Deseret News | Breath of fresh air for Cuba

Reader comments
In our opinion: Breath of fresh air for Cuba

KM | 5:49 a.m. June 8, 2009

Yeah right! They have the longest standing political prisioners in jail, where are their rights? I keep seeing Che tee shirts in sold in shops and worn by brain washed college kids. Lets do business with the murdering/torturing thugs that are in charge of Cuba. Nice idea leftist in this country - Obama. Carter part two.

ECR | 6:11 a.m. June 8, 2009

"The ball is rolling. And the best move for the United States is to get behind it and push." Truer words were never spoken...! Excellent thoughts.

Change | 7:29 a.m. June 8, 2009

The US is moving closer to the Cuban model, Cuba remains the thug state that it has been for decades. Sure, now we have more in common with them, there can be reapproachment.

Comments continue below

Dave | 8:15 a.m. June 8, 2009

Cuba continues to be the "covergirl" for communists throughout the world. In spite of absolute failure of its economy and its non-existent human rights, it is constantly held up to the ignorant masses as a shining example of liberty, equality and fraternity for all. Giving Cuba breathing room will only embolden the far-left movement.

@KM | 8:18 a.m. June 8, 2009

There are T-shirts out there will a stop slash across Che, my daughter wears one. Some college students can see the brainwashing. There is still hope.

Oh Please | 9:26 a.m. June 8, 2009

50 years of US policy and it's failed. Time to start over. Nothing will change Cuba faster than a tide of US investment and engagement. It's time.

J.Salermo | 9:55 a.m. June 8, 2009

I lived in Cuba for 22 years and most of my family is still there, nothing has changed there or will change, human rights are still abused by the government on a daily basis, the economy is a total failure and people are unhappy in general. People in Cuba believe their own government will do something to avoid any improvements in the relations between the two countries, they also believe the Castros need someone to blame for all their failed economic policies over 50 years.

Get a grip | 10:02 a.m. June 8, 2009

I doubt the Cuban people see Americans as "Demonic" as the article states. If they see us as "Demonic"... Why are they risking their lives by the hundreds just trying to get here?

Would YOU risk your life and the life of your children to get to a country populated by demonic people?

Roland Kayser | 10:33 a.m. June 8, 2009

Could someone expalain to me why trade with China and Vietnam is okay but trade with Cuba is not. We have pursued trade with these countries on the assumption that interaction with the world would help open their societies, which it has done. Both are far from free countries, but both a far freer than they were twenty years ago.

@Roland | 11:43 a.m. June 8, 2009

China and Vietnam did not personally embarass and outmanuvuer President Kennedy.

doogie | 12:21 p.m. June 8, 2009

Most people who wear a Tshirt with Che's picture on it don't know what Che did or who he was. It's just a cool picture.
Anyway, it's time to engage cuba, to acknowledge them and engage them. The people and hope for prosperity there will change things.

To those who idolize Cuba | 12:54 p.m. June 8, 2009

To those who think Castro's the bomb and Cuba has a noble and caring government and that Cuba's the light on the hill and example to their neighbor to the north in this story...

Get an American made car now. Like 50's cars are coveted in Cuba today (because that's when they nationalized their industries and went Communist) Much the same thing is happening NOW in the United States (Gov taking over GM, Chrysler, AIG, etc). You should get a car NOW. There may come a day when the newest car around and the only ones available are those that were built before the big paradigm shift (pre-2010).

Yeah | 1:48 p.m. June 8, 2009

Cuba's failed economy is because of their government. It has nothing to do with a 50 year economic embargo that should be a death sentence for most countries, let alone a small island. All Castro's fault. Plus Batista was the man.

As for the article stating Cubans seeing Americans as "demonic" how about doing some research next time. The Cuban people have NEVER burned an American flag. They love Americans and American culture just not the government.

FEAR | 1:52 p.m. June 8, 2009

I love the way the RIGHT WING-NUTS constantly use the FEAR CARD. If we FEAR EVERYBODY and EVERYTHING ALL THE TIME we will be much SAFER and HAPPIER.

