Mass Protests in Cuba

[Suburbia]

Does anyone here dislike the word "gusano" reentering some leftists' vocabulary to describe the anti-government protesters in Cuba and Miami suburban areas and politicians like Rubio, Malliotakis and Salazar?

[Red Velvet]

I'd add by saying that it's hard to begrudge Lula or MAS in Bolivia for being pro-regime because the Cuban government has greatly assisted the Brazilian and Bolivian people, even if it's through means that are pretty unsavory. Cuban healthcare humanitarianism raises all kinds of challenging moral questions. It is hard to imagine a poorer country having a program like this without exploiting its doctors and nurses but the program has been so beneficial and unparalleled that it's extremely hard to criticize it. I also suspect many Cuban doctors and nurses participating in it feel very proud of their achievements.

And while again, i'm not denying the positive effects of the "humanitarian assistance", Cuba is also participant in the venezuelan crisis, perhaps the worst humanitarian disaster in latin american history, as to this day, they sent thousands of cuban agents to provide military and intelligence assistance to the chavist regime. Not very different from what the US did in the middle east, but somehow the US is the "evil empire", while cuba is some poor, besieged victim.

Well, I’ve never heard of Cuba throwing bombs or overthrowing governments in other countries in order to get what they want. Sure, that might be a thing they would do if they were bigger and able to do that stuff, but they are too small on all senses to be able to do that. Maybe in an alternative timeline.

But if you want to limit the context of just humanitarian aid being given for the sake of expanding influence and power, are you saying that US and Cuba are equals from opposite sides and there aren’t good or bad guys in that context, it’s something that most places do it to some level in order to politically survive or to get more support and power?

Also, Cuba did gain a lot of soft power here between some sectors with the doctors program where they were sent to work in more distant and isolated communities where Brazilian doctors don’t want to go live, making these places lack medical assistance. However, it was something that had its fair share of resistance as well, especially from the right who accused these doctors to be stealing Brazilian jobs (even though they were mostly filling spots in the middle of nowhere places that no privileged Brazilian doctor wanted, including assistance to isolated Indigenous communities! lmao) and lots of Cuban doctors were met with xenophobia in the airport with people telling them to go back to their country. It was a very polarized topic in which the left supported that the Cuban doctors were doing something good to Brazil and deserved to stay here, while the right was against it because they believed that migration to be a threat to Brazilian doctors (and also the usual “Cuba is a communist country” fearmongering).

[Ⓐnarchy in the ☭☭☭P!]

Before Castro Cuba was virtually a colony or a protectorate that exported sugar cane to the US, as well as a resort for some mafia bosses (see The Godfather, Part Two). No doubt Cuban elites and the friends of Batista thrived and profited from that trade, but not the Cuban people. If the average Cuban under Batista was so prosperous and happy, the success of the eevolutionary movement would have been more difficult (Castro was initially a nationalist, the conversion to communism came later). On the other hand, it's undeniable that US blockade has greatly contributed to impoverish Cuba, besides other factors like mismanagement or the demise of the USSR. I hope that you are not seriously vindicating that era, or mean that Cuba should become again a colony or a casino

Cuba must be a poor country in terms of GDP (it does not appear in the list, due to the lack of economic data) and the living standatds are low. But my point is that most of Latin America is afflicted by gross inequality, so the Cuban model (that I don't support) has appeal to some impoverished Latin Americans. For instance, Maradona was a great admirer of the Cuban Revolution.  Maradona became a millionaire due to his immense talent to play football, but his origins are in a poor slum of Greater Buenos Aires (a breeding ground for the loathed peronist populism)

Cuba was a corrupt, autocratic country under the thumb of a foreign empire while Batista reigned and it still is right up to this day. The embargo (there hasn't been a blockade since the 60's and the difference is enormous) certainly hurt the Cuban economy but the Soviet Union compensated by giving Cuba over a billion dollars (not inflation adjusted) every year into the 1980s, a bigger subsidy than the entire Marshall Plan. When that money dried up they went into a full on decline until Chavez briefly took the Soviet Union's place, but as soon as the Venezuelan oil money stopped so did growth in Cuba.

I can understand why a poor person in GBA, the Cuzco highlands or Nicaragua might consider Cuban style Communism to be preferable to being ruled by an American backed warlord in 1960. I can even kind of see the case that could be made in the 80s in many countries. But in 2021 there are many examples of poor countries that reduced poverty dramatically and they aren't the socialistic ones. Even the absolute "best" examples of socialism like Cuba (until this week) are frozen in time. Meanwhile Venezuela went from one of the safest and most prosperous countries in Latin America to being more dangerous than active warzones like Mali or the C.A.R.

