che, he did not love castro but he did appreciate the advances that he revolution brought.

[RABBIT - THE - CUBAN - MILITANT]

Originally posted by [email protected] 13 2005, 03:25 PM
cant use the internet in cuba..

..
:blink: i use internet all the time in cuba at internet cafe's or at schools .. i dunno what ur tlaking abotu ;)

[FeArANDLoAtHiNg]

Yeah, I see what you're saying Fernando.

But it still seems pretty unlikely that Che would have played a major role in the Cuban Government, even if he hadn't been killed in Bolivia. He seemed pretty intent on spreading revolution throughout Latin America. I could be wrong though.

[Livetrueordie]

I don't think Che would stand for the current state of Cuba, and go back

[fernando]

Originally posted by [email protected] 17 2005, 07:45 PM
Yeah, I see what you're saying Fernando.

But it still seems pretty unlikely that Che would have played a major role in the Cuban Government, even if he hadn't been killed in Bolivia. He seemed pretty intent on spreading revolution throughout Latin America. I could be wrong though.
I agree with you on that, the Cuban government would probably have kicked him out eventually for his too radical ideas. (having high ministers also do voluntary labour etc).

But Che has become a legend to the Cuban people I think...some of them would almost see him as a Saint, hence them having a way more positive opinion about Che than Castro I think.

A question: Does Castro also do voluntary labour? Or was Che the only high placed Cuban polician who did that?

[alex d kid]

Originally posted by RABBIT - THE - CUBAN - [email protected] 17 2005, 05:03 PM
:blink: i use internet all the time in cuba at internet cafe's or at schools .. i dunno what ur tlaking abotu ;)
Does this mean you're Cuban. If so, can't you just give us some info on the current state.

[Colombia]

Originally posted by [email protected] 17 2005, 08:32 PM



A question: Does Castro also do voluntary labour? Or was Che the only high placed Cuban polician who did that?
In the past he did some but at his age now I highly doubt it.

[colombiano]

Always consider the source. Naturally the Cubans in the US will speak badly of current state in CUBA. However on the other hand you cannot deny the millions who march and gather in Cuba in Support of the Revolution. All Cubans are gaurenteed and Education Healtcare and equal treatment regardless of race or Gender. That cannot even be said of here in the US where it is a fact that White men make more money for the same position than a woman or a Non white may .Plain and simple the US values Profit over People vs Cuba it is the exact opposite.If you want the TRUTH about Cuba I suggest this site http://www.cubasolidarity.com/takeaction/events/index.htm

I know many Cubas here who have Nothing positive to say about Castro. Yet they live in VERY nice homes, drive the lastest model cars and have an extreme fondness of material items. Just always consider the source.