Cubans are getting double-whammied. The US government blockades Cuba with the embargo and by punishing other countries that trade with Cuba, then the Cuban government blockades its own people with loads of red-tape bureaucracy and strict rules regulating business. It was cool to see all of the old Spanish architecture, hear all the amazing live music, and meet so many exciting and excited people. It was disheartening to see the economical effects the US' embargo has had. It seems so unfair that a huge wealthy nation that is by no means guilt-free from dirty dealings in the world would be allowed to inflict such a harsh and heavy extended blow against a small island country for so long. The reasons behind the embargo are gray, iffy, hypocritical, and politician/big business-backed and motivated, and we continue to mercilessly enforce restrictions that place a giant burden on the backs of the Cuban nation, causing extreme hurt and damage to many innocent people on that beautiful Caribbean island.
Here are some of the photos from the adventure:
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4 comments:
So sad. And frustrating indeed.
True, the country has no economy, there are all those educated people with no jobs...but imagine the alternative when the embargo is lifted & the American corporations go in & eat up that "beautiful Caribbean island". There will be a tiny population of rich and so many poor.
Commodities may be scarce due to the embargo, but because of it, it's become the most sustainable society in the world.
It's sad that they can't travel freely like we can, and have to deal with propaganda (which I don't think is any worse than ads that lie), but is the neoliberal free-trade the answer? I'm not so sure.
I bet they are tired of the poverty, but I wonder how they'd feel when they become worse off because of the free market. I bet they already see the inequality in the little capitalism they see via tourism...which creates class system (due to some having more because they get cash from the tourists).
There's no easy answer. Would hate to see all the old cars thrown out for the new SUV's, all the old colonial achetecture torn down for the modern ones, and the party life with all that music and culture change because everyone's working 40+ hour weeks so that they can spend the weekend consuming all the things that the free trade has brought into their country.
Do you think it will be possible for Cuba to preserve its culture and change at their own pace...rejecting what they don't like of the outside world?
I really hope they can because what I see through your pictures really is a beautiful island.
That's a good point and question, I've thought a lot about that. I don't think lifting the embargo has to mean that Cuba gets flooded with McDonalds and Wal-Mart. They can still have the freedom to regulate how much foreign corporation they want coming into their country. In fact, they wouldn't have to allow ANY foreign companies in. 1959 Fidel nationalized all foreign companies when he took over (that's one of the main reasons for the embargo today--the US and its moneymonster United Fruit Company, today known as Chiquita Banana, are still pissed about getting the boot), and Cuba can maintain that policy. The difference would be they would be free to trade goods (sugar cane, cigars, etc.) with the huge US market, as well as with other countries who abstain from trading with Cuba because of US policy. That would bring a lot of money into their economy, providing the means to maintain their architecture and colorful towns.
Havana is beautiful, but it is also in shambles. There are countless huge old buildings that are rotting and empty, crumbling to the ground because there isn't money to maintain them. Many parts of the city look like a war zone...Berlin after WW2 or something. Huge piles of putrescent garbage accumulate on sidewalks.
In comparison, San Juan, Puerto Rico has the same architecture. In fact, the historic sections of each city have a lot in common, but Old San Juan has clean streets, firm buildings, fresh paint, thriving streets.
I think Cuba can maintain its culture without getting homogenized into the neon West. Their economy could be boosted without having to turn into a Costa Rican shoreline of foreign hotels. The thing is, they don't have a say in the matter. It would be sad for us as outsiders who view Cuba as this wonderful, mystical place, untouched by US over-capitalism, to be converted into just another cookie-cutter Caribbean resort for Americans. And it would be harmful to them in many ways. But it should be Cuba's choice, not a forced situation as a result of a super power's policies. They can't decide which way they want their economy to go. There is no money to decide with. They want cell phones and internet and cable, but I don't think they want foreign companies invading their country. A lifted embargo could mean more money without having to open the doors to US and other foreign businesses. They could ensure that every business is a local business. I don't think converting their socialist country into a capitalist country is any sort of answer. I think they can remain socialist but rise up from the current condition they are in by having more liberty in international trade.
HEY! Sorry, I left the above comment, but forgot that Jesse was signed in to this computer so it looks like he left the comment. I would hate to spread socialist propaganda in his name, thus getting him placed on some sort of CIA watch list. He's innocent I tell you, innocent!
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