SkyDekker 1,465 #26 July 31, 2006 QuoteThat reminds me of some special I saw where the were claiming that some Cuban families has 2 or even 3 cars Are you claiming there are no families in Cuba with 2 or 3 cars? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Steel 0 #27 July 31, 2006 QuoteSince he is already the 7th richest dictator in the world (I'll just believe you on this stat) can't he already purchase those advanced weapons? As I understand it, the money floating around the Cuban economy for a large part comes from the tourism industry, this does benefit the average Cuban. The US would be a huge source of tourists. Would that not also mean that there would be more money available for the average Cuban? (I understand Castro would make more money too, but surely as a proud Cuban you care about your fellow Cubans?) You are just not getting it. Either that or you just don't understand how Communism works. More money is actually useless when you need to use something like this passbook to buy groceries, clothing or anything http://www.nocastro.com/news/libreta.htm In your pretty little world this may not exist but many of my family and freinds had to live by this standard. ,If I could make a wish, I think I'd pass. Can't think of anything I need No cigarettes, no sleep, no light, no sound. Nothing to eat, no books to read. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Steel 0 #28 July 31, 2006 QuoteQuoteThat reminds me of some special I saw where the were claiming that some Cuban families has 2 or even 3 cars Are you claiming there are no families in Cuba with 2 or 3 cars? Yes I am claiming that NO Cuban citizen, who is not in DEEP with the Castro's government, has 2 cars. ,If I could make a wish, I think I'd pass. Can't think of anything I need No cigarettes, no sleep, no light, no sound. Nothing to eat, no books to read. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Steel 0 #29 July 31, 2006 QuoteOK, so not all of us speak spanish, so what has Castro done that is so bad? I mean Cuba is a popular holiday destination now. Surely hes not that bad is he? Are you Joking? Lets see where we can start. My grandmother was a pharmacist who owned two pharmacies. When Castro came into power she got a letter in the mail (which btw I have read) that stated that her pharmacies from here on foward were property of the Cuban government and that if she chose she would be allowed to work in them. The same happened with my grandfather's auto body shop, and every business owner. Look up the living standard in Cuba pre-1959 and compare it to the rest of the America's and then look it up now. I can't sit here and go step by step on it, because its quite frustrating that so much is not common knowledge. If you want to learn more, I suggest getting a copy of Andy Garcia's new movie 'The lost City'. As a Cuban who escaped the Island at 5 years of age, he has gone out of his way to portray the most possible accurate picture for people who otherwise wouldn't have it. I highly recommend it. ,If I could make a wish, I think I'd pass. Can't think of anything I need No cigarettes, no sleep, no light, no sound. Nothing to eat, no books to read. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
warpedskydiver 0 #30 July 31, 2006 Quote50/50 what do ya say? I could use some cash Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
miked10270 0 #31 July 31, 2006 QuoteQuote Is the area around the Hotel Presidente REALLY devoid of Cubans? It most certainly is. Maybe for a Cuban senator or somebody somehow involved in Castro's regime. The one thing the area WASN'T devoid of was young women (who I suspect weren't there in their capacity as civil servants or Cuban-Tourist-Board agents)! I understood the local term was "Jockeys"! One look at the fat balding businessmen (including some Americans via Mexico & Canada) with the mini-skirted "22-year-olds" was the saddest reflection of the Cuban economy. Perhaps I should have taken more perfume, jeans & trainers... And one less wife! Then again, perhaps not. QuoteThat reminds me of some special I saw where the were claiming that some Cuban families has 2 or even 3 cars. Kind of like the fact that the average East-German family owned a supercar; a Maserati; or Lamboghini; or Mercedes Sports; or Aston Martin, etc... Unfortunately Erich Hoeneker happened to have all of them in his garages! Then again, I wonder what Cuba would have been like if Batista had never been overthrown? Had "The Mafia" continued to effectively control the island & Cuban economy? Rather worse, I'll bet. Mike. Taking the piss out of the FrenchAmericans since before it was fashionable. Prenait la pisse hors du FrançaisCanadiens méridionaux puisqu'avant lui à la mode. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkyDekker 1,465 #32 July 31, 2006 QuoteYou are just not getting it. Either that or you just don't understand how Communism works. More money is actually useless when you need to use something like this passbook to buy groceries, clothing or anything http://www.nocastro.com/news/libreta.htm In your pretty little world this may not exist but many of my family and freinds had to live by this standard. Different standards in different countries, some do suck, some don't. The US embargo is not in place because Cuba follows communism. China does as well and the US certainly has no problem whatsoever dealing with them. Would you advocate completely removing the tourist industry from Cuba? