http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/03/09/86411.aspxBy Mary Murray, NBC News Producer This week, the U.S. State Department unveiled its latest report card on human rights progress in Cuba and invited a group of Havana-based journalists to review the findings. It was not your typical news conference,en-USCommunityServer 2.0 (Build: 60608.1)http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/03/09/86411.aspx#86557Fri, 09 Mar 2007 21:02:38 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:86557Dan Brinkman Portland, Oregon As Americans, we should first try to expand our human rights agenda in America by telling the Cuban people we allow 18,000 Americans each year to die unnecessarily who are medically uninsured. Since 9/11, when our US government said they would protect us, we then have lost in this time, about 100,000 innocent Americans here at home in America who were medically uninsured. Millions more suffer everyday with their ailments because they can't afford to go to the doctor or hospital because they are medically uninsured as well. We should then tell the Cuban people as well, that corruption in the US Congress allows this to happen since our non-representing corporate-politicians on Capital Hill take bribe money from the health care industry lobbyists in the name of campaign donations, etc. We should then tell the Cuban people as Americans, how our "independent media" is so profoundly scared of the useless Bush administration, that they were silent over these past five years post-9/11 about speaking out against the loss of our own civil liberties here in America and how the US media in essence, allowed the deceit of this Iraq war to happen, of which, we are paying a high price today as a result of our "American independent media" not having much courage left in it to represent the interest and well-being of the American citizenry first and foremost which is their jobs....and the job of our US government as well. Both are useless to the American people it seems anymore. This is fact. So Cuba, don't let America talk to downwardly towards you about your human rights practices when we use your island to deny the right to court trial after 5 long years, hundreds of terrorists who hate all Americans. After five years, a human being, no matter how evil they are, deserves a court trial...even in Cuba or Gitmo Bay. The irony is real and pathetic that we then tell the Cuban people how inferior they are in the human rights realm. As an American who has lived abroad in three countries and traveled to another 20 countries on four continents, I deplore the moral hypocrisy and the evasion of accountability for such behavior, of the American people in general. This is why many in this 6 billion-person world, despise us greatly in this early 21st Century. It is simply time for the American people to become who they say they are to the weary world who can't stomach us any longer. And, think about all of the Iraqi children and Iraqi elderly the American People have killed in Iraq. What about their human rights the American People have trampled on and disregarded as well. Yes, the evil Bush Administration has done this completely...but in our names. The same political party that in fact allows 18,000 innocent Americans to perish quietly each year because their own human rights are not protected because lobbyists money from Corporate America's health care industry is more lucrative to our corrupt politicians than saving American lives here at home in Our America. Don't want to rain on anyone's Friday but the truth is the truth: Americans this day and age have no business whatsoever to tell any other country and its people about "human rights violations". Simple and true. I still love my country though and I still love being an American. But the truth is the truth. Dan Brinkman/US citizen http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/03/09/86411.aspx#86574Fri, 09 Mar 2007 21:14:03 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:86574S.Schaum, Lancaster, PAWhy does our govt continue to act as though Cuba represents great danger, to us or to anyone? Are both Cuba and the U.S. held hostage by a noisy, powerful group in Miami? Is there anyway to get computers to that country?http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/03/09/86411.aspx#86941Sat, 10 Mar 2007 16:55:40 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:86941JSB, Jacksonville"Is there anyway to get computers to that country?" No. The government will not allow you to bring personal computers, satellites, receivers or anything else to individuals. In fact, the government has recently ramped up the confiscation and prosecution of individuals who posess homemade satellites. Cuba is not held hostage by Miami. The regime in Cuba holds its own people hostage.http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/03/09/86411.aspx#86956Sat, 10 Mar 2007 17:45:05 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:86956AlexPoint Blank the United State have no intentions to help cuba.Let's get that straight. The leftist American median doesn't report the truth about cuba and all those American reports in havana working for CNN,CBS,ect are cowards. Second the internet control in cuba is very obvious, the problem goes beyond the internet. and those brave independent cubans journalist they risk their lives every day to bring us the truth. let me mention something, We Cubans don't want any american intervention in cuba.. This problem is for the cuban people to solve not the Bush administration. And for Mr Schaum don't be an ignorant idiot