It's also worth noting that in Cuba (can't say for Venezuela) if you grow your own food without authorization from the state or even if you catch some fish it can be seized and you could be tossed in jail. That's not something that can be blamed on the Americans. There might be poverty in Latin America but you generally don't have to worry about getting sent to a concentration camp for trying to feed your own family from the land around your own house.

A comment I found put it better than I could:

LA REVOLUCIÓN NOS ENSEÑO A LEER Y ESCRIBIR, Y DESPUÉS NOS DIJO LO QUE PODÍAMOS ESCRIBIR Y LO QUE ESTA PROHIBIDO LEER, CREANDO DE ESTA FORMA EL PEOR TIPO DE ANALFABETO QUE EXISTE, EL QUE CREE QUE LO SABE TODO Y NO NECESITA ESCUCHAR A NADIE.

LA REVOLUCIÓN CONVIRTIÓ LOS CUARTELES EN ESCUELAS, Y EL PAÍS EN UN CUARTEL.

LA REVOLUCIÓN LLEVO LA ELECTRICIDAD A LOS LUGARES MÁS APARTADOS Y DESPUÉS TRAJO LOS APAGONES A TODOS LOS LUGARES.

LA REVOLUCIÓN TERMINÓ CON LOS BURDELES DE BARRIO Y CONVIRTIÓ AL PAÍS EN UN BURDEL.

LA REVOLUCIÓN NOS DIO UN SISTEMA DE SALUD GRATIS, PARA QUE PODAMOS ATENDERNOS LAS ENFERMAS QUE ELLA MISMA NOS CAUSA CON SU ESTRÉS CONSTANTE, PÉSIMA HIGIENE Y MALA ALIMENTACIÓN... SI PROTESTAS, TE ROMPERÁN LA CABEZA, PERO LOS PUNTOS TAMBIÉN SERÁN GRATIS.

LA REVOLUCIÓN NOS ASEGURA UN TRABAJO DIGNO CON UN SALARIO QUE NOS GANANTIZA UNA VIDA INDIGNA.

LA REVOLUCIÓN ELIMINÓ LA EXPLOTACIÓN DEL HOMBRE POR EL HOMBRE Y ESTABLECIÓ LA EXPLOTACIÓN DEL HOMBRE POR EL ESTADO.

LA REVOLUCIÓN ELIMINÓ LA BURGUESÍA Y ESTABLECIÓ LA MONARQUÍA CASTRISTA.

LA REVOLUCIÓN CAMBIO LOS MUERTOS EN LAS CALLES POR LOS MUERTOS EN EL MAR Y EN LAS PRISIONES.

LA REVOLUCIÓN DESTRUYÓ MILLONES DE FAMILIAS.

LA REVOLUCIÓN DIVIDIÓ LOS PANES Y DESAPARECIÓ LOS PECES.

LA REVOLUCIÓN LE QUITÓ LA LECHE A LOS NIÑOS A LOS 7 AÑOS.

LA REVOLUCIÓN CONVIRTIÓ EN VIGILANTES EN SUS PROPIOS ESCLAVOS.

LA REVOLUCIÓN NOS ENSEÑÓ QUE LA LIBERTAD NO SE MENDIGA MIENTRAS NOS VESTIA DE LIMOSNEROS.

[Bilardista]

Well, I’ve never heard of Cuba throwing bombs or overthrowing governments in other countries in order to get what they want. Sure, that might be a thing they would do if they were bigger and able to do that stuff, but they are too small on all senses to be able to do that. Maybe in an alternative timeline.

You said it yourself. And you don't have to look at alternate timelines to imagine what a Cuba with large resources would've done.

But if you want to limit the context of just humanitarian aid being given for the sake of expanding influence and power, are you saying that US and Cuba are equals from opposite sides and there aren’t good or bad guys in that context, it’s something that most places do it to some level in order to politically survive or to get more support and power?

Yes. Cuba doesn't of course have the resources and capabilities of the US, but it's playing the same game.

[lfromnj]

It's also worth noting that in Cuba (can't say for Venezuela) if you grow your own food without authorization from the state or even if you catch some fish it can be seized and you could be tossed in jail. That's not something that can be blamed on the Americans. There might be poverty in Latin America but you generally don't have to worry about getting sent to a concentration camp for trying to feed your own family from the land around your own house.

