Obama listing all the great things Cubans have contributed to the world MSNBC now

[flamingdem]

Yay Obama, he did what he said he'd do and we're finally getting over the cold war!

He complimented the Cubans on their Ebola efforts in Africa especially.

Imagine that up until now the US media kept this kind of information repressed.

First president since the cold war started to have RESPECT for our neighbors!

[SummerSnow]

1. He also said an embassy will be built in Cuba...wow. this is historic.

waiting for the republican rebuttal

[flamingdem]

2. Ted Cruz said that Obama is the worst negotiator since Jimmy Carter

and other slams. The right wing Cubans are going nuts over this because their money stream just ended!

[Fred Sanders]

6. And his approval among Latinos just went up over the approval by African Americans. 2016 is a lock.

[malaise]

3. Google Rubio or Cruz

[AtheistCrusader]

10. Already have one.

We just use it for detention and torture, is all.

(Guantanamo Bay belongs to Cuba, we're unwelcome squatters.(No, I'm not blaming Obama either, this is Congress's fault))

[DetlefK]

105. Guantanamo is rented from the Cubans but the Cubans can't unilaterally cancel the deal.

[AtheistCrusader]

110. They stopped cashing our checks after the cuban revolution.

The 1934 contract has multiple credible means to void it.

[Fred Sanders]

4. Saving the world from an epidemic of Ebola, AND Fearbola, did he mention that to the

folks of the grateful world that ignored the African epidemic, a real one, because there was no profit in it?

[frazzled]

19. Yes, he did

I bet you were hoping he didn't.

[Fred Sanders]

25. Double down and I will take that bet to my bank.

[think]

5. Thank you for the heads up. This is great news /nt

[flamingdem]

7. Obama describing the "end of colonialism and communism"

HE GETS IT!

And he even used the most used phrase in Havana "No es facil" - it's not easy - that certainly describes the life of most Cubans for the past 50 years

[Cha]

65. Haha.. I knew what "no es facil" meant before you translated!

Hey flamingdem.. I just got on and saw a bunch of threads about Cuba.. I know nothing except I decided to get on yours and start reading.

I'll know more in a few..

[flamingdem]

68. How did you know!!? You must be friends with a

Cubano Hawaiiano!!

[Cha]

71. No, I learned a bit of Espanol on the streets of San Diego back in the day from all my

amigos who were just trying to get work.

[pangaia]

108. Even if one doesn't speak Spanish,

how difficult can 'no es facile' be to figure out.



As in cha cha cha.

Que pasa?

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

8. Bravo. Diplomacy we can cheer for.

[Politicub]

9. More history in the making from the Obama admin!

[flamingdem]

13. He's not the lame duck the repubs hoped for

quack quack! He just messed up many Republican talking points and funding for Jeb Bush dried up too!

[Cha]

73. I gotcher Lame Duck right here, flamingdem..

Dudette @Dudette9t9
Follow
Two weeks after the mid-terms: I got yer Lame Duck right here. #Badass #POTUS
7:05 PM - 20 Nov 2014 22 Retweets 14 favorites

http://theobamadiary.com/2014/11/20/hump-day-means-laughter/#comment-1194436

'Couse now there's more! This is great! This is Fantastic News.. Mahalo!

[flamingdem]

74. I know right! He's such a Leo Lion

A detail for me is that Fidel is a Leo too and that contemporary Cuba was "born" July 26th 1959 - also under the sign of Leo.

[Cha]

76. And, I was born on Castro's birthday.. August 13th.. how's that for Leo! Hawaii is August 21, 1959

Gracias for the modern Cuba birthday.. I like to know these things.

The courage of a lion..

A New Beginning With Cuba

"Following months of secret negotiations with the Cuban government, President Obama on Wednesday announced sweeping changes to normalize relations with Havana, a bold move that ends one of the most misguided chapters in American foreign policy."

snip//

"Mr. Obama could have taken modest, gradual steps toward a thaw. Instead, he has courageously gone as far as he can, within the constraints of an outmoded 1996 law that imposes stiff sanctions on Cuba in the pursuit of regime change"

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/18/opinion/a-new-beginning-with-cuba.html?smid=tw-nytopinion&_r=0

Mark Knoller ✔ @markknoller
Follow
No plans for Pres Obama to visit Cuba, says @PressSec, but if an oppty arose, "I'm sure he wouldn't turn it down."
9:21 AM - 17 Dec 2014 41 Retweets 7 favorites

So much for Senator Menendez' "It's against the law.."

