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Hey now dont blame all of Cuba's problems on us lol... sure we contributed to it but we arent the sole cause... I still stick to my belief that Castro is a bad guy but the Cuban people as a whole arent if they want to help let them, and if Castro asks for a "favor" later tell him thanx but no thanks... Sending aid to us should just be out of the generousity of his big ol Cuban heart :) and if a hurricane hits Cuba we should send aid down there as well... anyway thats my 2 cents
Hi The Texan,
Cuba is not a wealthy Country...even without the embargo it would not be a wealthy Country...it's is a small Country with barely 12 million people...the population of New York City...
with a 40+ year old embargo in place...what do you think are it's chances to free it's self of poverty?
Castro can't be blamed for everything either. ;)
Eg ;)
And I agree with your sentiments.
well the report i read said they were willing to send something like 19 tons of supplies and like 1400 medics ( I think, cant remember off the top of my head!) so where would they get all this? and if they are in such bad shape why would they send it to us?
Hi The Texan,
Why would they? Perhaps they want to help and are giving out of their need...I am a charity co-ordinator...I deal with people all the time...and you know...
the most generous people and the most sympathetic are the poor to lower-middle-class...
they are the ones that give out of their need...not their surplus.
It's easy to give when you got too much...the poor are far more generous than the rich.
Eg ;)
yep Eg i agree with you on that one and i bet alot of church pastors do too because more often that not it is the lower income families who tithe more than the richer ones ( income percentage wise) but that isnt always the case dont get me wrong...
Hi The Texan,
In all my years working with charities I have met some very generous people...rich and poor...but I've yet to meet a rich man giving out of his need...the swimming pool and the BMW always comes first...then they give what's left over ( which is sometimes substantial...but it's surplus ).
The Cuban offer does not have to be taken as a bad thing...or that there is some hidden agenda behind it...some ugly ulterior motive...maybe they just want to help...because they've been there...Cuba is, after all, usually right in the path of most hurricanes.
Eg ;)
Could also be the magnitude of the disaster that's prompted their generousity...or the fact it was New Orleans...a distinctly un-American city by comparison...or perhaps they identify with the fact that the ones that need help there are mostly poor people.
Here is brief history of cuba up till castro. I am not going to comment it as there is quite a bit here already but you can maybe see why the cubians might have been a little bit pissed off with the US by the time Castro turned up. I think there would be more danger to cuba excepting americain aid rather than america excepting cubian aid.
edit forgot to add the source :)Quote:
The First United States Occupation (1899-1902)
The Occupation had three major goals:
First: The US wanted to make Cuba into a self-governing protectorate
Achieve political stability without the burdens and costs of colonial occupation
The Cuban army stayed submissive to American take-over
Leaders of rebels were tired, old or killed in war
US bought of Cuba by offering to buy weapons
Offered key-rebels well paid positions
Second: The US wanted to repair war-damage
Created good sanitation system (General Leonard Wood, app. 1899)
Wood ignored the revolutionaries in favour of conservative planters, who were opposed to independence.
Defeated yellow fever
Created educational system
Superior to Spanish system, based on American one
Þ All paid for by the Cuban treasury, even the expenses of American army.
First elections, for a convention, took place in June 1899 (met Nov.):
American pressure forced to include ‘Platt-amendment’:
Limited ability to conduct foreign policy & borrow aboard
Gave US right to maintain naval base
Gave US right to intervene with dodgy ends
End product accepted only after much discussion
Third goal: To absorb Cuban in to the American economic sphere:
Platt Amendment allowed favourable trade terms to American business men in Cuba
A second agreement in 1903 completed American economic domination (20% of Sugar tariffs to America, reduced tariffs from US)
The Politics of Corruption, 1902-1953
Instability and Intervention, 1902-1924
Tomás Estrada Palma first elected Cuban president in 1901
Took office May 1902 as Americans left
Government scandal ridden:
Elections to Congress were fraudulent and violent (1904)
1905, Estrada was revolted with fraud system and no opposition
Liberal Party, under José Miguel Gómez, staged revolt, summer 1906
Estrada, unable to control it called for American intervention
American intervention; occurred under William Howard Taft
Charles Magoon, a Minnesotan judge was appointed head of provisional American government
Power was divided between parties
Institutionalised corruption
Standing army way created
National Consciousness and rebellion against foreign control decreased
Due to corruption, which elite wanted to keep
Liberal Party won presidential elections 1908
US withdrew April 1st 1909
Re-established lottery, legalised cockfighting
Conservatives now under General Menocal won 1912 &1916
Continued corruption: amassed $40m in two terms
Closely linked to American Economic interest, after having managed American sugar farm
Liberals rebelled again, against Menocal’s re-election, in 1917
US wouldn’t permit disturbance and intervened
Remained until 1923
Liberal Alfredo Zayas won presidency 1920
Crash of sugar prices brought economic problems
US General Enoc Crowder sent to Cuba as special representative Jan. 1921
In effect ruled Cuba until 1923
Became Ambassador after that
American in tight control
Every time, violence was threatened US intervened and restored order
During minor black rebellion 1912 in Oriente Province
As the losers of presidential elections staged or threatened rebellions four times from 1902 to 1924 (1908, 1917, 1919, 1921)
Þ Tried to prevent property loss
Cuban nationalism revived in last two years of Zayas administration
Consequence of Cuban sugar
This was due to foreign domination and monoculture
Students started by attacking inept and corrupt professors
Demonstrated for university reforms in 1922
Þ Students henceforth played important role in Cuban politics
Machado 1925 — 1933
Gerardo Machado y Morales, nationalist candidate for the liberal party became president in 1924
Although nationalistic close ties with America as he had worked for them
Began term well:
Ambitious program of public works
Attempted to institute program to control sugar prices (especially for small and medium sized companies
Encouraged agricultural diversity by imposing high taxes on rice etc.