Tbf many people love the administration that basically did that here .

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wickard_v._Filburn

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

TANKIES = TRIGGERED

https://twitter.com/RepAOC/status/1415825886981545992

[If my soul was made of stone]

https://twitter.com/RepAOC/status/1415825886981545992

This was a surprisingly good and nuanced take from her, considering her awful equivocation on Evo Morales. Definitely a cut above what Biden had to say.

[(no subject)]

Biden doesn’t have the votes in Congress to repeal the embargo even if he wanted to. It also can’t be legally repeal before Cuba has paid compensation for or returned nationalised American property

[Red Velvet]

Well, I’ve never heard of Cuba throwing bombs or overthrowing governments in other countries in order to get what they want. Sure, that might be a thing they would do if they were bigger and able to do that stuff, but they are too small on all senses to be able to do that. Maybe in an alternative timeline.

You said it yourself. And you don't have to look at alternate timelines to imagine what a Cuba with large resources would've done.

But if you want to limit the context of just humanitarian aid being given for the sake of expanding influence and power, are you saying that US and Cuba are equals from opposite sides and there aren’t good or bad guys in that context, it’s something that most places do it to some level in order to politically survive or to get more support and power?

Yes. Cuba doesn't of course have the resources and capabilities of the US, but it's playing the same game.

Considering we’re in Latin America and not Eastern Europe, I think the priority of who we should worry more about is clear. Not sure why I should care about Cuba when they mostly mind their own business and the only big exchange I remember from them was Cuban doctors taking jobs that Brazilian doctors feel they’re too good to take them.

It’s never a matter of ideology, but power. If US was communist but with the same level of influence, then you would see the right getting a similar type of national appeal in defense of the country sovereignty in the region kinda like you see in Eastern European countries against Russia. In LatAm it’s the left that has this narrative of protecting national independence and self-determination because it’s not USSR or Russia influence that is close, it’s the US.

Same way China’s Asian neighbors tend to be increasingly more suspicious of China, as they are in whatever is considered their “sphere of influence”. In the end is more of a sovereignty survival speech that can be adopted by either the left or the right depending of the place context.

Which is why the global left loves using Latin American countries as poster for their cause in the same way the global right loves to bring Eastern European countries as evidence that their side is the “good” one fighting for freedom.

I don’t believe in “good” or “bad” guys, I think we just live in a planet where we have multiple places with different backgrounds that have their individual self-interests and those often just happen to become obstacles between themselves. I wouldn’t think ANYONE is fighting for something more noble than protecting their interests. Sometimes you can create allignements with others for shared goals and more strength, but even those collective alliances are created out of a self-interest.

If I was Ukrainian, Hungarian or something from those ex-communist countries then I would also be really suspicious of Russia interfering. It’s the same self-protection and self-determination instinct after all. If the greatest threat from the left in LatAm is the island of Cuba, I’m not really worried by the left or their infiltrated Cuban doctors lol. What exactly can they do to be a threat? However, I am kinda concerned about CIA director meeting with a president that has signaled multiple times he wants to attempt a coup if he isn’t re-elected because that will be a “fraud”.

[Velasco]

Before Castro Cuba was virtually a colony or a protectorate that exported sugar cane to the US, as well as a resort for some mafia bosses (see The Godfather, Part Two). No doubt Cuban elites and the friends of Batista thrived and profited from that trade, but not the Cuban people. If the average Cuban under Batista was so prosperous and happy, the success of the eevolutionary movement would have been more difficult (Castro was initially a nationalist, the conversion to communism came later). On the other hand, it's undeniable that US blockade has greatly contributed to impoverish Cuba, besides other factors like mismanagement or the demise of the USSR. I hope that you are not seriously vindicating that era, or mean that Cuba should become again a colony or a casino

Cuba must be a poor country in terms of GDP (it does not appear in the list, due to the lack of economic data) and the living standatds are low. But my point is that most of Latin America is afflicted by gross inequality, so the Cuban model (that I don't support) has appeal to some impoverished Latin Americans. For instance, Maradona was a great admirer of the Cuban Revolution.  Maradona became a millionaire due to his immense talent to play football, but his origins are in a poor slum of Greater Buenos Aires (a breeding ground for the loathed peronist populism)

Cuba was a corrupt, autocratic country under the thumb of a foreign empire while Batista reigned and it still is right up to this day. The embargo (there hasn't been a blockade since the 60's and the difference is enormous) certainly hurt the Cuban economy but the Soviet Union compensated by giving Cuba over a billion dollars (not inflation adjusted) every year into the 1980s, a bigger subsidy than the entire Marshall Plan. When that money dried up they went into a full on decline until Chavez briefly took the Soviet Union's place, but as soon as the Venezuelan oil money stopped so did growth in Cuba.