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Steel 0 #33 July 31, 2006 QuoteQuoteQuote Then again, I wonder what Cuba would have been like if Batista had never been overthrown? -------------------------------------------------- I am going with better. However, I do think he would have been overthrown, regardless. There were a lot of people who didn't like him and many were fooled by Castro at first but quickly realized that Castro was worse. ================================ Had "The Mafia" continued to effectively control the island & Cuban economy? ----------------------------------------------- This is completely untrue. Does the Mafia control Brooklyn, NY or Cliffside Park, NJ? In case you don't know the answer I will tell you it doesn't. Is there a lot of mafia there? Yes. Do I support the mafia? Hell No! ============================= Rather worse, I'll bet. Mike. --------------------------------------------------- Again we disagree. But lets think about this Batista was the leader from 1933-1940 and then again from 1952-1959, during which Cuba did not fall to shit. Then Castro took power via a Cu and everything went to shit. Like much of this debate, I don't think it a matter of opinion, the facts are to clear. ,If I could make a wish, I think I'd pass. Can't think of anything I need No cigarettes, no sleep, no light, no sound. Nothing to eat, no books to read. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites SkyDekker 1,465 #34 July 31, 2006 QuoteI am going with better. However, I do think he would have been overthrown, regardless. There were a lot of people who didn't like him and many were fooled by Castro at first but quickly realized that Castro was worse. Okay, help me out with your reasoning here. You claim Batista would have been overthrown because there were a lot of people who didn't like him. Then you claim that even more people don't like Castro, but in a couple of decades he has not been overthrown. Your reasoning makes no sense. Shouldn't you be even angrier at the US? Didn't they help or at least fund that "revolution"? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Steel 0 #35 July 31, 2006 QuoteQuote. Different standards in different countries, some do suck, some don't. The US embargo is not in place because Cuba follows communism. China does as well and the US certainly has no problem whatsoever dealing with them. ------------------------------------------------------- I believe, I said that earlier in this thread. However, I went a little further to say that the Cuban embargo was there because of Cuban-American lobbies set up by people who actually know and care about what is going on in the Island. ================================= Would you advocate completely removing the tourist industry from Cuba? I would advocate taking back all the stolen businesses taken from the Cuban people and other countries with investments there. I guess that would require regime change. However, at this point Cuba is not a direct threat to the U.S., so it hardly justifies the U.S. going in there and setting right what was previously wronged. I would not support the regime any which way and do not respect somebody who does. Its funny just recently I went for vaction in the Dominican Republic. I came back with a box of DOMINICAN cigars. I could have bought Cubans and snuck them in, but would never do such a thing, as I consider it dispicable. I remember at the customs they read cigars and asked, from where? I said Dominican and they said it better not be Cuban. Ofcourse they didn't check, but it left me thinking, that this customs woman didn't know who she was talking to. For one thing the reason its illegal is because people of my background want it to be. ,If I could make a wish, I think I'd pass. Can't think of anything I need No cigarettes, no sleep, no light, no sound. Nothing to eat, no books to read. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Steel 0 #36 July 31, 2006 QuoteQuoteI am going with better. However, I do think he would have been overthrown, regardless. There were a lot of people who didn't like him and many were fooled by Castro at first but quickly realized that Castro was worse. Okay, help me out with your reasoning here. You claim Batista would have been overthrown because there were a lot of people who didn't like him. Then you claim that even more people don't like Castro, but in a couple of decades he has not been overthrown. Your reasoning makes no sense. Shouldn't you be even angrier at the US? Didn't they help or at least fund that "revolution"? This is totally false, the U.S. did not fund Castro's revolution. And there is no flaw here, Castro is far more ruthless than Batista could ever be and harder to defeat. Notice Batista ruled from 1933-1940 and then lost by election and another leader replaced him. He came back in 1952 (admittadly by force). He imprisoned Castro in 1953 for trying to overthrow him. Yes, Castro was trying to overthrow the government long before 1959. However, although Bastista was a dicator and had Castro and all his other Guerrilla thugs imprisoned, he let them go. If Castro had a militia trying to overthrow him in prison he wouldn't think twice before executing every last one of them. Proof is in the 113,000 that have been killed by Castro since 1959. Equading the two of them is absurd when you know the facts. ,If I could make a wish, I think I'd pass. Can't think of anything I need No cigarettes, no sleep, no light, no sound. Nothing to eat, no books to read. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites jakee 1,596 #37 July 31, 2006 QuoteThe reason is because, of Cuban-Americans like me who do actually care about what is happening in Cuba, lobbying to make sure the Embargo stays where it is.... Ofcourse they didn't check, but it left me thinking, that this customs woman didn't know who she was talking to. For one thing the reason its illegal is because people of my background want it to be. Are you sure the Cuban-American lobby is that powerful? No offence but Cuban immigrants must make up a tiny percentage of the voting population.Do you want to have an ideagasm? