On Monday, 18 July 2016 11:43:58 UTC-5, Gary wrote:
> Cheri wrote:
> >
> > "The Greatest!" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > On Sunday, 17 July 2016 14:28:39 UTC-5, Jeßus wrote:
> >
> > > Those are quite contrasting experiences there. I like the sound of
> > > those sandwiches. I *especially* like the idea of no generic fast food
> > > places contaminating the place, and much of contemporary western
> > > culture, for that matter.
> >
> > Ya gotta love a snotty statement like this, declaring that a place should
> > remain dirt poor, just so rich foreigners like himself can keep the place to
> > themselves. Some think that Cuba should remain some sort of closed
> > "socialist Disneyland", unsullied by modernity. Pretty shameful...
> >
> > I've got news for ya: the ordinary Cuban cannot *wait* until "generic fast
> > food" and other manifestations of "contemporary western culture" appear,
> > they will be celebrating.
> >
> > Believe or not, ordinary Cubans desire things such as modern retail,
> > internet, reliable sewerage and electricity, refrigeration and air
> > conditioning, etc. There is no reason they should remain "quaint natives"
> > just for the sake of rich First World tourists...
> >
> > --
> > Best
> > Greg
> >
> > ==========
> >
> > +1
> >
> > Cheri
>
> I agree too, Cheri and Greg. And it's about time that the US lifted that
> stupid ban on Cuba.


Yup, it was sour grapes on our side., it made us look pretty petty after a few decades time. OTOH Fidel used the US embargo as a cudgel in order to prevent systemic change. Curing the embargo, Cuba was free to trade with any nation in the world. Problem is, their socialist economy never performed well in any case, and so they were too poor to pay for stuff on the normal world market; they were dependent on handouts from the USSR, and now their oil handouts from quickly - failing Venezuela are hitting the skids.

Anyways, one of the best ways to open up a "closed" society is via people - to - people visits via cultural exchange, tourism, etc.

A major reason the old USSR fell was because of the eventual exposure of ordinary Soviet citizens to the outside world via government - to - government cultural exchanges, e.g. sporting and cultural events, education and exchanges, trade fairs, and the like. The Soviet government allowed The British Council, Maison Francaise, Goethe Institut, and the USIA (the old United States Information Agency) in to hold exhibits, open reading rooms, and the like. Once Soviets were aware that citizens in the Evil Decadent Capitalist West were living better than they, Pandora's Box was open and the USSR was doomed...also western shortwave radios, BBC/Voice of America/etc., penetrated the old Iron Curtain.

Cuba is not quite as isolated as the old USSR was, or North Korea is, but there is no reason Cuba cannot thrive if it's people are given a reasonable chance...

--
Best
Greg