[flamingdem]

78. Oh wow Cha, I'm a Leo too born a day before you!

No wonder we understand Obama he he

Roarrrrr!

I do think that when I see him calmly sitting in wait, stalking prey, and batting them down!

Roarrrrrrr x2!

[Cha]

79. I wanted to ask.. and when were you born? Cool..

fellow Leo.. I'm sure not all Leos get along but we do!

That's a freaking beautiful pic of a lion, flamingdem.. that's going on my FB.. at some point when I feel it's just right.

Gawd.. they're amazing animals~

[Cha]

72. I love it, Politicub!

[niyad]

11. one of many things in cuba that has seriously impressed me is their hurricane preparation:

(too bad we cannot follow their model, because they are, after all --SOCIALISTS!)

http://www.workers.org/2009/world/cuba_0910/

http://www.accuracy.org/release/cubas-hurricane-preparedness-a-model-for-florida-and-the-gulf-coast/

http://www.sptimes.com/2005/09/09/Worldandnation/Can_we_learn_from_Cub.shtml

[flamingdem]

14. They know what they're doing with emergency response

That's for sure! Lessons to be learned.

[malaise]

64. My four - healthcare, dental care

education and being a great neighbor.

[niyad]

83. so very true.

[truedelphi]

86. That is a very good list... Can I add this one:

Much if not all of their farmland is planted organically. (Started because due to sanctions, they were not allowed American pesticides.)

[malaise]

87. And importantly it shows the difference between Cuban reefs

and Florida reefs.

http://www.alertdiver.com/Cubas-Coral-Reefs

[Tatiana]

12. Great job by Obama. Republican monopoly in Cuba is over.

We need to engage and communicate with the other Cubans.

It is not fair that only a privileged few get to travel to the island.

Also, younger Cubans (third gen) want normalized relations with Cuba.

[flamingdem]

16. Yes! I think you highlighted the most important political gain for us!!

So much money flowed to the Republicans over Cuba and quite a few Florida Democrats too, but way, way less money for them.

True it's absurd and against US professed values to restrict travel, that can't go away fast enough!

[ReRe]

15. Rubio just called PO "ignorant" !!!

...says PO is the "single worst negotiator in his lifetime." And that "PO has let the Cuban people down." Republicans are out of their everlovin' effing minds.

[flamingdem]

17. They should keep quiet but they can't help themselves -

this issue is not a winner for them. Now it's a big loser, yay!!

No more dinero for you Rubio, your usefulness is over.

[ReRe]

30. Well, that's how we have to look at it...

... the louder they protest and the more absolutely stupid things they say proves that PO won this one. As Biden would say "This is a big fucking deal!"

[SummerSnow]

85. yeah, he hates Cubans

[ReRe]

104. He hates himself. n/t

[MineralMan]

18. He forgot great cigars!

Maybe we won't have to go to London to smoke one anymore.

[frazzled]

22. That was my husband's comment as well

Even though he doesn't smoke cigars. But he does appreciate fine quality anywhere it can be found.

[MineralMan]

26. I don't smoke 'em either.

I hear Cuban cigars are the best, though.

[calimary]

97. And mine! And all his cigar-loving friends.

He smokes cigars (thankfully - outside!) and has often talked at length about the uniqueness of the Cuban soil that just happens to grow the finest tobacco leaves on the planet. When he's interested in something he usually starts studying it at great length and intensity. Not a smoker myself so I wouldn't know a good cigar from a bad one - except, to me, they all just smell stinky. But I DO LOVE all the cool cigar bands!

[frazzled]

118. The bands and boxes

When we were children, at the beginning of the school year each fall we would go to my grandfather's house, and he would bring out all the cigar boxes he'd saved all year. We would then choose our favorites--the prettiest ones——to take to use as pencil boxes for our desks at school. It was an annual tradition.

He would also give us the bands from his cigars and we would wear them as rings.

I'm guessing that many of these boxes and bands were Cuban, since until I was 12 years old, you could still get Cubans. But mostly I remember the El Producto boxes: my grandfather smoked them because George Burns did:

Taking out an ivory holder, he'd light an El Producto Queen, a perfecto-shaped cigar that Burns liked to call "my little lady."

