Sometimes a failure to think comes across the ol’ virtual desk. In this case, someone chose to visit Cuba and then wrote up a report without really thinking much about it. It ended up in my mail, but you can find the full report here on ExpatExchange. Here’s a representative paragraph:
Outside Havana, the country is still in the 19th century. Many people walk, but equally as many use horses, both to ride and pull carts. I saw wagons pulled by oxen on the highway. We traveled by motor coach, stayed in crude motels, and ate in restaurants; all owned by the government. Staying clean was a challenge. In the public restrooms washing your hands was interesting. You need three things to wash your hands; water, soap, towel to dry. Well the towel was your shirt or pants, because there never was any towels. In 1/3 of the toilets there was no water and in one case, there was a lady standing beside the sink with a bottle of water to pour over your hands. In an equal number of places, there was no soap.
I don’t doubt it’s true. In fact, I rather appreciate the report to this point, as I’d probably not do the same trip myself, even if I did biking. But then his or her brain shuts down:
Glad I went, but have no desire to return. Cuba makes our inner cities look like paradise and the poverty is staggering. After two weeks abroad, we flew home and I spent the night in a Hampton Inn at the Atlanta airport, before catching an early morning flight back to Seattle. Took the longest hot water shower every after having a cheeseburger, fries and two gin & tonics for dinner. I was really glad to be back
Dedicated to all Bernie Sanders supporters and other DUMMYCRATS that believe “Government Socialism” is so much better than our country that was built on “Capitalism.”
Indeed? And, ah, did you find the same problems in Sweden, Denmark, and Finland?
It’s a pity, really. He (I’ll make the assumption) could have used the current condition of Cuba to discuss the importance of natural resources, the problems of overpopulation, the fallacies of authoritarianism (which is the proper description of Cuba) – and no doubt several other topics which escape my attention. Instead, he lapses into political gunnery, using a mislabeled example of a country embargoed by the United States decades ago, of a country which might be in trouble even if it was “free” – take a look at the history of Cuba at the time of the Revolution.
It’s a pity, really. An opportunity wasted on stupid political points.
For those interested in on the ground reports of Cuba, my cousin Scott went last year. He knows something about Cuba’s history, so his report is fascinating reading. I recommend it.
