I have been telling folks for a while that ending this insane policy would be excellent for all of us. Looks like demographics have changed enough that it is now possible.
I have been telling folks for a while that ending this insane policy would be excellent for all of us. Looks like demographics have changed enough that it is now possible.
I suspect people may finally realize that cigars from other Island nations just outside of the gulf are just as good or better than Cubans now without the legal issues.
The only easing I've heard about, so far, is allowing American telecoms into Cuba.... and all that means is that we want to be able to spy on them more thoroughly.
The only easing I've heard about, so far, is allowing American telecoms into Cuba.... and all that means is that we want to be able to spy on them more thoroughly.
NPR mentioned something about easing banking regulations as well. Though they didn't have specifics at the time.
This is great. I've always wondered why we cared so much about Cuba after the Cold War ended. Also, one of my biggest regrets was not visiting Cuba when I had a chance while an exchange student in Ecuador way back in the day. Maybe now, I'll be able to visit without all the hush-hush.
I have been shopping around the idea that someone should start a First World medical tourist facility on a beach in Cuba so pensioners in Florida can get hip replacements on the cheap without having to fly to Thailand or India. Cuba has a metric pantload of excellently trained medical professionals and the flight is half an hour from Miami.
Floridian doctors would whine like little female dogs, but that too would be a bonus.
I have been shopping around the idea that someone should start a First World medical tourist facility on a beach in Cuba so pensioners in Florida can get hip replacements on the cheap without having to fly to Thailand or India. Cuba has a metric pantload of excellently trained medical professionals and the flight is half an hour from Miami.
Floridian doctors would whine like little female dogs, but that too would be a bonus.
The President can't ease all of the sanctions against Cuba, that would take an act of Congress (which probably won't be happening soon). But I'm glad the thawing process has started. It is ridiculous to continue a 50-year economic siege against a small nation.
Cuba has a metric pantload of excellently trained medical professionals
One of the things that surprised me during the Ebola crisis was that they sent 300 medical staff to Africa as part of the humanitarian efforts there. I didn't know this about Cuba and thought that was really cool since it's such a small country.
Nevin73 wrote:
But I'm glad the thawing process has started. It is ridiculous to continue a 50-year economic siege against a small nation.
Agreed. I don't know the whole history of our dealings with Cuba but I think it's been enough time where we'd be stupid not to re-evaluate our relations with them especially now that Fidel is out. It's also kinda weird that we've had a military presence there with Gitmo even though we had all these sanctions against them (again I don't know the exact arrangement/history here).
I just about called into a radio program yesterday about this.
It is just so hypocritical. We have relations with countries that do far worse to their people - China, Saudi Arabia leap to mind but they have things we want (cheap goods and oil) so we are completely willing to ignore their governments actions. But since Cuba really has squat we need or want we "make a principled stand against their government.
From what I'm gathering on FB, Cuban-Americans with family in Cuba are celebrating this decision while Cuban-Americans with no family in Cuba are disgusted by this decision.
---
I've been talking to friends who are personally affected by this and its mostly feelings of them being super f*cking pissed off because they feel betrayed. These are friends whose families members are/were either political prisoners, tortured or otherwise, had family die while trying to escape Cuba on makeshift rafts or trucks converted into boats, or had family estates nationalized by Castro. There is also the group of friends whose family members were betrayed by Kennedy when left them to die on the failed Bay of Pigs invasion who are just as pissed for different reasons.
It's all a sham; we're just gaining their trust to launch Bay of Pigs 2: Electric Boogaloo.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go complain about how we're no longer standing up to those dirty, human rights-hating Commies, in all likelihood while using all sorts of Chinese merchandise.
I suspect people may finally realize that cigars from other Island nations just outside of the gulf are just as good or better than Cubans now without the legal issues.
"What forest are you talking about?! I can't see anything with all these trees in the way!" ~Farscry
I'm glad this is happening. The fact that we block Cuba for so long while continuing to do business with some other nations made zero sense.
Steam - Obirano
CptDomano wrote:XBL - Obirano
BRAAH BRRAHHH!
Wait, our foreign policy is supposed to make sense and be consistent?
"What forest are you talking about?! I can't see anything with all these trees in the way!" ~Farscry
The only easing I've heard about, so far, is allowing American telecoms into Cuba.... and all that means is that we want to be able to spy on them more thoroughly.
NPR mentioned something about easing banking regulations as well. Though they didn't have specifics at the time.