Once a handmade premium blend of Havana and Puerto Rican tobaccos, enjoying such national popularity from the 1910s to the 1960s that even Elvis Presley was wild about El P's Altas and Diamond Tips, Burns' "little lady" has since become a pale shadow of her former self.

http://www.cigaraficionado.com/webfeatures/show/id/The-El-Producto-Story_7552

[calimary]

119. I LOVE cigar bands! I think cigar companies are missing the boat on a nice "side thing."

What if there were a jewelry division for "gifts for the lady" (who puts up with that cigar smoke all year - NOT my favorite!!! Thank God my husband smokes his outside!). Take the most beautiful or elegant or cool cigar bands, and have the designs made into real rings. Either enamel - cloisonné or some such, or for the high-enders, colored jewels. Swarovski crystals or even a premium version with genuine stones. Maybe contract with Cartier or something for some super affluent clients. The kind who can afford expensive cigars. If so, why couldn't that kind of customer gift his love like that.

This is the kind of thing I LOVE to imagine.

Like - take a look at that beautiful woman in the red gown with the hand-held harp. Shit, I'd love to see a line of neckties with that on them. A quality printing or hand-painted. Or socks. Or fine silk scarves. You could frame one and hang it on the wall - quite literally a piece of art, or stitch two together so that it becomes a top you can throw over your head. Or a caftan or something. Dang - I once met a young artist who'd written a book on making a living as an illustrator. He kept returning to a basic point - there's so much art everywhere. Look at labels on packages, for example. Advertising, for example. Logos and mascots and symbols. I've been at small airports where the images of the cover girls near the nose of vintage war planes are all over the place. Embellishments! The urge to decorate and embellish is everywhere you look. If there's any imagery there, some artist or illustrator or Photoshop expert or designer came up with that. So I started becoming conscious of all the art out there. It's everywhere! Dang - any grocery store aisle is a veritable museum!

I've seen whole cigar boxes put to use for personal adornment. Mainly purses. They make great evening clutches. Many of them are the perfect size and some have carvings or inlay or relief sculpture or wood-burning on the lids. Or slick lacquer in a great color. You can start a conversation just by setting it on the table next to you. They take beautifully to shoulder straps because many of them have clasps. Some of the clasps are really lovely, worth looking at by themselves. Shiny, sometimes elaborate brass hardware contrasted with the smooth wood or paper covering, and they're totally functional. Just really cool things of beauty, those cigar boxes. GREAT "importancy" boxes. LOVE 'em!

I took one cigar band I liked and flattened it out, and then glued it carefully onto this plain black plastic cuff bracelet. Turned it into a gorgeous bracelet that I'm proud to wear and is a really eye-catching conversation piece. And cheap!

And have you gone online and seen the cigar box GUITARS? Google it. So wonderful as to be almost excruciating! Almost too much to wrap your head around!

Dang, I LOVE this stuff!

Makes suffering through the cigar smoke worthwhile!

Makes me want to go start a crafting project or something... Crafters are gonna love this policy change, I'll bet!

[flamingdem]

23. Ha ha this is something Americanos really support!

"Un tobacco" as they say in La Habana - good for your health!

[MineralMan]

29. Someone gave me a subscription to

Cigar Aficionado last year as a joke. I learned a lot about Cuban cigars in its pages. Cigar smokers will cheer improved relations with Cuba, I think.

[flamingdem]

31. There is a great back issue with an illustration of Castro smoking a cigar

and talking to the Pope at the beach.

There is a cigar festival every February by the way, get your tickets!

[1StrongBlackMan]

33. And Rum ...

A Canadian golf buddy of mine, goes to Cuba 2 -3 times a year.

After a round, he invited me to share a cigar and an 80 year old Rum. The rum was soooo good!

[MineralMan]

34. Hmm...Never tasted Cuban rum.

Maybe I'll have a chance. Make mine a Cuba Libre, bartender.

[1StrongBlackMan]

35. You Blasphemer! ...

Coke in Rum! Perish the thought.

Get an aged rum ... sip it straight. It ALMOST made me put down my single malts.

[MineralMan]

36. Speaking of blasphemy...

The Irish invented whisky. Give me an aged single pot still Irish any day. You can suck down your single malts from Scotland, of all places, but I'll stick to the real thing, thanks.