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Steel 0 #38 July 31, 2006 QuoteQuoteThe reason is because, of Cuban-Americans like me who do actually care about what is happening in Cuba, lobbying to make sure the Embargo stays where it is.... Ofcourse they didn't check, but it left me thinking, that this customs woman didn't know who she was talking to. For one thing the reason its illegal is because people of my background want it to be. Are you sure the Cuban-American lobby is that powerful? No offence but Cuban immigrants must make up a tiny percentage of the voting population. Its not as tiny as you may think. I guarantee you that if you took away the Cuban vote as a whole in Florida, then Gore would have won the 2000 election. Yes, we make up less that 1% of the population. However, we are 3% of the Senators, make more money than the average American and really do care about this cause . http://www.cfr.org/publication/6429/getting_uncle_sams_ear.htmlIf I could make a wish, I think I'd pass. Can't think of anything I need No cigarettes, no sleep, no light, no sound. Nothing to eat, no books to read. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites shropshire 0 #39 July 31, 2006 Implied Joke \ | / \|/ v <> Have a cigar and chill out (.)Y(.) Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites miked10270 0 #40 July 31, 2006 QuoteAre you sure the Cuban-American lobby is that powerful? No offence but Cuban immigrants must make up a tiny percentage of the voting population. Should the question be: "Are you sure the Kill-Castro lobby is that powerful? No offence but counter-revolutionary Cuban immigrants must make up a tiny percentage of the voting population"? I'm assuming that at least some, probably the majority, of Cuban-Americans have assimilated into American life and no longer see themselves as exiles waiting to return, by force if necessary? Mike. Taking the piss out of the FrenchAmericans since before it was fashionable. Prenait la pisse hors du FrançaisCanadiens méridionaux puisqu'avant lui à la mode. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Steel 0 #41 July 31, 2006 QuoteQuote I'm assuming that at least some, probably the majority, of Cuban-Americans have assimilated into American life and no longer see themselves as exiles waiting to return, by force if necessary? Mike. This is true Cuban-Americans have assimilated and assimiliated well into American life. I just as my entire family or Cuban-American freinds have no intention of returning to Cuba. But that does not mean that we don't want the best for that Island and the family and freinds we have left behind there. I am not sure why you can't understand that it matters more to us than just some random country would. As for the kill Castro crowd. Some CA's try not to give this too much thought and block a lot of it out. Others go to meetings and are constantly following the news stories, hoping for change. But I can honestly say, I have never met a Cuban-American who would be unhappy if Castro was assasinated or that government fell. I also am willing to bet that I know more than 50 times more CA's than you or any of the other posters on this thread. EDitted to add, If you did know just a few Cuban-Americans, you wouldn't be posting all this non-sense. ,If I could make a wish, I think I'd pass. Can't think of anything I need No cigarettes, no sleep, no light, no sound. Nothing to eat, no books to read. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites SpeedRacer 1 #42 July 31, 2006 what do you think of all the Che Guevara T-shirts?? & how popular are they in Miami? Speed Racer -------------------------------------------------- Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Steel 0 #43 July 31, 2006 Quotewhat do you think of all the Che Guevara T-shirts?? & how popular are they in Miami? I would guess that they are NOT very popular in Miami. The site of these shirts makes me sick. I have heard stories about Cubans seeing people selling these shirts buying them and burning them right in front of the seller to make a statement. I would rather just let the person know what an ignorant asshole, I think he his. Carlos Santana has been boycotted by many Cuban-Americans, including myself, for showing up to the Oscars in Che Guevara shirt. http://www.killcastro.com/blog/2005/08/carlos-santana-rides-his-donkey-again.html Editted to add: Unless ofcourse this is the shirt you are talking about http://www.thoseshirts.com/commies.html ,If I could make a wish, I think I'd pass. Can't think of anything I need No cigarettes, no sleep, no light, no sound. Nothing to eat, no books to read. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites warpedskydiver 0 #44 August 1, 2006 Surgery Forces Castro to Cede Power Tuesday, August 1, 2006 6:48 AM EDT The Associated Press By ANITA SNOW Listen to Audio HAVANA (AP) — Little was known of Fidel Castro's condition Tuesday after he underwent an operation and temporarily turned over the Cuban presidency to his brother Raul, ushering in a period of uncertainty at home and celebrations by his enemies abroad. The surprise announcement that Castro had been operated on to repair a "sharp intestinal crisis with sustained bleeding" stunned Cubans on the island and in exile, and marked the first time that Castro, two weeks away from 80th birthday, had relinquished power in 47 years of absolute rule. The news came Monday night in a statement read on state television by his secretary Carlos Valenciaga. The message said Castro's condition was apparently due to stress from a heavy work schedule during recent trips to Argentina and eastern Cuba. He did not appear on the broadcast. Castro, who took control of Cuba in 1959, resisted repeated U.S. attempts to oust him and survived communism's demise elsewhere, said he was temporarily handing over the presidency and the leadership of Cuba's Communist Party to his brother, Raul. Raul Castro, Cuba's defense minister who turned 75 in June, also did not appear on television and made no statement on his own. For decades the constitutional successor to his brother, Raul Castro has assumed a more public profile in recent weeks. Fidel Castro last appeared in public