This is great. I've always wondered why we cared so much about Cuba after the Cold War ended. Also, one of my biggest regrets was not visiting Cuba when I had a chance while an exchange student in Ecuador way back in the day. Maybe now, I'll be able to visit without all the hush-hush.
These things happen to other people.
Confessions of a Rice Farmer
Good
See, Obama's not totally useless.
How did I live before digital distribution of old, cheap games?
MilkmanDanimal wrote:You did live before digital distribution of old, cheap games. Now you just play games.
I have been shopping around the idea that someone should start a First World medical tourist facility on a beach in Cuba so pensioners in Florida can get hip replacements on the cheap without having to fly to Thailand or India. Cuba has a metric pantload of excellently trained medical professionals and the flight is half an hour from Miami.
Floridian doctors would whine like little female dogs, but that too would be a bonus.
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Paleocon is entirely right --DanB
I've made my case, Paleocon... and now I am abandoning it, because yours is far more persuasive. --detriot20
Paleocon is a wise man --Taer
Didn't Michael Moore do this in Sicko?
The President can't ease all of the sanctions against Cuba, that would take an act of Congress (which probably won't be happening soon). But I'm glad the thawing process has started. It is ridiculous to continue a 50-year economic siege against a small nation.
A Cigar, much like Scotch and Monogamy, is an acquired taste.
The best parenting advice I've seen:
SMBC wrote:Your quest is to convince me that you deserve to sleep indoors.
One of the things that surprised me during the Ebola crisis was that they sent 300 medical staff to Africa as part of the humanitarian efforts there. I didn't know this about Cuba and thought that was really cool since it's such a small country.
Agreed. I don't know the whole history of our dealings with Cuba but I think it's been enough time where we'd be stupid not to re-evaluate our relations with them especially now that Fidel is out. It's also kinda weird that we've had a military presence there with Gitmo even though we had all these sanctions against them (again I don't know the exact arrangement/history here).
I just about called into a radio program yesterday about this.
It is just so hypocritical. We have relations with countries that do far worse to their people - China, Saudi Arabia leap to mind but they have things we want (cheap goods and oil) so we are completely willing to ignore their governments actions. But since Cuba really has squat we need or want we "make a principled stand against their government.
So annoying.
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Does this in any way make closing Guantanamo Bay easier? We're still mired in the "what to do with these people" problem, right?
How did I live before digital distribution of old, cheap games?
MilkmanDanimal wrote:You did live before digital distribution of old, cheap games. Now you just play games.
As long as Congress continues to put language in appropriation bills that no money can be spent on prisoner transfers, yeah.
Ima going to go to shalam baskey now
WTF?!?!?! Clearly the embargo just needed a few more decades to start working!
tl;dr
From what I'm gathering on FB, Cuban-Americans with family in Cuba are celebrating this decision while Cuban-Americans with no family in Cuba are disgusted by this decision.
---
I've been talking to friends who are personally affected by this and its mostly feelings of them being super f*cking pissed off because they feel betrayed. These are friends whose families members are/were either political prisoners, tortured or otherwise, had family die while trying to escape Cuba on makeshift rafts or trucks converted into boats, or had family estates nationalized by Castro. There is also the group of friends whose family members were betrayed by Kennedy when left them to die on the failed Bay of Pigs invasion who are just as pissed for different reasons.
This video is a decent collage of reactions from those in Cuba and those in the US. http://www.wapa.tv/noticias/internac...
Also, I'm sure this has absolutely nothing to do with anything. http://www.theguardian.com/world/201...
Here are some links:
http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-...
http://wlrn.org/post/obamas-cuba-mov...
http://wlrn.org/post/how-social-medi...
https://www.facebook.com/vicequeenma...
https://www.facebook.com/hiroyoshim/...
https://www.facebook.com/vicequeenma...
https://www.facebook.com/spj4you/pos...
https://www.facebook.com/carlosmille...
At least this is a thing. http://www.vox.com/2014/12/19/742273...
Ironically, this happened about 6 months after my Dad quit smoking cigars.
PSN: UpToIsomorphism
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Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit sniffing glue.
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And Fideleon's getting larger!
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redfang#1780
It's all a sham; we're just gaining their trust to launch Bay of Pigs 2: Electric Boogaloo.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go complain about how we're no longer standing up to those dirty, human rights-hating Commies, in all likelihood while using all sorts of Chinese merchandise.
"I would be insulted if I could figure out exactly what it means."
--*Legion*