On the other hand, a real American aged Rye is not a bad thing, either.

P.S. Half of my ancestors are Irish and half Scottish. I favor the Irish side, though, when it comes to drinking.

[pangaia]

109. BOOKERS !!

[hifiguy]

52. My first thought.

And they are excellent cigars. The dad of a good law school friend lived in London at that time. Every time my friend went to visit his dad he'd bring back a couple of boxes of real Cuban cigars. Those were saved for post-finals celebrations. Marvelous cigars...

[corkhead]

20. Not to mention the 3 camera TV sitcom in front of a live studio audience

http://www.dga.org/Craft/DGAQ/All-Articles/0307-July-2003/I-Love-Lucy.aspx

[flamingdem]

24. ha ha! I grew up watching that no wonder I heart Cuba!

Lucy! Let's go to La Habana, to bad they never did that on the show. Ricky was connected to Batista via his dad I believe.

[pacalo]

99. I'll drink to that.

[jtuck004]

21. Did he add not kowtowing to the so-called greatest nation on earth? lol. n/t

[flamingdem]

28. Leo to Leo I imagine that Obama had some respect for Castro

in spite of the fact that this will never be stated clearly.

A leader recognizes things in another and I'm glad Obama was able to square things and understand the big picture regarding Cuba's history.

[jtuck004]

37. I think you are right on there. n/t

[ucrdem]

27. Yo soy un hombre sincero . . .

[flamingdem]

42. Quote from Jose Marti! Perfect.

Pete Seeger's version:

Poesía de José Martí
Versos Sencillos-1891

I-YO SOY UN HOMBRE SINCERO...

Yo soy un hombre sincero
De donde crece la palma,
Y antes de morirme quiero
Echar mis versos del alma.

Yo vengo de todas partes,
Y hacia todas partes voy:
Arte soy entre las artes,
En los montes, monte soy.

Yo sé los nombres extraños
De las yerbas y las flores,
Y de mortales engaños,
Y de sublimes dolores.

Yo he visto en la noche oscura
Llover sobre mi cabeza
Los rayos de lumbre pura
De la divina belleza.

Alas nacer vi en los hombros
De las mujeres hermosas:
Y salir de los escombros,
Volando las mariposas.

[ucrdem]

45. Classic.

There's a bust of Jose Marti in Echo Park . . .



at least there was last time I drove by!

[flamingdem]

53. I forgot about that!

Every May they have a party all day in Echo Park near that statue.

I found out my ancestor knew Marti and I'm researching that era. Will be easier now to do so en La Habana

[Myrina]

32. Maybe he's setting Cuba up to take Cruz back ...

[monmouth4]

38. As a Floridian, I can tell you my Cubano neighbors are the best, friendly and funny and

they truly love America....

[joanbarnes]

39. LOVE CUBA! Did he mention medical care and medical advancements?

[flamingdem]

48. Yes I think so

will double check but Americans will benefit from the drugs and protocols they've developed.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

40. FOX "News" no doubt is saying he's praising a fellow commie.

[deutsey]

41. After the Cuban missile crisis

Kennedy was working behind the scenes with Castro and Khrushchev to normalize relations. Of course, those efforts were snuffed out in Dallas.

[ancianita]

43. Cubans drove us and South Africans back from Angola's civil war; fought RENAMO with Mozambiquens

and have a wall of fallen comrades the length of our Vietnam Memorial in Pretoria's great Freedom Park, an outdoor monument to all the peoples of the world who have helped the blacks of South Africa regain their freedom.




Cuba will be a great comfort for those in this country who miss the feeling of democracy that comes from a classless society.

I love Pete Seeger, but prefer the original.

[flamingdem]

51. Yes indeed, so much needs to be known

and yes to the original. (or si!)

[m-lekktor]

44. This is outstanding! cudos to President Obama on this.

This is MAJOR!

[DreamGypsy]

46. Obama's decision would have pleased William Worthy ...

William Worthy, Jr. (July 7, 1921 – May 4, 2014): was an African-American journalist, civil rights activist, and dissident who pressed his right to travel regardless of U.S. State Department regulations.

