Cuba the next Colombia???

[Traveler]

what do you guys think about when Castro goes will happen to Cuba?? maybe this is selfish but in a way I think it will be in a sense bad.  MTV Spring break, party island, prostitution, corruption.  I think the US "invasion" will be immediate and overwhelming economically speaking of course.  I definitely think the US will corrupt that island.  on the other hand I'm sure they'll be plenty of opportunity for finding a bride.

[DallasSteve]

... in response to Cuba the next Colombia???, posted by Traveler on Jun 22, 2001

You sound like you think that capitalism is evil.  Am I mis-reading your post?  If you think it is evil I seriously recommend getting a copy of John Stossel's special "Greed".  It's an incredibly well done piece of journalism.  The theme is that capitalism is not a "win-lose" proposition.  It is a "win-win" proposition.  And please don't try to tell me that corruption isn't rampant in Castro's Cuba.

If someone believes that capitalism is evil, they should have the moral honesty to leave the USA.  They don't need permission from the INS.

[Traveler]

... in response to Do you think capitalism is evil?, posted by DallasSteve on Jun 25, 2001

no Steve, I don't think capatilism is evil.  just briefly I gotta run.   but take the former Soviet Union for example and the crime ridden  mafia type operations that go on there.  without evolving along with the appropriate government system, corruption/crime and other social problems could run rampant.  

by the way this is a little off topic, but in addition to capitalism some latin american countries, among others, also have a difficult time implementing democracy.  I think that is somewhat obvious.  there are those that say without the necessary education, social development, and even the culture itself prevents some countries from achieving true representative democracy.  but that can be the discussion in another post.

[Pete E]

... in response to Cuba the next Colombia???, posted by Traveler on Jun 22, 2001

Lets see,who is more likely to become a prostitute?A girl who makes $10 a month working for the government or a girl that has an opportunity to make a good living as a worker  in the tourism industry?(99.9% of whom are not prostitutes)
No ,I don't think we will corrupt their island once they have economic opportunity.More of that is done now because they have few other choices.Whats wrong with a good tourism business?

Pete

[Traveler]

... in response to Re: Cuba the next Colombia???, posted by Pete E on Jun 24, 2001

how many jobs can be made available in the tourism industry.  c'mon you've been to latin america haven't you.  and you haven't seen that???  hell the girls can make a lot more money as prostitutes than in the toursim industry

[Pete E]

... in response to c'mon Pete..., posted by Traveler on Jun 24, 2001

I think Cuba could be much bigger in tourism than any of the other latin countries,way more than Colombia now and much more than what Colombia could be with safety.Its an island 90 miles off of Florida.Also opening up the island to capitalism would increase alot of other economic opportunities.
Yes a girl can always make more money as a prostitute,but there doesn't seem to be any alternatives for her in Cuba now,so she can be poor or be a hooker.
Cuba might return to the party place it used to be,and maybe there would be more hookers,but I think the people would have choices and be immensely better off.It will happen.The question is when and how much the Cuban people have to put up with in the meantime.

Pete

[JUAN]

... in response to Cuba the next Colombia???, posted by Traveler on Jun 22, 2001

That's what I think Cuba will be like once Castro croaks, the embargo is  lifted (it's gotta end sometime) and the communist regime is done with or weakened considerably.

I read that one of Castro's greatest fears is the Americanization of the island, he won't be alive to see it but his greatest fear will come to fruition.

As for Cuba becoming like Colombia, I don't see it, the island is beautiful by all acounts and once the changes begin you'll see practically all Cubans living abroad returning to their home country to visit,  live, work or start businesses so the economy will be fine.

[Michael B]

... in response to Cuba the next Colombia???, posted by Traveler on Jun 22, 2001

On the radio today I heard that he collapsed while giving a speach. He never lost consinousness, but had to be helped inside to a cot and lay down for a while. Later (one presumes after consulting with doctors) he came back out and told the people he was not seriously ill, but that he did feel too poorly to finish the speach.

