Internet access could indeed be restricted to most, I wouldn't expect that the working class there would have access to it even if it wasn't restricted. I, myself, have communicated with a few Cubans but their social status is unknown to me.
And, also, yes there are faults with the government in Cuba, I do not for once deny that. And, I would always encourage criticism of Cuba with well backed up arguments. Yet, the common perception of Cuban socialism is usually wrong among Americans...that democracy does not exist in Cuba (to what degree and how one defines democracy is very much up to debate), that human rights are continually abused, etc. There are many truths to the criticisms of Cuba but very rarely is it balanced among the non-socialist public. This helps to justify the embargo against them. Mike
> 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
>