<snip>

Worthy traveled to China (1956–57) and Cuba (1961) in violation of United States State Department travel regulations. At the time he entered China, Worthy was the first American reporter to visit and broadcast from there since the country's communist revolution in 1949. While in China Worthy interviewed Samuel David Hawkins, an American soldier who was captured by the Chinese during the Korean War and defected to China in 1953. His passport was seized upon his return to the U.S. from China and American lawyers Leonard Boudin and William Kunstler represented Worthy in an unsuccessful lawsuit seeking the return of his passport. Without a passport, Worthy traveled to Cuba in the early days of Fidel Castro to report on the Cuban revolution, and upon his return to the U.S. he was tried and convicted for "returning to the United States without a valid passport." Worthy was again represented by Kunstler, who successfully persuaded a federal appeals court to overturn Worthy's conviction. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit found the restrictions unconstitutional. The court held that the government could not make it a crime under the Constitution to return home without a passport. Years later, Kunstler wrote in his autobiography, My Life As A Radical Lawyer, that the Worthy passport case was his "first experience arguing an issue about which I felt passionate," was the "first time I had ever invalidated a statute," and that success "confirmed my faith in the justice system."

Until looking up Worthy for this reply, I wasn't aware that he died this year. The world lost an important journalist -"The Most Important Journalist You’ve Never Heard Of": Remembering William Worthy (1921-2014)...from Democracy Now.

[flamingdem]

49. wow, didn't know about this

will read up

[NewDeal_Dem]

47. Yeah, like our respect for our neighbors in Haiti.

[JDPriestly]

50. This is good for both Cuba and the U.S.

Contrast the situation in Cuba with that in Mexico.

While Cubans have a lot of problems, their government has become more inclusive and more liberal, providing increasing religious freedom among other things, but Mexico is terrorized by the narcos and in some areas frightened of its police forces.

[ancianita]

56. Better for the US than for Cuba, whose society hasn't felt the toxic taint of our so-called drug war

the way Mexico and the rest of the Americas have. Their isolation from the USA has stood them well, actually.

Going there will feel like a breath of fresh, democratic air to me, if not many others.

[Cali_Democrat]

54. Thanks flamingdem!

It's a good day!

[flamingdem]

62. So happy, thanks Cali_D

I have been a major Cuba fan for years and have visited many times. So happy mostly for the long suffering Cubans, they really are an amazing people with a sense of humor that's unique. They'll be great (friendly) neighbors!

[Central Scruitinizer]

55. Grandstanding on hollow words

All this is mere posturing and posing.

An Executive Order normalizing relations and commerce would put teeth into it and really force the GOPers to wail.

[Cha]

106. Bull.. your post is hollow and ignorant.

[DinahMoeHum]

57. Don't know about you, but I'm "Havana Daydreamin'". . .

[flamingdem]

61. nice! me too

can't wait to go back

[nikto]

88. I played this loud, and it was good

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

58. Did he mention the great music?

https://video.search.yahoo.com/video/play;_ylt=AwrTcc4d4pFU6QMA_egPxQt.;_ylu=X3oDMTBsOXB2YTRjBHNlYwNzYwRjb2xvA2dxMQR2dGlkAw--?p=Buena+Vista+Social+Club&tnr=21&vid=BC4158592A9AAB07685DBC4158592A9AAB07685D&l=155&turl=http%3A%2F%2Fts1.mm.bing.net%2Fth%3Fid%3DUN.608017573937088564%26pid%3D15.1&rurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DQgDdmblx_mg&sigr=11b16tj2n&tt=b&tit=Buena+Vista+Social+Club%2C+Eliades+Ochoa+-+El+Carretero+[720p]&sigt=11srjm0k8&back=https%3A%2F%2Fsearch.yahoo.com%2Fyhs%2Fsearch%3Fp%3DBuena%2BVista%2BSocial%2BClub%26ei%3DUTF-8%26hsimp%3Dyhs-001%26hspart%3Dmozilla&sigb=133uff5op&hspart=mozilla&hsimp=yhs-001

[flamingdem]

60. The music is enough reason to end the blockade against Cuba

Love it thanks for the video link

[kwassa]

59. I am a fan of Cuban music and food.

wonderful traditions in both.

[sabrina 1]

63. This is very good news. I am glad to finally see the US joining the rest of the world

where Cuba is concerned.

