I'll be in L.A. in February doing a cooking show with Wolfgang Puck about sea urchins and then a couple of days in San Diego picking up women and drinking beer.
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Originally posted by Stephan Whelan
I'd better start having words with Sven about this...
Roan,Roan said:To My Cuban-American Countrymen,
We're glad you're here (in America). It's been my observation that Cuban immigrants have been the most industrius, innovative, freedom loving, hard-working and entreprenurial groups to have ever landed on our shores. America and Florida in particular is a better place because you are here.
I have to say that over the years it has often seemed to me that your perhaps well founded hatred of Castro has clouded your memory of pre-1959 living conditions for the vast majority of Cubans. Yes, many of your families wrongfully lost homes and businesses. But pre-Castro Cuba was an oligarchy in which, again, the vast majority of the people lived in the most abject, brutal poverty ever documented in the 20th century. The plantation owners lived well and were free, yes; but they were not exactly benevolent overseers of the people who were living literally as modern day slaves. Their lives were brutal and short lived; their injuries and illnesses went untreated. Today all Cubans have universal health care. Is it great health care? Probably not. But it is much more than the oligarchs would have ever voluntarily provided out of the "goodness" of their hearts.
Given historical currents in the world at the time, and the social conditions in Cuba a communist takeover there was inevitable. Castro cared about the unwashed masses; he did'nt care about the 2% who controlled 98% of the land and wealth. The Cuban and American capitalists who owned Cuba had it "good." Too good. You lost; get over it. Cut the old guy some slack. He's got one foot in the grave; let him retire or die with the dignity he deserves. You guys will have plenty of oppurtunity to re-build your casinos and hotels after he's gone. My opinion is the more people who visit now, the better (especially if it's to freedive)!
Sincerely,
Roan
got lungs? said:sounds like a good school. it's a shame they put it in Cuba. you won't see me headed there anytime soon. i'd rather eat horse shit than spend a penny supporting their wonderful leader Castro. i don't think i'm alone on this one.