[NW Jim]

... in response to Cuba the next Colombia???, posted by Traveler on Jun 22, 2001

Traveler,
My understanding is that it's already corrupted. The dollar is king and the economy is kept going by Canadian, European and American tourists; prostitution and gambling is in full swing. Doctors are reduced to driving cabs to make a semi-decent living.
I would NOT choose Cuba, as a country to seek a bride. Religion has been suppressed for forty years, the family has been weakened, the people are in survival mode, and a one way trip to the "heaven" of Miami is what many want from America. Desperation without morals is not appealing.
To each his own.

[Hamlet]

... in response to Re: Cuba the next Colombia??? No..........., posted by NW Jim on Jun 22, 2001

I haven't been to Cuba yet but have read several books and magazine articles, talked with people who have visited the island and exchanged letters and phone calls with more than a dozen women living there.  I have reached a different conclusion about Cubana prospects.

The women which whom I have become acquainted don't seem corrupted by money.  They do seem to be imbued with a strong worth ethic and strong family values.  They are extremely thrifty and used to hardship, and thus I don't think they will marry me and then run up all my credit cards buying expensive clothing. Their lack of religious fervor is a plus in my book.

Until I do my grand tour of six LA countries I can't be sure, but I'm guessing Cuba and the Cubanas will be the highlight of my trip.  But then, who knows?  I've always marched to the beat of a different drummer.

[Alberto]

... in response to Re: Cuba the next Colombia??? No..........., posted by NW Jim on Jun 22, 2001

I went to Cuba last December,(I'm Cuban) And I posted a message at the time, warning everybody not to go wife chasing in Cuba. The reasons were that most likely you going to meet a prostitute, decent cuban ladies are not hanging around with tourists, they do not have the time for being at bars,tourist spots and so on. On another note, even before the revolution, Cuba had a very little interest in religion, only about 10% of the population was catholic, the main religion. Other religions accounted for a minute fraccion of the population. Because of that, most Cubans do not have sexual inhibitions. If you are a religious person, I do not recommend Cuba.

Regards

Alberto

[buzzy]

... in response to Re: Re: Cuba the next Colombia??? No......., posted by Alberto on Jun 23, 2001

I think the movies portray the Cuban lady as sexy, loose, and always dancing.  But I've met some Cubans and the only diff I noticed from other ethnic latins was their language. They speak much faster and it seemed to be a higher pitch.  I think that undisciplined sexual activity increases in a society at a time of extreme poverty and stress, and also at the other end of the scale at a time of extreme wealth and arrogance.

[Dennis in CA]

... in response to Re: Cuba the next Colombia??? No..........., posted by NW Jim on Jun 22, 2001

Jim:
You took the words right out of my mouth.....bravo!!!  It makes you wonder what planet some of these guys are from....
Good job!!!
D

[Traveler]

... in response to Right on, Jim!!, posted by Dennis in CA on Jun 23, 2001

Cubans want a one-way ticket to Miami then don't you see opportunity their for American men getting foreign bride???  what is the difference then between Cuba and Colombia in that regard???  Colombians want to go to the US as well.  the difference may be that Americans can travel much easier to Colombia and its easier for the women to leave???

by the way, I was just throwing out that post for comment.  I don't think I would go to Cuba to look for a wife either. I just believe that "culturally" the US impact on Cuba will be negative.  and I am already living in a suburb of Havana called Miami.

[NW Jim]

... in response to Dennis, if you agree with Jim that...., posted by Traveler on Jun 23, 2001

Traveler,

I understood that you were just throwing the idea out for consideration--nothing wrong with that. There was a recent report on MSNBC stating that about 100,000 Americans per year are travelling to Cuba of vacations, etc.I'm sure some are looking at the bride angle.

I'm not necessarily disagreeing with your underlying premise that economics plays a role in these matters; However, if it was only economics then Dominican Republic, Honduras and Guatemala would be the primary destinations. They're not, but some guys have found happiness in each of these countries.

I think in the case of Cuba it's a matter of a country that is too close to the US physically and culturally; when Fidel falls the beneficiaries will be the Miami Cubans; both those looking for brides and those looking to buy assets cheap. The culture will be further corrupted.

Anyway, I appreciate your realistic take on things in Latin America, I know it doesn't make you popular with some here.