Merit system for public bureaucracy
Established new technical and commercial schools
Wanted to reform prostitute laws in Havana
Þ Very popular, hardly faced opposition for two years
However, he was quite tyrannical
Political assassinations increased dramatically
Wave of strikes in 1925 put down brutally by police force
Most prominent Cuban Communist murdered in Mexican exile (1929)
Secured re-election by outlawing main rival, Carlos Mendieta (1928)
Þ Ruled with iron grip over Cuba until 1930
Increasing harsh economic situation was underlined by political unrest
General strike failed May 1930
Killing of student leader was followed by large demonstrations (Sept)
Firing of teachers and closing of University was answer
Mendita led last and unsuccessful attempt of old politicians to recapture power (August 31)
New, moderate alternative, the ABC, to the radical student unions developed for young middle class and intellectuals
This was answered by tighter censorship and increased terror from his secret police, Porra
USA became increasingly worried with terror threatening US institutions
April 1933, Pres. Roosevelt dispatched Sumner Wells to negotiate
Unsuccessful negotiations due to
Disunited opposition not being able to agree on pos.
Machado not wanting to compromise
Bus driver’s strike developed into general strike that paralysed the city
Machado massacred several demonstrators
Machado lost the support of Wells and the army
Þ Machado resigned on August 12th and fled to exile
The Revolution of 1933
Provisional government under Carlos Manuel de Cespedes could not stop escalating violence
Group of army sergeants and the Student Directory overthrew government on September 4th 1933.
Fulgencio Batista was a part of this overthrow.
The new government:
New junta had no political backing & views differed in regime.
Army wanted to defend new one power
Students sought genuine reforms
Power was handed over to Dr. Ramón Grau San MartÃ*n
Well known physician and opponent of Machado
Antonio Guiteras Holmes, student leader, & Batista also part of gov.
The government produced flurry of decrees:
Deleted the Platt Amendment
Eight —hour working day for labour
Established a labour department
Set an end to import of cheap labour from other Caribbean islands
Increased availability of higher education
Redistribution of land to peasants
Give women the vote
Eliminate usury (wucher)
Þ The government was however caught in a dilemma:
The left was dissatisfied due to lack of scope and depth of reforms
The Right opposed all reforms
Alienated Americans by suspending loan repayments and nationalising two American mills
Þ USA government did not recognize Grau government
The coalition disintegrated:
ABC thought Grau to radical and did not cooperate with him
Lost support of the extreme members of Student Directory
Communists attacked him as "petty bourgeois"
Wells persistently falsified documents and misrepresented the prov. Gov.
Allied with Batista
Was withdrawn Nov. 1933
The new US ambassador to Cuba was Jefferson Caffery:
formed new government with Batista as economic and politcal situation worsened
Grau was forced out of office in January 1934 and fled to exile
Was replaced by Carlos Mendieta
The Era of Batista, 1934-44
Fulgencio Batista y Zaldivar led Cuba first through puppet presidents (1934-40) and as president (1940-44)
Sergeant-stenographer
Son of a Sugar worker
Batista was alienated from ‘respectable’ elements of the upper and middle classes
However, he was extremely popular with mass of people
Presided over mild reform program
Some effort to redistribute land
Moved openly leftward in 1937 and supported labour unions and communists
The Auténtico Interlude 1944-1952
Batista allowed election for constituent assembly that Grau (Auténtico party) won
Constitution was liberal with protection of labour and limitations on the right of property
Batista won the presidential elections in 1940
He observed law that a president should not succeed himself
Grau defeated Batista’s candidate.