Wednesday as he marked the 53rd anniversary of his July 26 barracks assault that launched the revolution. The Cuban leader seemed thinner than usual and somewhat weary during a pair of long speeches in eastern Cuba. "The operation obligates me to undertake several weeks of rest," Castro's letter read. Extreme stress "had provoked in me a sharp intestinal crisis with sustained bleeding that obligated me to undergo a complicated surgical procedure." The calm delivery of the announcement appeared to signal that there would be an orderly succession should Fidel become permanently incapacitated. Cuban exiles celebrated in the streets of Miami, but Havana's streets were quiet overnight as Cubans awaited further word on Castro's condition. It was unknown when or where the surgery took place, or where Castro was recovering. Ongoing intestinal bleeding can be serious and potentially life-threatening, said Dr. Stephen Hanauer, gastroenerology chief at the University of Chicago hospitals. He said it was difficult to deduce the cause of Castro's bleeding without knowing what part of the digestive tract was affected. Ulcers are a common cause of bleeding in the stomach or upper intestine, while a condition called diverticulosis also can provoke bleeding in the lower intestine, especially in people over age 60, said Hanauer. He said this condition involves weakened spots in the intestinal lining that form pouches, which can become inflamed and provoke bleeding. Fidel seemed optimistic of recovery, asking that celebrations scheduled for his 80th birthday on Aug. 13 be postponed until Dec. 2, the 50th anniversary of Cuba's Revolutionary Armed Forces. With Havana's streets calm, an electronic news ticker at the U.S. diplomatic mission provided the only clue that something dramatic had occurred inside Cuba's government: "All Cubans, including those under the dictatorship, can count on our help and support. We respect the wishes of all Cubans." Waiters at a popular cafe in Old Havana were momentarily stunned by the news, but quickly returned to work. "He'll get better, without a doubt," said Agustin Lopez, 40. "There are really good doctors here, and he's extremely strong." But Martha Beatriz Roque, a leading Cuban government opponent in Havana, said she believed Castro must be gravely ill to have stepped aside — even temporarily. "No one knows if he'll even be alive Dec. 2 when he's supposed to celebrate his birthday," she said in a telephone interview. She said opposition members worried they could be targeted for repression during a government change — especially if authorities fear civil unrest. White House spokesman Peter Watkins said U.S. authorities were monitoring the situation: "We can't speculate on Castro's health, but we continue to work for the day of Cuba's freedom." Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, Castro's strongest international ally, was the first foreign leader to react to the news, expressing his distress during a visit to Vietnam. He said he called the Cuban leader's office after hearing the news. "Waking up this morning and receiving that news, you may see what feeling one would have toward a good friend," Chavez said Tuesday morning. "When there is such an announcement, it's worrisome." "We wish President Fidel Castro will recover rapidly," Chavez said. "Viva Fidel Castro." Across the Florida straits in Miami, exiles waved Cuban flags on Little Havana's Calle Ocho, shouting "Cuba! Cuba! Cuba!" as drivers honked their horns. Over nearly five decades, hundreds of thousands of Cubans have fled Castro's rule, many of them settling in Miami. Castro has been in power since the Jan. 1, 1959 triumph of the armed revolution that drove out dictator Fulgencio Batista. He has been the world's longest-ruling head of government and his ironclad rule has ensured Cuba's place among the world's five remaining communist countries, along with China, Vietnam, Laos and North Korea. Castro resisted U.S. demands for multiparty elections and an open economy and insisted his socialist system would long outlive him. The son of a prosperous plantation owner, Castro's official birthday is Aug. 13, 1926, although some say he was born a year later. Talk of Castro's mortality was taboo until June 23, 2001, when he fainted during a speech in the sun. Although Castro quickly recovered, many Cubans understood for the first time that their leader would eventually die. Castro shattered a kneecap and broke an arm when he fell after a speech on Oct. 20, 2004, but laughed off rumors about his health, most recently a 2005 report he had Parkinson's disease. But the Cuban president also said he would not insist on remaining in power if he ever became too sick to lead: "I'll call the (Communist) Party and tell them I don't feel I'm in condition ... that please, someone take over the command." ——— Associated Press writers Vanessa Arrington in Havana, Laura Wides-Munoz in Miami, Tran Van Minh in Hanoi, Vietnam, and Medical Writer Lindsey Tanner in Chicago contributed to this report. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Prev 1 2 Next Page 2 of 2 Join the conversation You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible. Reply to this topic... × Pasted as rich text. Paste as plain text instead Only 75 emoji are allowed. × Your link has been automatically embedded. Display as a link instead × Your previous content has been restored. Clear editor × You cannot paste images directly. 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SkyDekker 1,465 #34 July 31, 2006 QuoteI am going with better. However, I do think he would have been overthrown, regardless. There were a lot of people who didn't like him and many were fooled by Castro at first but quickly realized that Castro was worse. Okay, help me out with your reasoning here. You claim Batista would have been overthrown because there were a lot of people who didn't like him. Then you claim that even more people don't like Castro, but in a couple of decades he has not been overthrown. Your reasoning makes no sense. Shouldn't you be even angrier at the US? Didn't they help or at least fund that "revolution"? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Steel 0 #35 July 31, 2006 QuoteQuote. Different standards in different countries, some do suck, some don't. The US embargo is not in place because Cuba follows communism. China does as well and the US certainly has no problem whatsoever dealing with them. ------------------------------------------------------- I believe, I said that earlier in this thread. However, I went a little further to say that the Cuban embargo was there because of Cuban-American lobbies set up by people who actually know and care about what is going on in the Island. ================================= Would you advocate completely removing the tourist industry from Cuba? I would advocate taking back all the stolen businesses taken from the Cuban people and other countries with investments there. I guess that would require regime change. However, at this point Cuba is not a direct threat to the U.S., so it hardly justifies the U.S. going in there and setting right what was previously wronged. I would not support the regime any which way and do not respect somebody who does. Its funny just recently I went for vaction in the Dominican Republic. I came back with a box of DOMINICAN cigars. I could have bought Cubans and snuck them in, but would never do such a thing, as I consider it dispicable. I remember at the customs they read cigars and asked, from where? I said Dominican and they said it better not be Cuban. Ofcourse they didn't check, but it left me thinking, that this customs woman didn't know who she was talking to. For one thing the reason its illegal is because people of my background want it to be. ,If I could make a wish, I think I'd pass. Can't think of anything I need No cigarettes, no sleep, no light, no sound. Nothing to eat, no books to read. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Steel 0 #36 July 31, 2006 QuoteQuoteI am going with better. However, I do think he would have been overthrown, regardless. There were a lot of people who didn't like him and many were fooled by Castro at first but quickly realized that Castro was worse. Okay, help me out with your reasoning here. You claim Batista would have been overthrown because there were a lot of people who didn't like him. Then you claim that even more people don't like Castro, but in a couple of decades he has not been overthrown. Your reasoning makes no sense. Shouldn't you be even angrier at the US? Didn't they help or at least fund that "revolution"? This is totally false, the U.S. did not fund Castro's revolution. And there is no flaw here, Castro is far more ruthless than Batista could ever be and harder to defeat. Notice Batista ruled from 1933-1940 and then lost by election and another leader replaced him. He came back in 1952 (admittadly by force). He imprisoned Castro in 1953 for trying to overthrow him. Yes, Castro was trying to overthrow the government long before 1959. However, although Bastista was a dicator and had Castro and all his other Guerrilla thugs imprisoned, he let them go. If Castro had a militia trying to overthrow him in prison he wouldn't think twice before executing every last one of them. Proof is in the 113,000 that have been killed by Castro since 1959. Equading the two of them is absurd when you know the facts. ,If I could make a wish, I think I'd pass. Can't think of anything I need No cigarettes, no sleep, no light, no sound. Nothing to eat, no books to read. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jakee 1,596 #37 July 31, 2006 QuoteThe reason is because, of Cuban-Americans like me who do actually care about what is happening in Cuba, lobbying to make sure the Embargo stays where it is.... Ofcourse they didn't check, but it left me thinking, that this customs woman didn't know who she was talking to. For one thing the reason its illegal is because people of my background want it to be. Are you sure the Cuban-American lobby is that powerful? No offence but Cuban immigrants must make up a tiny percentage of the voting population.Do you want to have an ideagasm? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Steel 0 #38 July 31, 2006 QuoteQuoteThe reason is because, of Cuban-Americans like me who do actually care about what is happening in Cuba, lobbying to make sure the Embargo stays where it is.... Ofcourse they didn't check, but it left me thinking, that this customs woman didn't know who she was talking to. For one thing the reason its illegal is because people of my background want it to be. Are you sure the Cuban-American lobby is that powerful? No offence but Cuban immigrants must make up a tiny percentage of the voting population. Its not as tiny as you may think. I guarantee you that if you took away the Cuban vote as a whole in Florida, then Gore would have won the 2000 election. Yes, we make up less that 1% of the population. However, we are 3% of the Senators, make more money than the average American and really do care about this cause . http://www.cfr.org/publication/6429/getting_uncle_sams_ear.htmlIf I could make a wish, I think I'd pass. Can't think of anything I need No cigarettes, no sleep, no light, no sound. Nothing to eat, no books to read. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shropshire 0 #39 July 31, 2006 Implied Joke \ | / \|/ v <> Have a cigar and chill out (.)Y(.) Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
