The meeting of the two presidents–and the dissolution of the six-decades long Cold War between the two governments–was accompanied by the announcement that the Starwood Hotels and AirBnB are competing in Havana.
You could say the evolution of Cuban socialism has taken a new turn. You could say that the wall of economic embargo and diplomatic hostility that Washington built between the American people and the Cuban people is coming down. Either way, President Obama is making good on a signature promise of his 2008 campaign: to sit down and talk to America’s enemies in an effort to find a more productive relationship.
The presidents are expected to discuss a path toward normalizing relations,
Source: Obama and Raúl Castro to Meet in Pivotal Moment in U.S.-Cuba Thaw – The New York Times
The Republicans opposed to this policy confront the reality that large majorities of people in both countries favor it.
The State Department is advising Americans on how to travel to Cuba. To wit:
“Tourist travel to Cuba is not yet authorized by current U.S. law. There are however, twelve categories of people who may visit Cuba without incurring a violation of the travel restrictions. In all 12 existing categories of authorized travel, travel previously authorized by specific license will be authorized by general license, subject to appropriate conditions. This means that individuals who meet the conditions laid out in the regulations will not need to apply for a license to travel to Cuba.”
Major League Baseball has come to Havana–and is sure to return.
Plus good photos from CubaDebate.
Ask any of the middle school age children that routinely hunkered down under their desks or lined up in the hallways of their middle schools practicing nuclear attacks when Cuba was a parking lot full of Soviet nukes pointed at the USA & they will tell you they got a first hand taste of Castro’s regime & ‘glorious revolution’ that will never wash out of their memories. I’m one of them that was hunkered under my desk. For me, JFK should have listened to his war hawks & rid Cuba of Castro before Fidel & his gang had a chance to blow JFK’s head off in Dallas. As LBJ is reported to have said, ‘Kennedy was out to get Castro, but Castro got him first’.
If tourists, regardless of any country they visit, want to risk the chance of being victims of kidnappings, armed robbery, murder & political imprisonment, Cuba is a long way to go what they can easily find at home.
No matter how shiny the Castro brothers’ PR men polish the Cuban snake, it’s still a snake. A snake is programmed to bite. Period. Those that get bitten deserve it IMHO.
Brad, I don’t recall being directed to do any under the desk hunkering at any time after 1959.
Are you sure your hunkering timeline is in response to a 1962 Cuba sourced nuclear strike threat?
I don’t believe Castro did it. I have no desire to visit Cuba. I started preschool in the fall of 61. We moved into rooms off the main hall the next year. That’s where I remember coming out into the hall to hunker down with your hands over the back of your neck facing the wall. I don’t remember if it was in reaction to the Missile Crisis or not. I don’t remember it at all. We moved in 64 so this would have been in 62 – 63.
Tom…take a look at what was going on in Canada…:
http://www.cbc.ca/archives/entry/cold-war-tocsin-b-this-is-not-an-emergency
Brad Milch,
I think you have a pretty twisted view of history here. I don’t know of any evidence whatsoever that would indicate that Castro had anything to do with the assassination of JFK. Taking some quip by that lying S.O.B. LBJ is really silly.
There is a better chance of LBJ being involved in the assassination than Castro. And there is much evidence that LBJ was part of the cover-up of the assassination.
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A few quick impressions from a trip to Cuba last May. The amount of history generated on and from the island is incredible. IMO , a US embargo in the 21st century is stupid. Casino hotels do not line the Malceon in Havana. The people were incredibly hospitable. Cubans have forged their own identity . Most are poor, but they have a lot of dignity. Che is a national hero and the Bay of Pigs is hallowed ground for them. It is a socialist country wanting a diversified economy. Guantanamo is a prison camp. My guides summed it up: “This is Cuba, anything can happen” “The revolution was important, but it was 50 years ago.” There was a lot of excitement about the easing of relations, but a tinge of apprehension because the schools teach how imperialistic countries can economically enslave poorer ones and how it might take a revolution to expel an occupier. My estimation, both a socialistic country and capatilistic country, are going to have to make some adjustments. A greast place to visit with open eyes and an open mind.