U.S. Embassy in Cuba
A vintage car with U.S. flags drives by the U.S. embassy in Havana. The United States and Cuba formally resumed diplomatic relations, as the Cuban flag was raised at the U.S. State Department in a historic gesture toward ending decades of hostility between the Cold War foes.
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Photo Credit AFP
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Proof that Obama is a Communist.
Just kidding. Seriously, I think everyone in my generation is thinking, "it's about time." All the fear mongers that opposed this action will see how innocuous this restoration will be.
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I grew up in Miami in a Cuban family. I know this culture very well especially since that's what I knew for 18 years. My view is that right, wrong, better, oppressive, human rights, etc. has nothing to do with it. To the "Cuban-Exiles", this is about winning and payback. The guys that came in the 60's lost their upper-middle (for Cuba) class wealth and power or running away from persecution. They have yet to drop it. The guys that came in the 80s left due to frustration with the bureaucracy, corruption, and economic stagnation mixed with propaganda coming out of Miami. Those people seem much more idealistic, "Capitalism is right; communism is evil!" Either way, there is nothing for these people to see. It was never about that.
I love that this is finally happening. About time for this stupid embargo to end.
While I love the idea of the States normalizing relations with Cuba, I still feel a little sad that, the Cuba as it stands today, will soon no longer exist.
Arguably, that will be really good for the Cubans, but I hope some small, quaint "real Cuban" places still exist after the American juggernaut buys up all of the beach property, builds condos everywhere, plops down yet another McDonalds or Starbucks on every fucking block and turns it into "the very tip end of Florida".
Since first hearing about this possibility it has been my pet (AKA crazy) theory that the deal has long been made. Cube will become a theme park. The kitchy 50's version of disney world. Not in a completely literal sense, of course. More like some massive entertainment corp has the license to develop the island in such a way as to "protect it's unique heritage" or some such. Meanwhile draining sweet, sweet profit off to offshore banks.
But that's just crazy talk. :)
And there will be no gradual cultural transition if that happens, just a flood
Yeah, I live on the other side of the globe and now I'm eager to visit Cuba next year and then again in 15 years to see how it all played out.