I can understand why a poor person in GBA, the Cuzco highlands or Nicaragua might consider Cuban style Communism to be preferable to being ruled by an American backed warlord in 1960. I can even kind of see the case that could be made in the 80s in many countries. But in 2021 there are many examples of poor countries that reduced poverty dramatically and they aren't the socialistic ones. Even the absolute "best" examples of socialism like Cuba (until this week) are frozen in time. Meanwhile Venezuela went from one of the safest and most prosperous countries in Latin America to being more dangerous than active warzones like Mali or the C.A.R.

It's also worth noting that in Cuba (can't say for Venezuela) if you grow your own food without authorization from the state or even if you catch some fish it can be seized and you could be tossed in jail. That's not something that can be blamed on the Americans. There might be poverty in Latin America but you generally don't have to worry about getting sent to a concentration camp for trying to feed your own family from the land around your own house.

The USSR collapsed 30 years ago and Venezuela was never able to replace it, while the US embargo continued despite the shy attempts of normalization during the Obama's presidency. I didn't say the US administrations are solely responsible for the economic situation in Cuba, but they bear a good part of it and their attitude must change. The point is, you can't establish a comparison between the economic situation in Cuba under Batista and nowadays ignoring the reality of the embargo. That's simply deceitful. Consider the geographic situation of Cuba and tell me if it's possible to have prosperity with the hostility of your powerful neighbor.  I'm not even trying to defend the Cuban regime, which survived for decades subsidized by the USSR and styled itself a standard bearer of anti-imperialism worldwide. My opinion on this question is similar to that tweet posted by AOC: demand openness to the Cuban government and put an end to embargoes and sanctions damaging the Cuban people.

As far as I know, Cuba is the only communist regime in the Americas. Even Maduro's Venezuela is a capitalist country, despite all the socialist rhetoric. On the other hand, Bolivia is a good example of a country that managed to reduce poverty during the last two decades. The governments of Evo Morales and the Movement Towards Socialism (MAS) had bright and dark spots, but I'd say the balance is positive in what concerns improving living standards. Bolivia is still a country with a market economy,  ruled by a leftwing government.

I think that Cubans should be permitted to grow their own food, but I didn't know Cuba had still concentration camps. Anyway ir's undeniable there is repression: humanitarian organizations have found disturbing evidence thar Cuba abuses labor rights in its prisons. There were camps in the 1960s, disguised as "military units to aid production".  Sadly I have to say there are historical precedents: concentration camps were invented in Cuba by general Weyler, who was in the island during the last years of the Spanish rule.

Biden doesn’t have the votes in Congress to repeal the embargo even if he wanted to. It also can’t be legally repeal before Cuba has paid compensation for or returned nationalised American property

What a beautiful example of colonialist mentality

[lfromnj]

[
Cuba indeed has a very high literacy rate, and that is great - but so do many other countries (...)

You (well, maybe not you specifically) might well say that my criticism is just shallow consumerism and communist countries balanced this out by being more advanced in other areas. They did indeed have unprecedented levels of equality - in the sense that it didn't matter if you were a factory worker or an accountant, a tractor driver or a manager, you could always be sure that almost every Western European was better off than you. But yes, there was equality.

I think your criticism of communist regimes is legitimate and agree almost in everything with you. No doubt the Cuban regime is as failed as the communist regimes of Eastern Europe. However, I'd like to point out that Cuba is in Latin America. The literacy rate and the levels of well-being in that island must be compared to those of Haití, Perú or Guatemala. Living standards in Cuba are far from being extraordinary, but still it's possible that many Latin Americans living in extreme poverty could envy an average and impoverished Cuban worker. I don't pretend to be an apologist of failed undemocratic regimes, but rather say there's no freedom without acceptable levels of social justice. Maybe some developed countries in Western Europe meet the standards, but that's not the case for Latin America. We shouldn't be so surprised when someone like Pedro Castillo emerges from out of nowhere and wins a presidential election in Perú

No it shouldn't.
Cuba's literacy rate prior to the revolution was already 80%. Haiti had like 15%. Guatemala had 35% although the effects of the US led coup in 1954 was horrible. Peru had 60% though so it is comparable. Not sure what's wrong with Peru today? It seems to be a relatively stable Democracy and a rapidly growing economy although it has struggled with COVID.
Sure they had a bad election  but the Parliament seems to be center right at least according to Wikipedia with 70/130 being center right and 16 more being centrist. Mostly just runoff issues but as long as congress doesn't buck in to much for Castillo all should be fine.