I remember after 9/11 Cuba offered to send help, they wanted to send doctors to help with the injured, as they do all over the world. The US said 'no thanks'.

So I am glad he is acknowledging the work they do at last.

Michael Moore took some of the heroes of 9/11, the first responders, to Cuba for treatment because they could not get it here in their own country.

At the end of their visit, the Cuban FD met with the first responders and expressed how sad they were they could not have been there for them that day. It was a very emotional scene.

Excellent news, that is two pieces of great news today, no fracking in NY and this.

[Cha]

66. Here we go..

Laura Rozen @lrozen
Follow
President Obama spoke with #Cuba's Raul Castro yesterday by phone, highest level US Cuba presidential engagement since Cuba revolution
6:08 AM - 17 Dec 2014 109 Retweets 29 favorites


The White House ✔ @WhiteHouse
Follow
"We will begin to normalize relations between our two countries." —President Obama #CubaPolicy
7:03 AM - 17 Dec 2014 895 Retweets 346 favorites

Mahalo flamingdem

[flamingdem]

67. Mahalo Cha!

So happy today, more than a few tears, it's been a slog for all involved. I started visiting Cuba in the 90s and back then we thought things would change always.. next year or so, so it took a loong time but how interesting that the parts all came together right now.

What a surprise!!! Obama knocks it outta the park. Speaking of baseball, Cuban baseball is an issue in all of this too, so many great players, the favorite sport of the country, (not soccer).

And then there's the religion, well one of the many, with Ellegua who opens the doors. Ellegua is the Orisha - African / Cuban saint, who will be thanked today for clearing obstacles.

Even though, as a Cuba fan I know it's another very speial day today in Cuba - El Dia de San Lazaro. That saint is the one that suffers, but let's hope that's something that will very soon be greatly reduced!

[Cha]

70. Thanks for that rundown on what Cuba means to you, flamingdem.. how sweet!

And, thank you for the Vid.. which I will watch when I get a minute and get back to you.

I bet it's been awful for all involved.

[truedelphi]

69. As one police state to another (or at least to a nation we have deemed a police state)

There is now no real reason to not accept Cuba as our neighbor.

Any torture chambers thay had built for their dissidents we can now build better for ours. (And with more secrecy. And with less remedy.)

[Rex]

75. I'm 43, I've said over and over that Obama is the greatest POTUS in my lifetime.

He proves it time and again. Pope Francis gets a shout out for rocking the boat as well! We need to stop punishing Cuba for the acts during the Cold War.

This has been a long time coming.

[flamingdem]

77. Yes indeed, so glad that Obama is a very lively lame duck

and the heads are exploding on the right.

True, we need to forgive Cuba for the cold war, and they need to forgive us for some things too!

[Cha]

80. And, one more thing..

TheObamaDiary.com @TheObamaDiary
Follow
Oooooh, love http://whitehouse.gov/live #WingnutHeadsExploding
10:01 AM - 17 Dec 2014 18 Retweets 9 favorites

http://theobamadiary.com/2014/12/17/a-tweet-or-two-cuba/

[Cha]

81. How do you say "kick" in Espanol?

[flamingdem]

82. he he se dice "una patada"

also used in soccer or "futbol" - that which causes a gooooooaaaaal

[Cha]

90. Gracias! Una patada!

[SummerSnow]

84. My Rethug neighbor was talking about this today, she was pretty agitated..

then I scared the beJesus out of her and told her that there's a bill in the House to declare Che Guevara a national holiday they'll be voting on it before Christmas. She almost choked. I told her I was joking but her reaction was priceless. She told me that wasn't funny. I said it was freaking hilarious






I kill me

[flamingdem]

89. Good one! And everyone in congress will be required to wear

a Che t-shirt!

The commies are coming

[Cha]

91. Una patada~

[Cha]

92. Musica Cubana! Sorry, the music has played out! Darn! I thought it would go on forever!

Last edited Thu Dec 18, 2014, 04:38 AM - Edit history (4)

Music from the land of my fathers and mothers.
***
Cachao – Guajira clasica

It's from a resident Cuban Librarian in California who writes great articles on the Obama Diary..

http://theobamadiary.com/2014/12/17/night-owl-chat-cuba/

Beautiful! There's more at the link, flamingdem

YOu can go to the link to listen though.. https://www.youtube .com/watch?v=C5QPq0oTlb0.. but I don't know how to get you to the link without that ! mark showing up instead of the url?

