On Sun, 23 Aug 1998, Michael Charles Saltz, responding to James in Philly, wrote:
> > I didn't know that Cuba's dictator was allowing his people
> > internet access. You meet so few Cubans in the chat rooms.
> Um, yeah, you can speak to Cubans on the internet...there may not be many
> because the US embargo retards their economic progress. But, really, I
> bet your knowledge of Cuba is REALLY vast [sarcasm, just in case you
> didn't get that] to know that human rights violations are relatively
> absent when you look at US supported governments in LAtin America and the
> US itself. And, the level of freedom and socialism, although not perfect
> in a world dominated by capitalism is far more advanced than anything I
> have ever seen. It would be wise to think for yourself and research the
> truth....US propaganda is only a way to become brainwashed.
Well, I was in Cuba this summer at the University of Havana, and was told by folks there that internet access was restricted, and only the higher ups at the university have email. My Cuban friends (committed socialists all) also told me that email is held up for a couple of days coming in and leaving the country--it's all read first. A cuban showed me some mail he'd recieved from the US--it was all opened (in Cuba) before getting to him.
Cuba is definitely doing better than other Latin american countries, but there is censorship, and free movment of Cubans, even within Havana, is restricted. I think it might be counterproductive to ignore that. I'm not convinced that criticizing Fidelism is reactionary--there are lots of committed Cuban socialists who do. One can certainly criticize certain policies of the Cuban govt while supporting the Cuban revolutionary process.
Frances