[(no subject)]

America also forced Romania among others of the old Eastern Bloc o pay compensation for U.S. property nationalised by the communists after the Iron Curtain finallly fell and they were white.

It is NOT as simple as EVIL WHITEY AND POOR BROWNEY and never has been.

[LAKISYLVANIA]

TANKIES = TRIGGERED

https://twitter.com/RepAOC/status/1415825886981545992

I'm not triggered. It's the right thing to do. I would do the same if i was AOC.

The most important thing is to stop the blockade, but that the country needs to be more democratic and respect human rights is something that indeed needs to be done (and that i believe can be done). Most Cubans want Cuba to reform. I think it's about time it does. And Cuba desperately need democratic reforms.

What I do hate though is that Cuba is seen as an evil nation, which it is not. Many Cubans do much better than in other third world countries. Just compare Cuba to Haiti, and you know enough. But that something should change in the country is obvious.

[(no subject)]

Fidel Castro was a brutal arsehole, no different to a Bokassa or Selassie. And anything “positive” the world hears about Cuba is sifted and filtered by the regime so it is possibly even probably as phoney as a three dollar bill.

[CumbrianLefty]

It is NOT as simple as EVIL WHITEY AND POOR BROWNEY and never has been.

Literally nobody on here is saying that, though.

[FrancoAgo]

Socialism has collapsed since 1989. Its an obsolete 19th century ideology.

This sort of stuff isn't clever, just tedious.

I understand. It’s a rather obvious fact, which can seem tedious.

and their ideology is older

And yet still far more relevant. As I said in the monarchism thread recently, a fundamental fallacy commies seem especially prone to is the assumption that newer always equals better. It most definitely does not.

i'm commies and don't think that newer always equals better, just see music, i want  just show the wrong in the post

[kaoras]

America also forced Romania among others of the old Eastern Bloc o pay compensation for U.S. property nationalised by the communists after the Iron Curtain finallly fell and they were white.

It is NOT as simple as EVIL WHITEY AND POOR BROWNEY and never has been.

You have two modes: Palestinians Bad and Brown people bad. If you aren't going to say anything worthwhile please refrain from posting

[PSOL]

America also forced Romania among others of the old Eastern Bloc o pay compensation for U.S. property nationalised by the communists after the Iron Curtain finallly fell and they were white.

It is NOT as simple as EVIL WHITEY AND POOR BROWNEY and never has been.

You have two modes: Palestinians Band and Brown people bad. If you aren't going to say anything worthwhile please refrain from posting

This is Sunrise’s s•••posting account, so he will keep on going.

[(no subject)]

It’s a real shame you don’t understand that from the river to the sea, Palestine shall be free means the physical destruction of Israel and the murder of its Jewish inhabitants. That’s what it has always meant to mean.

And pointing out Fidel Castro was brutal should not be controversial.

[Okay, maybe Mike Johnson is a competent parliamentarian.]

Fidel Castro was a brutal arsehole, no different to a Bokassa or Selassie.

I understand what point you're making here, but Castro, Bokassa, and Selassie are a really motley crew to make it with, as far as groupings of autocrats go.

[Ⓐnarchy in the ☭☭☭P!]

The USSR collapsed 30 years ago and Venezuela was never able to replace it, while the US embargo continued despite the shy attempts of normalization during the Obama's presidency. I didn't say the US administrations are solely responsible for the economic situation in Cuba, but they bear a good part of it and their attitude must change. The point is, you can't establish a comparison between the economic situation in Cuba under Batista and nowadays ignoring the reality of the embargo. That's simply deceitful. Consider the geographic situation of Cuba and tell me if it's possible to have prosperity with the hostility of your powerful neighbor.  I'm not even trying to defend the Cuban regime, which survived for decades subsidized by the USSR and styled itself a standard bearer of anti-imperialism worldwide. My opinion on this question is similar to that tweet posted by AOC: demand openness to the Cuban government and put an end to embargoes and sanctions damaging the Cuban people.

Yes. Have you heard of Georgia? Or Taiwan?

If anything the biggest impact of the embargo is to give an excuse for the failure of socialism in Cuba. Much like how the US Air Force is Al Qaeda's best recruiter, the CIA and the State Department are unmatched in creating socialists where previously few to none existed. It would be great if the embargo were ended but that wouldn't solve any of the fundamental issues that led to the protests.