The only people who should fear US investment IN CUBA are the folks in the HAWAII TOURISM INDUSTRY.

HOPE WILL ALWAYS OVERCOME FEAR!

such a waste! | 2:38 p.m. June 8, 2009

The neocons forget that the war to stop "The Red Menace" in Vietnam ended with 60,000 of our troops and over 2 million Vietnamese civilians killed only to see that today that same communist Vietnam (as well as communist China) are US trading partners.
All in the name of reckless ideology.

@such a waste! | 3:15 p.m. June 8, 2009

Don't forget how American actions so destabilized Cambodia it allowed for the murderous Khmer Rouge to take power. They were also Communist but since it was a different ideology from those jerks in Vietnam (who had the audacity to elect someone we didn't like) America just turned a blind eye!
The Khmer Rouge was only ousted from power after the Vietnamese got tired of their nonsense, invaded and whipped them into submission.

OH yeah, let's blame America | 3:49 p.m. June 8, 2009

Yep, it is the US that is at fault for all the world's ills. Doggone it, they should have kept their noses out of WWII, Korea, Vietnam, let Castro have his way without consequence, and all the other thugs who came along. Yessiree, that bad ol' US did everything wrong and everyone else is so totally right. IS EVERYONE OUT THERE SO IGNORANT OF HISTORY??????

Get a clue folks, history doesn't support your "blame America" viewpoints.

re: such a waste! 3:15 | 3:49 p.m. June 8, 2009

When are Americans going to wake up and see through the BS ideologies (in the case of the Vietnam debacle, stopping "The Red Menace once and for all!") and figure out that its all about economics -not some made-up ideology.
But how can you convince the troops to "take the hill" by telling them the real truth as to why they are putting their lives on the line.
Vietnam is a communist country, so is China - yet the U.S. is trading partners with both. So why not Cuba (as Canada has wisely trading with them for years.

Sounds like... | 4:10 p.m. June 8, 2009

Sounds like every bad situation in the world can actually be blamed on something the stupid Americans did way back when.

You gotta love revisionist history.

a work in progress | 4:36 p.m. June 8, 2009

America is a relatively young country, an experiment and a work in progress.

As a liberal, I believe in learning valuable lessons from previous mistakes rather than "staying the course" no matter what.

Those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it.

@oh yeah | 5:07 p.m. June 8, 2009

Um, yeah we should have stayed out of Vietnam. You know, the country we split up and then invaded because we decided we didn't like their elected choice of president. You're ignorant of Cuban history. We only went after Castro because he wouldn't allow us to exploit the island like Batista had.

Meanwhile, you fail to mention our support of the Contras, Pinochet, Franco, the Shah of Iran, Carlos Castillo and other fascist dictators.

So in other words communists are bad, fascists are good. Plus your WWII example is a red herring since we were ATTACKED. Did that part slip your mind? Plus let's not forget conservatives in this country were pretty adamently against going to war from 1939-1942. Fail.

And to Sounds like..., nobody is saying that, though the last 50 years the USA has had its hands in some pretty dirty pots. Like for example, Castro wouldn't have even taken power unless Batista was allowing the US to have a trade advantage of $2 billion+ a year while ignoring his people.

Cuba | 12:35 a.m. June 9, 2009

For those of you who want the US to trade with Cuba, other than cigars, what does Cuba produce that we need or want? Socialism has driven all most all ability to produce anything of value out of the country! Another socialist paradise!

Roger | 1:38 a.m. June 9, 2009

The more Americans travel to Cuba the better for freedom in Cuba. The same is true for Iran. It's too bad we can't even begin to get into North Korea.

Openness and travel are what the worst dictators hate. Visitors from America spread American ideas.

Anonymous | 11:22 a.m. June 10, 2009

If you truly believe in the democratic, capitalism system of the U.S., open up relations with Cuba and let it overwhelm that country. It worked for the fall of the Berlin Wall. Our policies toward Cuba are silly, out-dated, and clearly are not working. Maybe we should try a more mature approach.

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