miked10270 0 #40 July 31, 2006 QuoteAre you sure the Cuban-American lobby is that powerful? No offence but Cuban immigrants must make up a tiny percentage of the voting population. Should the question be: "Are you sure the Kill-Castro lobby is that powerful? No offence but counter-revolutionary Cuban immigrants must make up a tiny percentage of the voting population"? I'm assuming that at least some, probably the majority, of Cuban-Americans have assimilated into American life and no longer see themselves as exiles waiting to return, by force if necessary? Mike. Taking the piss out of the FrenchAmericans since before it was fashionable. Prenait la pisse hors du FrançaisCanadiens méridionaux puisqu'avant lui à la mode. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Steel 0 #41 July 31, 2006 QuoteQuote I'm assuming that at least some, probably the majority, of Cuban-Americans have assimilated into American life and no longer see themselves as exiles waiting to return, by force if necessary? Mike. This is true Cuban-Americans have assimilated and assimiliated well into American life. I just as my entire family or Cuban-American freinds have no intention of returning to Cuba. But that does not mean that we don't want the best for that Island and the family and freinds we have left behind there. I am not sure why you can't understand that it matters more to us than just some random country would. As for the kill Castro crowd. Some CA's try not to give this too much thought and block a lot of it out. Others go to meetings and are constantly following the news stories, hoping for change. But I can honestly say, I have never met a Cuban-American who would be unhappy if Castro was assasinated or that government fell. I also am willing to bet that I know more than 50 times more CA's than you or any of the other posters on this thread. EDitted to add, If you did know just a few Cuban-Americans, you wouldn't be posting all this non-sense. ,If I could make a wish, I think I'd pass. Can't think of anything I need No cigarettes, no sleep, no light, no sound. Nothing to eat, no books to read. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites SpeedRacer 1 #42 July 31, 2006 what do you think of all the Che Guevara T-shirts?? & how popular are they in Miami? Speed Racer -------------------------------------------------- Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Steel 0 #43 July 31, 2006 Quotewhat do you think of all the Che Guevara T-shirts?? & how popular are they in Miami? I would guess that they are NOT very popular in Miami. The site of these shirts makes me sick. I have heard stories about Cubans seeing people selling these shirts buying them and burning them right in front of the seller to make a statement. I would rather just let the person know what an ignorant asshole, I think he his. Carlos Santana has been boycotted by many Cuban-Americans, including myself, for showing up to the Oscars in Che Guevara shirt. http://www.killcastro.com/blog/2005/08/carlos-santana-rides-his-donkey-again.html Editted to add: Unless ofcourse this is the shirt you are talking about http://www.thoseshirts.com/commies.html ,If I could make a wish, I think I'd pass. Can't think of anything I need No cigarettes, no sleep, no light, no sound. Nothing to eat, no books to read. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites warpedskydiver 0 #44 August 1, 2006 Surgery Forces Castro to Cede Power Tuesday, August 1, 2006 6:48 AM EDT The Associated Press By ANITA SNOW Listen to Audio HAVANA (AP) — Little was known of Fidel Castro's condition Tuesday after he underwent an operation and temporarily turned over the Cuban presidency to his brother Raul, ushering in a period of uncertainty at home and celebrations by his enemies abroad. The surprise announcement that Castro had been operated on to repair a "sharp intestinal crisis with sustained bleeding" stunned Cubans on the island and in exile, and marked the first time that Castro, two weeks away from 80th birthday, had relinquished power in 47 years of absolute rule. The news came Monday night in a statement read on state television by his secretary Carlos Valenciaga. The message said Castro's condition was apparently due to stress from a heavy work schedule during recent trips to Argentina and eastern Cuba. He did not appear on the broadcast. Castro, who took control of Cuba in 1959, resisted repeated U.S. attempts to oust him and survived communism's demise elsewhere, said he was temporarily handing over the presidency and the leadership of Cuba's Communist Party to his brother, Raul. Raul Castro, Cuba's defense minister who turned 75 in June, also did not appear on television and made no statement on his own. For decades the constitutional successor to his brother, Raul Castro has assumed a more public profile in recent weeks. Fidel Castro last appeared in public Wednesday as he marked the 53rd anniversary of his July 26 barracks assault that launched the revolution. The Cuban leader seemed thinner than usual and somewhat weary during a pair of long speeches in eastern Cuba. "The operation obligates me to undertake several weeks of rest," Castro's letter read. Extreme stress "had provoked in me a sharp intestinal crisis with sustained bleeding that obligated me to undergo a complicated surgical procedure." The calm delivery of the announcement appeared to signal that there would be an orderly succession should Fidel become permanently incapacitated. Cuban exiles celebrated in the streets of Miami, but Havana's streets were quiet overnight as Cubans awaited further word on Castro's condition. It was unknown when or where the surgery took place, or where Castro was recovering. Ongoing intestinal bleeding can be serious and potentially life-threatening, said Dr. Stephen Hanauer, gastroenerology chief at the University of Chicago hospitals. He said it was difficult to deduce the cause of Castro's bleeding without knowing what part of the digestive tract was affected. Ulcers are a common cause of bleeding in the stomach or upper intestine, while a condition called diverticulosis also can provoke bleeding in the lower intestine, especially in people over age 60, said Hanauer. He said this condition involves weakened spots in the intestinal lining that form pouches, which