About 75 Percent of Americans Support Relations with Cuba

[Judi Lynn]

Source: La Prensa

Washington, Dec 14 (Prensa Latina) About 75 percent of Americans have favored the normalization of relations between the United States and Cuba, and 73 percent have supported an end to the economic blockade on the island, according to a Pew Research Center polling.

The figures has increased as to the results of a similar study conducted in 2015, despite recent threats by President-elect, Donald Trump, to revoke Obama's executive decisions about Cuba and to reconsider the process of normalization of bilateral relations undertaken in December 2014.

The polling, conducted from December 1 to 5, shows that party differences- between Democrats and Republicans- are persisting in the views of the U.S. policy toward Cuba.

Democrats are more likely than Republicans to support diplomatic ties and an end to the economic, trade and financial blockade the United States has imposed on the Caribbean island since 1962.

Read more: http://www.plenglish.com/index.php?o=rn&id=6985&SEO=about-75-percent-of-americans-support-relations-with-cuba

[DFW]

1. And for once, the figure is comprised of 74% plus the 1%

Companies like Marriott, Hyatt, Hilton, all the fast food chains, all the car rental companies, none of them exactly facing insolvency anyway, stand to make hundreds of millions off of an open relationship with Cuba. The only ones opposed would be the "anti-kommanists" who have not yet heard the word from Fox Noise to shut up because their money masters aren't opposed this time. The Rubio Cuban exiles will make some noise, but they'll cease and desist fast once they're in on the big cash-in.

The political anachronisms who are still opposed will eventually get the word, and fall in line. Within ten years, a trip to Cuba will be no more exotic than a trip to Puerto Rico, though with a little luck, the Cuban environmental authorities will hold enough power to prevent their country from turning into clone of where their island was headed in 1958. My daughters were just there last month, and said that except for the artificially pristine beach at Varadero, it was a fascinating place, and they drove all over, from one end to the other. Their road system is stuck in the 1930s once you get outside Havana, and they said the people were as friendly as they could be. I'm sure that, in time, we'll improve the one and wreck the other, but in the meantime, with Republicans, money doesn't just talk. It rules. The "anti" crowd will run out of funding first, and then gas a month or two later.

[Judi Lynn]

3. Thanks for relating your daughters' experience. Your turn, next.

[DFW]

8. NexT? I was there almost exactly 35 years ago. They were the ones playing catch-up, not me.

I was there in January 1982, invited by their government. My daughters were only playing catch-up. They were already older when they went than I was when I went, and I looked a LOT more like Fidel than they ever did! (e.g. me with my first-born daughter, around June, 1983 and I speak fluent Spanish where they speak none).
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[Judi Lynn]

14. Wow, you're not kidding. There is a remarkable resemblance. You should have worn olive green clothes

with a little olive green military hat! That would have gotten you some sudden attention!

[center] - click for image -

http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.48825.1418836646!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_1200/fidel-castro-meets-school-children-1959.jpg

Fidel Castro visiting the US, being greeted by US school children having a joke with him. This is before the US right-wing decided he was their mortal enemy.[/center]
When I said "next," didn't know you'd been there. I meant it as an encouragement to go, yourself. Too bad you were there during the horrendous trial by fire of their being cut loose by the USSR at Reagan's insistence as a term of peace, after the aggression after the embargo, starting with Eisenhower, then Bay of Pigs, (already initiated and trained for by Brigade 2506 under Dwight Eisenhower in Guatemala, then inherited by JFK) was what threw Cuba into Russia's waiting arms in the first place.

Very unexpected seeing a photo which so greatly resembled El Comandante at that age!

Here's a photo of Fidel Castro's son, who was called "Fidelito" as a child, as a young man, before his own hair started turning gray:

[center]

[DFW]

16. Yes, I know all about "Fidelito"

While I was there, the government officials that were showing me around said Fidel occasionally popped up unannounced, and I would have liked to have had the chance. But he never did show, and we never met. Maybe the DGI forgot to tell him what an opportunity he was missing out on!

[mountain grammy]

4. My son went with a Canadian friend about 8 years ago.

He loved it. Said it was one of the best travel experiences he's ever had. They rented motorbikes and went all over the island. His friend had been there several times so knew his way around, but my son said people were friendly and helpful wherever they went.

