May Day marks Raul's ascendancy in Cuba

Mario Rios Pinot NY NY — Thu, 01 May 2008 19:48:01 GMT

I wish Cuba well. I hope Cuba and the USA can trade with one another. May both nations prosper and solve their issues in their countries and with other countries. I would love to visit Cuba legally.

May Day marks Raul's ascendancy in Cuba

sandy,hillsboro,or — Thu, 01 May 2008 21:12:12 GMT

Wonderful!

May Day marks Raul's ascendancy in Cuba

Jade Boren, Evansville IN — Thu, 01 May 2008 21:27:38 GMT

This is a really amazing time for Cuba! I was really concerned that Fidels younger brother would rule like he did, but i have been really impressed with his leadership so far. I really hope that we have one on one talks with Cuba as soon as we elect a new president and create a strong realtionship with them. I hope to see alot more from him as a leader of Cuba.

Message to Cubans: Get out there and demand your absolute freedom, higher wages, private ownership of land, and freedom of speech, we want you to enjoy the same freedom that we have in the USA.

Thanks,

Jade S. Boren

May Day marks Raul's ascendancy in Cuba

Rodney E LaMay West Covina Ca — Thu, 01 May 2008 22:29:34 GMT

May the good Lord above release communism from Cuba. However small im very happy the Cuban people have at least a few good things to look forward to thanks to Raul Castro.May God change his heart so he can rule for the betterment of the Cuban people.

May Day marks Raul's ascendancy in Cuba

Marietta,GA — Thu, 01 May 2008 23:34:11 GMT

Raul might be the man in charge, but real change needed in Cuba is the Freedom it had back in 1952 before Batista, who was not the communists dictator that Fidel and Raul is now.
Of course we all know Raul is the "President", like he won a democratic election?
You know before Castro, businesses including farms were not owned (robbed) by the government.
I hope I live to see the day when their dicatorship ends and freedom returns to Cuba like it did in Poland,East Germany and many others.

May Day marks Raul's ascendancy in Cuba

Pasquale Gelardi, San Diego, CA — Thu, 01 May 2008 23:45:49 GMT

Giving Cuban land to private owners who would make a profit? How un communistic? Before you know it, greedy land owners and private investors will be running the island and the people will have toilets and hot water. How shameful that the communist dictator is accepting capitalism. He has no integrity.

May Day marks Raul's ascendancy in Cuba

Spring, Everett, Washington — Fri, 02 May 2008 00:22:43 GMT

Hopefully our next president will have this sort of positive effect this quickly.

May Day marks Raul's ascendancy in Cuba

joe rice,savannah ny — Fri, 02 May 2008 00:50:45 GMT

Wow,thats all i can say about are so called president.This guy has ran this country into the ground, and is going to keep on doing so until he is asked to leave.I think he has a really bad ringing noise in his head,and its driving him completely crazy and we have to pay for it.i could go on for days about this guy but my head starts to hurt,because we have gas prices to worry about and how we are going to get to work the next day,and how we are going to feed are familys or even have an extra 20 dollars so we can go somewhere to releave a little stress.but this day and age it is kind of har to do because we are broke by wednesday.But yet the gas companys keep on having record breaking profits each quater.i love THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA but does it really love us!Thanks for reading this JOE POST IS SOMEWHERE.NOTHING IS FREE ANY MORE

May Day marks Raul's ascendancy in Cuba

M, Orlando, FL — Fri, 02 May 2008 01:14:58 GMT

It sounds like Raul is intent on making changes for the good of Cuba. I hope this continues and that life for the Cuban people will improve.

May Day marks Raul's ascendancy in Cuba

billy Okinawa, Japan — Fri, 02 May 2008 01:25:08 GMT

raul is actually trying to make something out of cuba. he knows he has the tools and the manpower to turn the country around, but now all he has to do is utilize those assets and he will be in business...im curious now however...does anybody see diplomatic relations between cuba and the US coming back in the near future?