can become inflamed and provoke bleeding. Fidel seemed optimistic of recovery, asking that celebrations scheduled for his 80th birthday on Aug. 13 be postponed until Dec. 2, the 50th anniversary of Cuba's Revolutionary Armed Forces. With Havana's streets calm, an electronic news ticker at the U.S. diplomatic mission provided the only clue that something dramatic had occurred inside Cuba's government: "All Cubans, including those under the dictatorship, can count on our help and support. We respect the wishes of all Cubans." Waiters at a popular cafe in Old Havana were momentarily stunned by the news, but quickly returned to work. "He'll get better, without a doubt," said Agustin Lopez, 40. "There are really good doctors here, and he's extremely strong." But Martha Beatriz Roque, a leading Cuban government opponent in Havana, said she believed Castro must be gravely ill to have stepped aside — even temporarily. "No one knows if he'll even be alive Dec. 2 when he's supposed to celebrate his birthday," she said in a telephone interview. She said opposition members worried they could be targeted for repression during a government change — especially if authorities fear civil unrest. White House spokesman Peter Watkins said U.S. authorities were monitoring the situation: "We can't speculate on Castro's health, but we continue to work for the day of Cuba's freedom." Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, Castro's strongest international ally, was the first foreign leader to react to the news, expressing his distress during a visit to Vietnam. He said he called the Cuban leader's office after hearing the news. "Waking up this morning and receiving that news, you may see what feeling one would have toward a good friend," Chavez said Tuesday morning. "When there is such an announcement, it's worrisome." "We wish President Fidel Castro will recover rapidly," Chavez said. "Viva Fidel Castro." Across the Florida straits in Miami, exiles waved Cuban flags on Little Havana's Calle Ocho, shouting "Cuba! Cuba! Cuba!" as drivers honked their horns. Over nearly five decades, hundreds of thousands of Cubans have fled Castro's rule, many of them settling in Miami. Castro has been in power since the Jan. 1, 1959 triumph of the armed revolution that drove out dictator Fulgencio Batista. He has been the world's longest-ruling head of government and his ironclad rule has ensured Cuba's place among the world's five remaining communist countries, along with China, Vietnam, Laos and North Korea. Castro resisted U.S. demands for multiparty elections and an open economy and insisted his socialist system would long outlive him. The son of a prosperous plantation owner, Castro's official birthday is Aug. 13, 1926, although some say he was born a year later. Talk of Castro's mortality was taboo until June 23, 2001, when he fainted during a speech in the sun. Although Castro quickly recovered, many Cubans understood for the first time that their leader would eventually die. Castro shattered a kneecap and broke an arm when he fell after a speech on Oct. 20, 2004, but laughed off rumors about his health, most recently a 2005 report he had Parkinson's disease. But the Cuban president also said he would not insist on remaining in power if he ever became too sick to lead: "I'll call the (Communist) Party and tell them I don't feel I'm in condition ... that please, someone take over the command." ——— Associated Press writers Vanessa Arrington in Havana, Laura Wides-Munoz in Miami, Tran Van Minh in Hanoi, Vietnam, and Medical Writer Lindsey Tanner in Chicago contributed to this report. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Prev 1 2 Next Page 2 of 2 Join the conversation You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible. Reply to this topic... × Pasted as rich text. Paste as plain text instead Only 75 emoji are allowed. × Your link has been automatically embedded. Display as a link instead × Your previous content has been restored. Clear editor × You cannot paste images directly. 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SpeedRacer 1 #42 July 31, 2006 what do you think of all the Che Guevara T-shirts?? & how popular are they in Miami? Speed Racer -------------------------------------------------- Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Steel 0 #43 July 31, 2006 Quotewhat do you think of all the Che Guevara T-shirts?? & how popular are they in Miami? I would guess that they are NOT very popular in Miami. The site of these shirts makes me sick. I have heard stories about Cubans seeing people selling these shirts buying them and burning them right in front of the seller to make a statement. I would rather just let the person know what an ignorant asshole, I think he his. Carlos Santana has been boycotted by many Cuban-Americans, including myself, for showing up to the Oscars in Che Guevara shirt. http://www.killcastro.com/blog/2005/08/carlos-santana-rides-his-donkey-again.html Editted to add: Unless ofcourse this is the shirt you are talking about http://www.thoseshirts.com/commies.html ,If I could make a wish, I think I'd pass. Can't think of anything I need No cigarettes, no sleep, no light, no sound. Nothing to eat, no books to read. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