[Judi Lynn]

5. It takes real people to tell some US Americans how it works. So many swallowed the propaganda,

and insist Cuba is a "police state" and that US tourists aren't allowed to go anywhere by themselves, and that Cuban spies are everywhere watching you.

They never think to wonder why the US used to ban all travel except for the Cuban exiles who come and go freely!

[DFW]

9. When I was there, that description was quite accurate. Times have changed.

Of course, I was not there as a tourist. In 1982, Americans with no family ties to Cuba did not got here as tourists. They did not offer me a visa to come learn to sing Guantanamera. The minute I stepped off the plane and got to their immigration, the border guard looked at my passport and called to my hosts, who were waiting behind her kiosk, "here he is." I was driven everywhere by government car except for once, and a political officer who spoke passable Russian was always along. I never found out if she spoke English or not, as I never used it once while I was there, but I suppose she did. The one phone call I made (to Paris) was monitored, rather blatantly (I didn't care). The one time I took a walk in the old town "by myself" at their suggestion, I was shadowed openly, though not hostilely. One of my "escorts" even asked me what time it was, and then complimented me on my Spanish (ha-ha, I had lived in Spain, which they knew).

The funniest incident was when a Soviet air line crew was berating some poor sales girl in a hard currency shop, and she understood no Russian. The Russians, who strutted around like colonial masters who owned the place (not exactly inaccurate in those days), must have figured it was every Cuban's responsibility to learn Russian. Anyway, I was getting impatient, and so offered to interpret for them all. Problem solved, and the Russians left. All I wanted was a few post cards, but even for that, you had to show your passport when you bought even a post card at the hard currency shop. Expecting a Soviet passport, her eyes grew wide in astonishment when she saw my U.S. passport, and the letters "C.I.A." practically formed on her face (I'm not, obviously, or else 1.) they would not have invited me, and 2.) I wouldn't be telling this here).

[JI7]

2. i have come across a lot of people who are going to travel there

[Judi Lynn]

11. Hope your friends make it there before US businesses install themselves.

Have been hearing from visitors, some frequent visitors from Canada, and Europe that they even discuss it with other Cuba travelers, sharing their dread of the days the US tourist industry tries to take control, and turn the island into an American playground.

They have been going there precisely because they appreciate the lack of commercialism, and the beauty of the island, and the friendliness of the citizens.

Maybe you should consider taking a trip with them, yourself. I have seldom heard from anyone who actually had anything to say dumping on his/her visit. There are quite q few DU'ers, too, including people outside the US who've totally enjoyed their time there, and have returned repeatedly.

[JI7]

15. they are mostly people i meet through work which includes a lot of tourists

If i had time money or any other opportunity to go i would.

[bdamomma]

6. visitors love it

I know people who have gone there and have said the same positive things about Cuba.

I will go before anything changes.

[Judi Lynn]

12. Good idea! As soon as possible, before the loudmouths arrive! You won't regret it.

[Wolf Frankula]

7. If they can keep their Health Care

Us old folks (I'm almost 62) may be looking to move to Cuba.

Wolf

[DFW]

10. That would be rather unfair to the Cubans

They are not a rich country. Their welfare system is set up to handle the population of Cuba, not theirs and ours as well, and hardly any US citizens have paid into the Cuban pension system, such as there is one. It is our government's responsibility to take care of us old (I am 64) folks if we need it. We have no right to just show up on Cuba's door asking for a handout just because a bunch of corrupt Republicans in Congress are in the insurance companies' pockets.

[Judi Lynn]

13. They are known across the globe for their incomperable health care and education systems.

The US right-wing has been planning for years to privatize them both after they can take over through a regime change. Cubans on the island heard about their plans a long time ago, and they are totally resistant. Whoever tries it will have a fight on his/her hands.

By the way, regarding retirement: Other US citizens have looked into the matter of retiring to Cuba when they reach retirement age, and learned for themselves that the US Government, as it is now, will NOT send social security checks to US Americans at any address in Cuba. They flat out refuse to let anyone draw their own social security if they are living anywhere inside the country.

That's going to have to change first before people get more serious about moving there. It's a real shame, currently.