I think that Cubans should be permitted to grow their own food, but I didn't know Cuba had still concentration camps. Anyway ir's undeniable there is repression: humanitarian organizations have found disturbing evidence thar Cuba abuses labor rights in its prisons. There were camps in the 1960s, disguised as "military units to aid production".  Sadly I have to say there are historical precedents: concentration camps were invented in Cuba by general Weyler, who was in the island during the last years of the Spanish rule.

I guess you could call sending people to the supermax for handing out pro-capitalist leaflets repressive.

The Cuban Communist government is absolutely murderous and I hope they're removed as soon as possible. Without American interference.

Anyway, the protests continue.

https://twitter.com/Datoworld/status/1416106514104918016

[LAKISYLVANIA]

https://twitter.com/YoungLabourUK/status/1415995244781395975

Can we ditch the Labour elite and promote Young Labour.

[(no subject)]

 Young Labour.s shows again to the electorate how much the voters made the right choice.

[Velasco]

The USSR collapsed 30 years ago and Venezuela was never able to replace it, while the US embargo continued despite the shy attempts of normalization during the Obama's presidency. I didn't say the US administrations are solely responsible for the economic situation in Cuba, but they bear a good part of it and their attitude must change. The point is, you can't establish a comparison between the economic situation in Cuba under Batista and nowadays ignoring the reality of the embargo. That's simply deceitful. Consider the geographic situation of Cuba and tell me if it's possible to have prosperity with the hostility of your powerful neighbor.  I'm not even trying to defend the Cuban regime, which survived for decades subsidized by the USSR and styled itself a standard bearer of anti-imperialism worldwide. My opinion on this question is similar to that tweet posted by AOC: demand openness to the Cuban government and put an end to embargoes and sanctions damaging the Cuban people.

Yes. Have you heard of Georgia? Or Taiwan?

If anything the biggest impact of the embargo is to give an excuse for the failure of socialism in Cuba. Much like how the US Air Force is Al Qaeda's best recruiter, the CIA and the State Department are unmatched in creating socialists where previously few to none existed. It would be great if the embargo were ended but that wouldn't solve any of the fundamental issues that led to the protests.

I think that Cubans should be permitted to grow their own food, but I didn't know Cuba had still concentration camps. Anyway ir's undeniable there is repression: humanitarian organizations have found disturbing evidence thar Cuba abuses labor rights in its prisons. There were camps in the 1960s, disguised as "military units to aid production".  Sadly I have to say there are historical precedents: concentration camps were invented in Cuba by general Weyler, who was in the island during the last years of the Spanish rule.

I guess you could call sending people to the supermax for handing out pro-capitalist leaflets repressive.

The Cuban Communist government is absolutely murderous and I hope they're removed as soon as possible. Without American interference.

Let us get a couple of things clear

a) I don't support the Cuban regime

b) I oppose imperialism by default and that includes China, Russia and the USA. Maybe that's the reason why I'm able to understand the anti-imperialist appeal of the Cuban regime. Like it or not, many people saw Cuba as an example of resistance against the world's largest suoerpower

Said this, removing the Cuban government "without American* interference" sounds like an empty phrase, becausr that's an impossibility.  Actually I think a change in Cuba will require inevitably the US intervention. The point is that the US can use its immense power both for the good and for the bad. So far, the US administrations have resorted ro blockade, embargo, sabotage and failed attempts of invasion or assasination. Obama tried another approach to the Cuban question,  but then came Donald Trump and reversed the timid advances made in theprevious presidency. A pesceful transition to democracy would be a desirable outcome and the US could use its influence in a positive way

* Cubans are Americans, too (and Peruvians, Argentinians, etc)

America also forced Romania among others of the old Eastern Bloc o pay compensation for U.S. property nationalised by the communists after the Iron Curtain finallly fell and they were white.

It is NOT as simple as EVIL WHITEY AND POOR BROWNEY and never has been.

You have two modes: Palestinians Band and Brown people bad. If you aren't going to say anything worthwhile please refrain from posting

This is Sunrise’s s•••posting account, so he will keep on going.

Colonialist mentality, advocacy of abhorrent apartheid states and double standards are relatively common here

[CumbrianLefty]

Young Labour.s shows again to the electorate how much the voters made the right choice.

No, what Young Labour actually shows is how much the party's youth section has been a factional bin fire since basically time immemorial