Oh how lucky they are!! They, unlike the average Cuban citizen have both the freedom and the money to venture to a foreign land and do comparative studies. You do not know how much I wish that some of them would defect from their homeland of America and escape from the belly this 'belly of the beast' that they always seem to return back to.
Cuba too strong, proud to die
By Harry C. Alford
NNPA Columnist
Cuba has proven itself to be too strong and too proud to die. Despite the full furor of a U.S. embargo and a pattern of official hatred, it has endured and, in fact, has gotten stronger.
The U.S. has acted like an imperial power and that is so embarrassing and contradictory of our values. It seems, at last, our White House and legislature is starting to come around to a great reality: Cuba is a nation of people and deserves to be treated as such.
All other nations in the world have recognized its sovereignty and have enjoyed diplomatic and trade relations with the prosperous island nation. Despite the bullying of the U.S., Cuba has become a leader in healthcare delivery and has the most educated population in the world.
Don’t let the propaganda fool you. The average Cuban eats more and is sheltered better than any other general population in Latin America. The per capita gross national product rivals that of Italy. The lifespan of a Cuban is superior to that of an American. The chances of surviving major illness are also greater as their healthcare delivery system is considered a right for all and not a privilege for the rich as in this nation. The National Black Chamber of Commerce has been in Cuba twice toward the turn of the new century. We stayed in five star hotels and journeyed in taxis that were modern Mercedes Benz. The cuisine and quality of life was most impressive. The people were genuinely happy and sociable with us.
Why has America been abusive of Cuba over the last century? Consider it to be racial and imperialistic.
Our last major land grab was during the Spanish American War where we snatched the Philippines, Guam, Puerto Rico and Cuba from the Spanish Empire. We kept our grips on the Philippines until the 1960s. Guam and Puerto Rico still remain territories without full democracy.
Cuba, however, was a different story. The Cubans proved themselves to be very hard to manage. There were many revolts and movements against the old Spanish overseer and the new one known as the United States.
Also, the U.S. Congress considered Cuba to be too black. Our southern states did not want a neighbor that extolled black power and independence.
For decades, Cuba went from one puppet government to another. Communism began its presence during the 1920s and picked up steam with the emergence of Fidel Castro during the 1950s. The black nemesis, J. Edgar Hoover of the U.S. FBI encouraged the Mafia to take over the thriving tourism business of Cuba and manipulate its power.
It didn’t work. Fidel Castro, an educated man whose mother was black, marched into Havana, Cuba with only 600 soldiers and the Cuban masses embraced him. He quickly ran out the American interlopers and sought cover with another world giant, the Soviet Union, who was all too willing to oblige.
The U.S. has had a “hissy” ever since. The Soviet Union is gone but the government and people led by the dynamic Fidel Castro are prospering. There’s an old Marxist saying: “That which does not kill us will make us stronger.” That has been the case with the matter of U.S. vs. Cuba. Cuba is about to become an economic power.
My old mentor, Arthur A. Fletcher, observed during one of our visits to Cuba, “This is going to become the Hong Kong of the Caribbean.”
Caribbean.” Cuba is the size of Florida with about the same population (12 million), which is about 70 percent African lineage. Its healthcare system is superior to that of the U.S. (every Cuban citizen gets a full physical every six months). Cuban civil engineers are regarded as the best in the world and provide services to many nations. Its literacy rate exceeds 97 percent and it has the most reliable workforce. Agriculture, cobalt, nickel and, most recently oil are providing much revenue for the nation.
President Barack Obama and Congress are about to end the ugliness of our ways towards Cuba. The embargo and travel restrictions should be over soon and, Baby, it’s going to be awesome!
The tourism business from US to Cuba will go through the roof. You will see millions of students spending their spring break there. You will also see a multitude of sick Americans going there for medical treatment that will cost only pennies on the dollar compared to the US. Prescriptions and surgery will be affordable for most Americans and the Cubans are willing to assist for the good of mankind.
Imagine, Cuba as a banking center and providing services to local economies around the world. Don’t let me forget: Cubans don’t have obesity, are physically fit and get plenty of Caribbean sunshine.
The end result of that is that they are some of the most attractive people walking this earth. Get ready to visit Cuba and enjoy.
Harry Alford is the co-founder and president and CEO of the National Black Chamber of Commerce Inc. Visit the organizations website at www.nationalbcc.org.
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