Okay that's how you do it.. I separated it.. so all you have to do is bring them together(the "youtube" & the ".com" part) and google that url and viola!

[Cha]

101. KICK

[Cha]

93. Wow.. I'm really enjoying listening to this Cuban Music.. thanks for inspiring, flamingdem!

[pacalo]

94. Cuba offered medical relief to New Orleans after Katrina...

which would have included a doctor who was a specialist in disaster service, Dr. Luis Sauchay. Jebthro's ill-mannered brutha never responded to those Cuban volunteers.

Cuba also offered resources for 9/11 recovery; the offer was petulantly turned down by BushCo.

First president since the cold war started to have RESPECT for our neighbors!

He's doing the right thing.

[DFW]

95. I've been to Cuba. "No es fácil" describes it perfectly.

I was there as a guest of the government, and when I asked about the mechanics of getting my visa, the Cubans told me, "hey, man, WE don't have a problem with you coming." Actually no one did. The whole bureaucratic acrobatics exercise was a farce.

The Russians (Soviets in those days) paraded around like colonial masters. It was kinda ugly to watch. One of the funniest incidents was when I was in the hard currency shop in my hotel buying some post cards. There was an Aeroflot crew trying to buy some electronics to take home, and they were having a difficult time communicating with the poor sales girl who spoke only Spanish and rudimentary English. Since I speak both Russian and Spanish, and didn't feel like waiting an extra half hour for five post cards, I offered to interpret for them. The Soviets were gone in less than 5 minutes, and both parties thanked me, the Russians assuming I was a Cuban who had learned Russian from them, and the sales girl assuming I was a Russian who was there in some official capacity and had learned Spanish "back in the USSR." You have to present your passport when you buy in a hard currency shop in Cuba, and the look on her face when she saw my American passport almost made me break out laughing. I just went back and forth between Russian and Spanish in Cuba and had a US passport. You could see the letters "C I A" written in her widening eyes (I wasn't).

[pacalo]

96. Very interesting; glad you shared that.

[Cha]

98. Una patada.. reminds me of Hakuna Matata..

[Cha]

100. Una patada

[Cha]

102. ..

[lovemydog]

103. Amazing and unqualified great news.

We in this country can learn a lot from their doctors, lawyers, scholars, musicians and others.

They can benefit from a little more capitalism and we can benefit from a little more socialism.

They will certainly maintain their own history. Via travel, everyone will learn more about each other. I believe Mark Twain said travel helps reduce prejudice.

Yay President Obama and his Administration.

Diplomatic relations with Cuba!

[eridani]

107. What if they refuse to take Rubio and Cruz off our hands?

Hope that doesn't mess up the deal!

[jtuck004]

112. We could meet halfway. Then leave them there. n/t

[rtracey]

111. Look....

Look...Rubio and Cruz are against the president for doing this simply for one reason....THEY DIDN'T DO IT FIRST....They want to run for president and both being Cuban would have been a Latino voter dream vote to have Rubio or Cruz come out and say.... "As president, I will remove sanctions from Cuba and begin to recognize Cuba as a trade partner, etc., etc." but again Mr Obama ruined the party...

[jtuck004]

113. This is a good thing for us. I hope for them. n/t

[womanofthehills]

114. Organic farming and urban garden revolution in Cuba

Gosh - because they could not import pesticides, they had to develop ways to grow organically.

"Cuba’s transition to organic agriculture emerged as a necessary response to the food crisis that gripped the nation in the early 1990s. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union and a longstanding trade embargo that severely constrained industrialised agricultural practices on the island, Cuban producers turned the declining availability of pesticides, fertilisers and petroleum into an opportunity to shift towards organic production with numerous environmental, social and economic gains.

http://www.unep.org/greeneconomy/SuccessStories/OrganicAgricultureinCuba/tabid/29890/Default.aspx

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2008/apr/04/organics.food

[Cha]

115. ..

[rocktivity]

116. Here's a story about their medical efforts

http://yourhhrsnews.com/four-cuban-cancer-vaccines-victims-of-u-s-blockade

And my personal favorite Cuban contribution: Bon Jovi's drummer.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10341335


rocktivity

[Cha]

117. Una patada!