Grau became president in 1944
Although some reforms were initiated his period in government was dominated by violence and corruption
Heavily criticised, especially from Eddie Chibás from 1947
Eddie Chibás was charismatic populist leader
Former Auténticos member
Disillusioned and formed his own Cuban Peoples (Ortodoxo) party
Featured mild program of social reforms
Þ Became serious threat to Auténtico party
Eddie Chibás opposed Auténtico candidate Carlos PrÃ*o Socorrás in 1948 election.
PrÃ*o won the election as he had the advantage of thriving economy and control of electorate system
The corruption and violence continued
High sugar prices concealed mismanagement
ChÃ*bas was leading candidate for ‘52 election as Batista returned from retirement
ChÃ*bas committed suicide on a radio programme in August 1951
To awake Cuban public to extent of political corruption
Batista staged coup with help of low officers before the election, in March 1952
Cuban public, already disillusioned, did not protest
The Return of Batista as Dictator, 1952-1959
Like contemporaries he found it more difficult second time than first.
New, incorrupt type of revolutionaries presented threat.
Several groups, including the Auténticos, were plotting
Fidel Castro staged first, unsuccessful coup on July 26th 1953:
He, his troops and students attacked Moncada army barracks
Castro failed and was imprisoned
(1899-1902)
source
I am sure Castro has his reasons for wanting to help. On the other hand they really dont have a choice if Castro says go then they'll go. Trust me talk to a Cuban who has managed to get out of Cuba and you'll understand.Quote:
I still stick to my belief that Castro is a bad guy but the Cuban people as a whole arent if they want to help let them, and if Castro asks for a "favor" later tell him thanx but no thanks... Sending aid to us should just be out of the generousity of his big ol Cuban heart
Interesting if he does the U.S. a favor in return all he'll get later on will be a "no thanks" ??? Trust me in the real world where politics are involved it nevers works that way. It's more like you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours later ....
The Medics simple in Cuba the education is free well not really as long as you promise to join the Party that is ... On the other hand what is education really worth in a country where your basically discouraged from asking questions and thinking independently ???Quote:
well the report i read said they were willing to send something like 19 tons of supplies and like 1400 medics ( I think, cant remember off the top of my head!) so where would they get all this? and if they are in such bad shape why would they send it to us?
Humm maybe this is a way for some of them to escape Cuba ??? Just maybe ...Quote:
Why would they? Perhaps they want to help and are giving out of their need
Not really it all depends on the individual. Just cause one human has more money then the other does not mean that the poorer one is being more generous ... It just means the the rich man has more resources available to him therefore allowing him to donate more ...Quote:
It's easy to give when you got too much...the poor are far more generous than the rich.
The rich are rich cause they tend to be real cheap [It also helps when everyone else is paying for your flights , food etc etc Why do you think movie stars go to the awards ?? ] and the poor just become poorer cause they choose to try and live a lifestyle that they cant afford ...
Goooooooooooooooooooooodddddddd morning Vietnam!
Egal what's so hard to understand? Kids back in the day had to practice WMD drills (Duck and Cover with "Bert the Turtle") http://www.cddc.vt.edu/host/atomic/c.../duckncvr.html
Castro that slimy little communist ****, twinkle-toed fag down there who basically signed his own death warrant. Let's face it; he wanted to play big dog and point nukes at our children....................that comes with a heavy price. If Cubas people could vote with a real type of government......they could (they want to) be spending millions of tourist dollars on their own people. Again that government will never be trusted. Why do you say his people love him? Because you see his little Sadam like TV propaganda productions? Thousands of people float and swim to our soil each year with their own horror stories. Why because they can't overthrow the gov down there...............and that gov isn't getting anything from us until the PEOPLE of Cuba vote one in.
Dictators threatened to kill child ........ child scared.......child scarred for life.......child grows up......man remembers threats ............man tells his own children. (Cycle)
!matationrust last time they voted one in he was replaced by an Americain backed dictator. The Us only wants Cuba to be a second Porta Rico. They wont care what type of dictator is running the country as long as he is friendly to the US. As for pointing nukes, the US had nukes pointed at Cuba way before Cuba had tried to get nukes from the Russians.