if you think cuba doesn't posses any thhreat to the united States think again, cuba is 90 miles from the united states inland.The state department head of intelligence have "substantial information" that Cuba have develop biological weapons and exporting dual-use technology, which could be used for germ warfare.your own government is keeping a serious problem hiden As usual. Let us cuban take care of cuba not Corrupt Leftis Democratas. http://ihatecastro.blogspot.com/http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/03/09/86411.aspx#86965Sat, 10 Mar 2007 18:06:21 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:86965Edgardo Perez Comennts by Mr. Schaum: "Why does our govt continue to act as though Cuba represents great danger, to us or to anyone? Are both Cuba and the U.S. held hostage by a noisy, powerful group in Miami?" Obviously you were born after the Cuban Missile Crisis,and are totally ignorant about that period of recent history. In case you don't know, these "noisy group" you criticize so much and belittle, were the ones who alerted our Govt about the misiles the Soviet Union had placed in Cuba, while the US Security adviser to the Administraion of Mr. Kennedy kept repeating your same words. But history proved us right, after the U2's found the missiles there just like we warned you. And Castro is not a threat? Maybe you have been listening to Ana Belen Montes, the Cuban spy in the Pentagon for 25 years who said that Cuba was not a threat to anyone. Read a little more about the viruses sent here by migrating birds from Cuba before you talk such nonsense! Wake up before is too late! Your misinformation about Cuba is appalling! http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/03/09/86411.aspx#87175Sun, 11 Mar 2007 06:23:38 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:87175Enrique, Miami, FLOk, let's speak the truth. The truth is that Cuban government has been violating every Human Rights law since 1959. The truth is that prisoners of conscience are tortured, beaten, and deprived of food on a daily basis. The truth is that these prisoners of conscience are guilty of speaking against Communism. The truth is that many of the ex-prisoners of conscience are dying without seeing their homeland free. The truth is that Eusebio Peñalver was the longest serving black prisoner of conscience in the world - 28 years, not Mandela. Has anyone from the MSM ever mentioned him. NO!! The truth is that Mario Chanes de Armas just passed away and her served 30 years in castro's gulag. While in jail he learned when his son was born and when he died at the age of 22. The truth is that nothing is going to chagne in Cuba until the bearded bastrd and his sister dies. Please educate yourselves and read Armando Valladares book: Against All Hope: A memoir of life in castro's gulag. He spent 22 years in jail for not wanting to put on his desk a sign that said he supported Communism. The truth is that no many of you knows what really goes on in Cuba. If you go by what the MSM says, you will think it's rosy in Cuba. S. Schaum, you haven't seen noisy yet. Wait until the day it is announced that the bearded bastard has died.http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/03/09/86411.aspx#87233Sun, 11 Mar 2007 14:19:57 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:87233Kim O'Brien Willimantic, CT Getting computers to Cuba? Let's see INTEL and AMD American Corporations? H'mm' Wouldn't that violate the US Embargo? What about the Human Rights of the Cuban five? You know those five Cuban's monitoring the Miami Terroist's to prevent hotel and airline bombings who were convicted of frameup conspiracy to commit esponage. The US Gov't refuses to even issue visa's that would allow their relatives to vist them. They carried no weapons and sought no US Gov't Secrets. Than again the first person to ever be convicted of esponage in the US was Labor and Socialist leader Eugene Debs for giving a speech in Canton, Ohio. http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/03/09/86411.aspx#87444Mon, 12 Mar 2007 02:01:25 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:87444Enrique, Miami, FLAnother ignorant person. Kim, it seems like you have a very short memory. Let me help you. The Cuban 5 were charged 26 counts of spying in the U.S. for Cuba. There were 5 Hispanics on the jury, but not one was Cuban. One of the men was charged with giving information to Cuba that led to the 1996 shoot down of two Brothers to the Rescue planes that killed 4 Miamians. A second spy was charged with infiltrating the U.S. Southern Command Headquarter in Miami. A third spy, who worked as a janitor in Boca Chica Naval Air Station, was charged with the same. They recieved life in prison. Before you go around spewing ignorance get your facts straight. Let me guess it would have been ok to arrest any Muslim who committed the same crimes the Cuban spies did, but it is an injustice to arrest the Cubans. Give me a break!! That's the problem, there are too many castro sympathizers in the U.S. and MSM.http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/03/09/86411.aspx#87588Mon, 12 Mar 2007 05:51:33 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:87588Anamaria O'Neill, Sydney, AustraliaIf you know anybody travelling, ask them to take a laptop to Cuba and 'lose it'. That is what I did. Also, has anybody thought that it doesn't suit some Miami Cubans for the embargo to be abolished? Some people are making their fortunes on this embargo. Journalists - I challenge you to look into this; it is well known in Cuba!!!! And hey! I love the way these Miami Cubans aren't all cut up about the 1933 revolution and the 1952 coup ............ of course, they were on the 'right' side then along with the US Government. There were plenty of human rights abuses under Batista - that doesn't make human rights abuses legitimate in any time and place, but Miami Cubans need to take a good, long, hard look at themselves. Long live Cuba = and I hope and pray they have freedom and democracy soon. I also hope and pray that those brave Cubans who remained in Cuba, have seen the hard years, have worked so hard etc etc, will be the ones to decide their future. Not any of the economic exiles living abroad. The people living in Cuba are afraid that there will be an onslaught of Miami Cubans and Americans coming to 'help' them ...... in the form of gross exploitation. No wonder they are stuck in limbo!http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/03/09/86411.aspx#87589Mon, 12 Mar 2007 05:54:01 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:87589Anamaria, sydney, australiaLate 1950s American companies control 90 percent of Cuba's mines, 80 percent of its public utilities, 50 percent of its railways, 40 percent of its sugar production and 25 percent of its bank deposits. Early 1958 The Batista regime receives $1 million in U.S. military aid, including planes, tanks, ships and training, to combat the Castro-led revolution. June to August '60 Cuba nationalizes U.S.-owned oil refineries, sugar mills and a telephone company at a combined estimated worth of approximately $1 billion. Nearly all other U.S. businesses were expropriated by October. Later in the year Washington bans exports to Cuba, other than food and medicine.http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/03/09/86411.aspx#87640Mon, 12 Mar 2007 12:51:08 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:87640Valentin J PrietoKim Obrien, Tha Cuban Five? Oh please. Obviously they must have been up to something being that they were actually convicted of espionage - and not in a courtroom in Miami, that city filled with "terrorists". If you have such concern for "political prisoners" there's hundreds of them in Cuba that you can focus on. Of course, that probably wouldnt be in keeping with your political ideology, and thus it's perfectly acceptable to you to ignore them.http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/03/09/86411.aspx#88292Tue, 13 Mar 2007 15:30:48 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:88292Nick, BostonWhile I agree the human rights abuse is a huge issue in Cuba today I see it as a contributing factor to the main problem. There is much larger issue of the embargo driven, universal and crippling poverty that effects all Cubans. Holding 283 political prisoners seems virtually irrelevant when compared to the millions of Cubans that suffer daily, without hope of providing a better life for their children, let alone for themselves. Brain surgeons making more money as a cab driver working nights... that's what concerns me the most about the current situation in Cuba. A lack of human rights reform only acts to prolong the inevitable end of the US trade embargo. Economically there is a solution- US investment. Raw chemical mining in Cuba will be a $100 billion industry in the future, and with the lifting of the US embargo there are numerous US companies in the tourist industry poised to rebuild Cuba into the primary US tourist destination. 3 years ago Radisson Hotels was proposing construction of 7 resort hotels on Varadero beach (if political winds were to change), and every major Carribean Cruise line has been ready to add Havana as a primary port of call for decades. Billions of dollars in US investment are ready and waiting. Raul has every possibility to drastically improve the lives of every Cuban, and every Cuban American that has never seen where his family was born and raised. I can understand the mindset of Cuban immigrants such as my grandparents who will never return and don't want their decendants to visit because of the "don't give Castro one dime!" argument, these are evil men that stole the livelyhoods of countless families, but this isn't hurting Castro himself. He is still very well taken care of, clearly has excellent healthcare, his family is doing quite well. It is the people we are hurting. Is denying a political win for a Castro worth the ungoing suffering of millions of innocents? I find it hard to believe that these human rights issues will be better resolved without US involvement, and the best way for the US to get involved is for us to return economically. I don't believe in ultimatums before investment, or that these problems need to be solved before we return. US tourism itself would provide a massive cultural exchange that in time would fuel the fire for reform. End rant.http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/03/09/86411.aspx#89272Wed, 14 Mar 2007 13:35:51 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:89272AJ Cuba boils down to our own politics. The overwhelming success of the "Miami Cubans" is a constant embarrasment to Democrats & Left leaning Hispanic activists. Explaining how a group of people who support the evil, racist Republicans are succeeding & those who support the caring & compassionate Democrats are still suffering according to their own words is difficult. As difficult as it is for some people to understand, in America we as individuals are ultimatly responsible for where we end up in life unlike in Cuba. Its hard to be greatful for health insurance when you go hungry so the tourist & visiting dignateries can eat well.