May Day marks Raul's ascendancy in Cuba

BILL TUCKER GALESBURG ILLINOIS — Fri, 02 May 2008 01:39:29 GMT

GOOD FOR YOU RAUL

May Day marks Raul's ascendancy in Cuba

Alyssa, Wenatchee, Washington — Fri, 02 May 2008 02:31:08 GMT

Could this be the end of communism in Cuba? If Raul Castro is anything like this blogger claims he is, then I guess we (the world stage) will be seeing a more open and hopefully freer Cuba. One can only hope though.

May Day marks Raul's ascendancy in Cuba

Gary Cotterell. LONDON. UK. — Fri, 02 May 2008 05:01:16 GMT

Its good to know that CUBA, is slowly on the verge of change, with the open usage of cell-phones, which will allow family members from around the world to keep in touch with loved ones. And the incentive to allow farmers to own there own lands, inorder to grow and produce there own food for market. Its a step towards free enterprise. Giving ordinary cubans the opportunity to explore and visit there own exclusive hotel resorts, which many helped to build, should be an incentive to the younger generation of cubans, to pursue carrea's, in construction, hotel and catering servise's. Transportaion, and Music. Cuba, has it all, not being allowed the freedom to express ones individual talents and ideas, has held cuba back for many years. Well at least now change is slowly on the way. Its going to take along time for the Island to open up fully to the world, but i have know doubt change is comming for the betterment of Cuba, and its people. God Bless You.

May Day marks Raul's ascendancy in Cuba

WW Terry, Portland, Oregon — Fri, 02 May 2008 07:02:34 GMT

I look forward to the soonto be day when all the communist scum are dead or in prison and the Cuban people are free. Fidel became a billionaire and lives in some 16 mansions while the Cuban people subsist on $20 a month? Ah, the greed of communist dictators. He had taken way too long in dying. But then he knows he is going to Hell. Raul soon enought also. Caio Scum!

May Day marks Raul's ascendancy in Cuba

Paul Lippert, Lady Lake, Fl — Fri, 02 May 2008 10:28:42 GMT

Raoul Castro seems to have seen the light. Maybe dialogue is possible now. If we have business and financial relations with China,the biggest Communist country why not with Cuba?
Reconciliation will be beneficial to people in Cuba who have suffered enough already.

May Day marks Raul's ascendancy in Cuba

Randy Millus — Fri, 02 May 2008 11:54:57 GMT

Sounds like a man who wants to bring Cuba back into the fold of the world. But at the age of 76 how long will he live is the big question and will the people of Cuba be able to handle this new found freedom? Its sad to say but America seems to be going in the other direction giving way too much power to our leaders.

May Day marks Raul's ascendancy in Cuba

nat cedano NY NY — Fri, 02 May 2008 15:17:29 GMT

glad to see days of change in Cuba.. thought would never see them

May Day marks Raul's ascendancy in Cuba

cris sarnoff, boston, mass — Fri, 02 May 2008 16:10:35 GMT

In response to this paragraph:

"And under Raul’s lead, the government also is allowing farmers to own their own land and hire temporary help in an effort to bring more of their produce to market".

How could the Cuban government give the current farmer's either a title or deed to confiscated farms?

These properties are legally owned by exiled Cubans and other foreign nationals that were forced to flee the island and give up their property rights, unless they assumed a role in Castro's communist regime.

Secondly, I believe that what Mr. Raul Castro should focus in order to improve the economic conditons of his people is to pay attention to the business opportunities at work to date by implementing viable employment programs and incentives, including equal pay. These programs might dissuade the Cuban people from continuing to risk their lives and those of their children during the life-threatening Florida Straights crossing in unsafe and man-made rafts and boats.

Communism is dead world-wide, even China has transitioned. Cuba is the last vestige of a 1950's theory that has proven to be a repeated failure globally.

While they don't need to model after a U.S. democratic style system the principles of fairness, fundamental human rights and economic opportunities have in contrast proven to be the model that works best even with all its imperfections.

Wouldn't it be wiser to allow for the return of the legal landowners to Cuba in order to help the current farmers create stimulating and technologically advanced programs that will achieve these ends? Mr. Castro can still write the terms to ensure a win-win transition for both the Cuban people and its exiled community.