Hi Folks, hello to Doug R., here are some interesting facts about Cuba, garnered on my recent trip. The Cubans are divided in their opinions on their government. The older people, who remember what it was like under Batista, deeply value what the revolution has given them...land, jobs, equality, education, medical care, and national sovereignty (under Batista Cuba was officially sovereign, but ACTUALLY just a branch plant for the American Mafia, US corporations, and the US military.). The younger people, who don't remember the days of Batista, are divided. Some are proud of Cuban sovereignty. I asked one young woman what she liked most about Cuba, and she said "I like it that we are free." Others, however, are upset over the lack of freedom of speech (you are not allowed to publicly criticize the government or publish an article doing so). Privately, you can say what you want, and they do. Many people are perturbed over corruption in the government...the fact that the top leaders live a lifestyle that is considerably more luxurious than the common people. In so doing, they are failing the ideals of their own revolution. This is tempered somewhat by the fact that their public behaviour is far less astentatious in this respect than the leadership in other Latin American countries. The young Cubans are mostly unaware how good they've got it compared to conditions in Santo Domingo, Mexico, Guatemala, etc. I saw no homeless in Cuba, no beggars in the streets, no shantytowns. And I was not being sheperded around by government people during my stay. I also saw fewer cops than I do in Canada, which was quite surprising, and I saw no traffic accidents and not one traffic cop, which was astonishing. Here's another serious Cuban problem, however. Since the peso was allowed to float against the American dollar, it has lost value tremendously. As a result, old people's pensions (which used to be entirely adequate) are utterly inadequate now, and many old people are starving to death in their houses if they don't have younger relatives to help them out. This has led to a high suicide rate among seniors. The United Church is trying to help these old people as best it can. Cuban society is suffering now from a serious lack of money and manufactured goods, and this has stimulated a lively black market. The government looks the other way as long as the black market doesn't venture into restricted areas, like selling illegal drugs or Cuban cigars or a few other items. They realize it helps the economy, so they turn a blind eye for the most part. Everyone wants US dollars...the peso is not worth much anymore. It is true that Castro really hates the USA, and if you study the last 100 years of Cuban history you will soon see why he would...but it's a problem. He hates the US and the US government hates him. I am afraid that until Castro dies or retires this situation may not resolve itself...but my impression is that Castro would like to resolve it now, he just can't figure out how to. It's really a shame. The Cubans are a hugely likable population, full of national pride, and they do not deserve to be treated as an international pariah. I hope that some solution will be found soon. Like Americans, Cubans love their country deeply and want to improve it in any way they can. If you knew them, you would like them.