Veteran war photographer and correspondent Paul Conroy died of natural causes a short time after returning from Cuba with this report of another city under siege. He never stopped bearing witness
In 2000 I visited Cuba for two weeks. I am no fan of Fidel Castro but I am even less a fan of the Batista regime which he displaced. Fulgencio Batista was supported by the United States and the Mafia as they turned the beautiful island into a haven for gangsters and dengue fever. America also helped him to displace a democratically elected government. Castro`s revolution was remarkable and very courageous. He got rid of the Mafia and vastly improved health for the population and equality for women. Unfortunately, in power he became another cruel, self-righteous tyrant. I agreed with Graham Greene that Cuba is a conveyor belt of beauty. Both males and fermales have magnificent physiques and display astonishing good humour amid the oppression they suffer from the USA. One American president after another has perpetuated the oppression because they want the votes of the numerous Cuban exiles in Florida. One might have hoped that Marco Rubio might have shown some compassion for his countryman but no. The island was greatly helped by Canadian and European visitors who fell in love with the island and its people but it would appear Trump and Rubio simply rejoice in unforgiveable bullying. The island was poor when I visited it but it appears they must suffer more for no good reason.It makes me angry and sad,
Thanks for writing this. Very much my view having spent a month there in 2006.
With the level of education and intellect I found in Cuba back then, it's clear to me that it takes some serious level of economic suppression ("sanctions" for resisting monopoly capitalism) to keep Cuba down.
Neale,thankyou for this comment. I have not travelled the entire world but a fair bit of it. I think Cuba is unique and has so much to offer. Any sensible American government not shackled by Florida voters would reach out the hand of warm friendship to Cuba and welcome its unique contribution. The current U.S. regime has little patience with the concept of mutual benefit. It doesn`t even like its historic allies.
Brilliant dispatch by Paul, who I valued immensely as a colleague at Byline Times. His empathy and humanity will be sorely missed. RIP.
In 2000 I visited Cuba for two weeks. I am no fan of Fidel Castro but I am even less a fan of the Batista regime which he displaced. Fulgencio Batista was supported by the United States and the Mafia as they turned the beautiful island into a haven for gangsters and dengue fever. America also helped him to displace a democratically elected government. Castro`s revolution was remarkable and very courageous. He got rid of the Mafia and vastly improved health for the population and equality for women. Unfortunately, in power he became another cruel, self-righteous tyrant. I agreed with Graham Greene that Cuba is a conveyor belt of beauty. Both males and fermales have magnificent physiques and display astonishing good humour amid the oppression they suffer from the USA. One American president after another has perpetuated the oppression because they want the votes of the numerous Cuban exiles in Florida. One might have hoped that Marco Rubio might have shown some compassion for his countryman but no. The island was greatly helped by Canadian and European visitors who fell in love with the island and its people but it would appear Trump and Rubio simply rejoice in unforgiveable bullying. The island was poor when I visited it but it appears they must suffer more for no good reason.It makes me angry and sad,
Thanks for writing this. Very much my view having spent a month there in 2006.
With the level of education and intellect I found in Cuba back then, it's clear to me that it takes some serious level of economic suppression ("sanctions" for resisting monopoly capitalism) to keep Cuba down.
Neale,thankyou for this comment. I have not travelled the entire world but a fair bit of it. I think Cuba is unique and has so much to offer. Any sensible American government not shackled by Florida voters would reach out the hand of warm friendship to Cuba and welcome its unique contribution. The current U.S. regime has little patience with the concept of mutual benefit. It doesn`t even like its historic allies.