warpedskydiver 0 #44 August 1, 2006 Surgery Forces Castro to Cede Power Tuesday, August 1, 2006 6:48 AM EDT The Associated Press By ANITA SNOW Listen to Audio HAVANA (AP) — Little was known of Fidel Castro's condition Tuesday after he underwent an operation and temporarily turned over the Cuban presidency to his brother Raul, ushering in a period of uncertainty at home and celebrations by his enemies abroad. The surprise announcement that Castro had been operated on to repair a "sharp intestinal crisis with sustained bleeding" stunned Cubans on the island and in exile, and marked the first time that Castro, two weeks away from 80th birthday, had relinquished power in 47 years of absolute rule. The news came Monday night in a statement read on state television by his secretary Carlos Valenciaga. The message said Castro's condition was apparently due to stress from a heavy work schedule during recent trips to Argentina and eastern Cuba. He did not appear on the broadcast. Castro, who took control of Cuba in 1959, resisted repeated U.S. attempts to oust him and survived communism's demise elsewhere, said he was temporarily handing over the presidency and the leadership of Cuba's Communist Party to his brother, Raul. Raul Castro, Cuba's defense minister who turned 75 in June, also did not appear on television and made no statement on his own. For decades the constitutional successor to his brother, Raul Castro has assumed a more public profile in recent weeks. Fidel Castro last appeared in public Wednesday as he marked the 53rd anniversary of his July 26 barracks assault that launched the revolution. The Cuban leader seemed thinner than usual and somewhat weary during a pair of long speeches in eastern Cuba. "The operation obligates me to undertake several weeks of rest," Castro's letter read. Extreme stress "had provoked in me a sharp intestinal crisis with sustained bleeding that obligated me to undergo a complicated surgical procedure." The calm delivery of the announcement appeared to signal that there would be an orderly succession should Fidel become permanently incapacitated. Cuban exiles celebrated in the streets of Miami, but Havana's streets were quiet overnight as Cubans awaited further word on Castro's condition. It was unknown when or where the surgery took place, or where Castro was recovering. Ongoing intestinal bleeding can be serious and potentially life-threatening, said Dr. Stephen Hanauer, gastroenerology chief at the University of Chicago hospitals. He said it was difficult to deduce the cause of Castro's bleeding without knowing what part of the digestive tract was affected. Ulcers are a common cause of bleeding in the stomach or upper intestine, while a condition called diverticulosis also can provoke bleeding in the lower intestine, especially in people over age 60, said Hanauer. He said this condition involves weakened spots in the intestinal lining that form pouches, which can become inflamed and provoke bleeding. Fidel seemed optimistic of recovery, asking that celebrations scheduled for his 80th birthday on Aug. 13 be postponed until Dec. 2, the 50th anniversary of Cuba's Revolutionary Armed Forces. With Havana's streets calm, an electronic news ticker at the U.S. diplomatic mission provided the only clue that something dramatic had occurred inside Cuba's government: "All Cubans, including those under the dictatorship, can count on our help and support. We respect the wishes of all Cubans." Waiters at a popular cafe in Old Havana were momentarily stunned by the news, but quickly returned to work. "He'll get better, without a doubt," said Agustin Lopez, 40. "There are really good doctors here, and he's extremely strong." But Martha Beatriz Roque, a leading Cuban government opponent in Havana, said she believed Castro must be gravely ill to have stepped aside — even temporarily. "No one knows if he'll even be alive Dec. 2 when he's supposed to celebrate his birthday," she said in a telephone interview. She said opposition members worried they could be targeted for repression during a government change — especially if authorities fear civil unrest. White House spokesman Peter Watkins said U.S. authorities were monitoring the situation: "We can't speculate on Castro's health, but we continue to work for the day of Cuba's freedom." Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, Castro's strongest international ally, was the first foreign leader to react to the news, expressing his distress during a visit to Vietnam. He said he called the Cuban leader's office after hearing the news. "Waking up this morning and receiving that news, you may see what feeling one would have toward a good friend," Chavez said Tuesday morning. "When there is such an announcement, it's worrisome." "We wish President Fidel Castro will recover rapidly," Chavez said. "Viva Fidel Castro." Across the Florida straits in Miami, exiles waved Cuban flags on Little Havana's Calle Ocho, shouting "Cuba! Cuba! Cuba!" as drivers honked their horns. Over nearly five decades, hundreds of thousands of Cubans have fled Castro's rule, many of them settling in Miami. Castro has been in power since the Jan. 1, 1959 triumph of the armed revolution that drove out dictator Fulgencio Batista. He has been the world's longest-ruling head of government and his ironclad rule has ensured Cuba's place among the world's five remaining communist countries, along with China, Vietnam, Laos and North Korea. Castro resisted U.S. demands for multiparty elections and an open economy and insisted his socialist system would long outlive him. The son of a prosperous plantation owner, Castro's official birthday is Aug. 13, 1926, although some say he was born a year later. Talk of Castro's mortality was taboo until June 23, 2001, when he fainted during a speech in the sun. Although Castro quickly recovered, many Cubans understood for the first time that their leader would eventually die. Castro shattered a kneecap and broke an arm when he fell after a speech on Oct. 20, 2004, but laughed off rumors about his health, most recently a 2005 report he had Parkinson's disease. But the Cuban president also said he would not insist on remaining in power if he ever became too sick to lead: "I'll call the (Communist) Party and tell them I don't feel I'm in condition ... that please, someone take over the command." ——— Associated Press writers Vanessa Arrington in Havana, Laura Wides-Munoz in Miami, Tran Van Minh in Hanoi, Vietnam, and Medical Writer Lindsey Tanner in Chicago contributed to this report. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
