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[quote="avowedly-agnostic"]" May God Grant Him a Speedy recovery "

Amin. Wa hafithuallhi taala.

" All dictatorships sukk, whatever they are communist or fascit. "

I fully agree. I want Cuba to become a democracy- the democracy which Castro himself said he'd deliver in his revolutionary days. You're right, there is no free press in Cuba. We must be honest about these things- we musn't be dogmatic.

That however doesn't detract from the revolution's accomplishments. There are no more death squads in Havana from the days of the US backed Batista regime. Cuba has 100% literacy; free health care (the best in the world), free education, the highest ratio of doctors per person than any other country. This was all made possible by El Commandente En Chief Castro.

Before Castro, Cubans had to pay for education ánd health care, Wealth was concentrated in the hands of the elite, and the ruling class. Compare that with todays' Cuba of artists, intellectual, doctors, lawyers etc. He's radically transformed Cuban society. Let's not forget that.[/quote]


Yeah: you're right there. But it's sad finding out that the taxi driver who is giving you tips about how to get a girl in the Old Havanah is a Literature teacher, or the waitress in a bar serving you mojitos is a unamployed psichiatrist. Cuban people are really brilliant people, and they're very well educated. But they had to pay a great cost: freedom.

I also hope that a revolutionary democracy comes to Cuba when Castro die so they can achieve both goals: freedom and a really brilliant education and job opportunities. The danger is the USA. They'll want to put their hands in Cuba again...

" The danger is the USA. They'll want to put their hands in Cuba again..."

Here here. The US hasn't the slightest interest in democracy building, but rather re-establishing its fast slipping grip on South America. It's afraid of the challenge posed by Cuba, Venezeula, Bolivia, Argentina and Brazil (all led by left-wing leaders) to its economic programme of privatisation in the Latin continent.

If they were interested in democracy building they wouldn't have attempted a coup de'tat on the democratically elected Chavez.

I sincerely hope however Castro allows for elections soon. I hope to visit Havana one day and get my pic taken with CHE. Might even send you the photos if you're really nice to me.

I agree. USA is not interested on democracy in Cuba, but to control Cuba and return it to the old times.

It's not sure yet, but probably I'll travel to Cuba next november for musical matters. I'll let you know. But, from what I've been told, in Cuba you can have a lot of fun, salsa, son, dancing, girls, good mojitos (if you want, I'll give you the recipe). But if you try get into political issues, you'll be in trouble. There's a lot of secret police.

That pic with El Che will be welcome here. I have a good documentary of Alberto Korda and the story of the famous picture of El Che, taken on march, 5th, 1960 in a spontaneus way...

You mean to say Alberto Korda took the iconic revolutionary Che picture? No way- don't you believe for a moment comrade.

He once remarked "My aim (in photography) was to meet women". Funny fellow huh? Tell me, Where can I get that documentary ? And have you watched Motorcycle Diaries? It's Brillante!

Long live the memory of our beloved Ernesto Che Guevara. I love you Ernesto and the lofty principles you stood for, so do the millions whom you continue to inspire.

Hasta la victoria siempre!

Yeah, I hated Castro since the defeat of the SNA (Somali National Army) at the Battle of Jijiga in 1978.

Bloody Cubanos but U got to admire is persistence.

http://artscenecal.com/ArticlesFile/Arc ... ordaA.html

Yeah, it was Alberto 'Korda' who took the picture. I have this French TV documentary (I don't remember the title) in which he explains the whole thing. It was March, 5, 1960, at the funeral of some cuban guys who were killed by the explosion of a bomb in a ship (probably a CIA operation). All the authorities were present at the public funeral. Korda was wandering around the crowd with his old Leica and taking pictures of all the personalities to save a pic-archive for the newspaper he was working for. Suddenly, in the row of personalities, a place was empty. 'Korda' was watching through his camera when suddenly, from the back, Che Guevara stepped forward and appeared on the visor of Korda's camera. Korda inmediately took one, two, three pictures. He was shocked by the serious face of Che Guevara, who was watching through the crowd.

The picture was not important until 1967, when Che was dead and some Italian publisher asked Korda to give him a Che Guevara's pic. Korda handed the famous pic without knowing that it would be the image of the 20th century. He never was paid for that nor got a single dollar in royalties.

Korda died some years ago. The Cuban lady that I met here with Gurey25 was a close friend of him. She told me that he was drunk all the time and was around women the whole day long. I didn't believe her until she showed me pictures of her with Korda.

Sad that he lived in a not very rich house in Havanah... If he was a capitalist, he would be rich, very very very very rich...

PS: I didn't see Motorcicle Diaries, but I'll get it from the video-shop. I'm particularly interested in the music and also in the story...

Here's some links about Korda

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Che_Guevara_%28photo%29

http://67.43.164.180/kordasche/index.html

They're interesting sites.