Our Hangout

welcome back!

But how do you justify vacationing in a country that exploits and oppresses especially the poor? How can you condone and contribute to their tourism that funds their communism as a Christian?

There's a real chance that in Canada you shop at a whole bunch of shops that fund Communism in China and other places as well as people working in sweat shops all over the world and you probably do it without even thinking about it. There's a good chance that if you go through your closet or your kitchen cupboards etc you find a whole lot of products made in a sweat shop.

There's a good chance that you drink coffee or eat products imported from countries where the people producing them are being exploited so we can get better prices for their food and drinks.

So, you think that if everyone just stopped going to Cuba, communism would fall and Cuba would become a better place for it's people? You are uninformed and a little ignorant on the matter. No offense meant by that.

Do you really care abut the Cuban people and their situation or do you feel good about yourself because you don't contribute to their oppression. Are you doing anything to actually help? Have you helped any Cubans at all? Do you know any?

It's so easy to talk. Even easier to point fingers.

I've wrestled through some of those issues too in going to Cuba. Unfortunately there are no easy answers. I like the way you're wrestling through the issues though, and we face some of those same issues, as you point out, every day that we buy goods here in Canada.

Welcome back!

I hear ya. It's a tough thing.

I just don't think that just boycotting Cuba is the answer though. With all that is wrong, Cuba has a social structure (systems) that rival ours, and in some cases are better. Everyone, who likes to just talk about social justice, thinks that if you boycott Cuba then the government is forced into reform. Look at Russia, I know it wasn't through boycotting, but things fell apart and the people are starving and everything is in shambles. I'm not saying the answer is to just leave it the same, I'm just saying that shocking the system isn't the answer either. Talk to the Cuban, and they'll tell you the same thing. The things that need to change are small, but significant. Freedom to travel, freedom to advance. They're happy with the other stuff. Eh, I wish we had some real consequences for drugs in Canada. A thirty year jail sentence would no doubt stop my neighbours from doing and selling drugs.

Boycott Cuba and the whole system goes down the drain. The poor lose their free medicine, and the rations that they do have that has the country at life expectancy of over 80. Truth is, from world experience, boycott Cuba and all you'll have left is the bad.

Is there reform needed, no kidding. But it might not look like Canada or the U.S. As Christians, in some things I have to ask the question, who's worst off. Some people would say that I'm nuts. But I have to think, Christianity was born in a government environment worst than Cuba's. Some would say, that the worst thing that happened to Christianity was when the government dictated that Christianity would be the state religion.

But that's a whole other topic...I know I'm preaching to the choir. I'm just tired of judgemental, often western minded comments that don't reflect real thinking. As you can tell I'm having less and less patience for those.

I will e-mail and schedule that visit soon, looking forward to that.

Gee you don't have to be so touchy! I guess I hit a nerve.

Life's too short Kim, life's too short.

First and foremost... Welcome back Ed and Vania! Thanks for bringing a little bit of warmth back on the block. I hope that the melding of 14 family members went well on such a beautiful island? Especially with some of the warmest people on the face of this earth. From your post, it seem that you really got to experience the real Cuba? I hope so! It would blow some people's conception of hospitality, and generosity! I know that it made a major change in my family's views on tourist destinations when we got to experience the people, especially Cuban warmth! I would really like to hear if the family got kidnap for an Cuban meal? Maybe over lunch? Did you dance? The music is infectious! Did the kids enjoyed the beaches? I know that there is so much more to your VACATION than a forum for political debate. If you have time (LOL) I would love for you to share how Vania parents anniversary went! 50 years was it? WOW! Did they dance? I am still upset that they came back without a tan! Oh well, all good!

Appreciate your comments Nick.

The melding of the family was pretty cool. We'd never had this kind of intense time together as family. For some of us we'd never been together for more than a few days, to be together for two weeks and enjoy the whole time with everyone was an awesome experience.

And as for the Cuban people you're absolutely right. So very cool! And we were able on two occasions to get to see real Cuban life up close and personal. Be in their homes. Share their food. It was very cool.

In one of the homes we went to, the gentleman took some coffee beans ground them manually and then the lady made coffee using a cloth strainer. Best coffee I ever had.

As for your other questions, did we dance. Vania and I love to dance. So to go to Cuba and not dance would be a crime. And you're right, the music is infectious. Every time we go we come back with several CD's from local groups who might have performed a song over a meal. On Flickr there's a picture of Lucas playing along with a band who sang a song for us while we were eating lunch. We brought back their CD. My only complaint about the CD's is that they're too commercialized. Too much studio and not enough raw sound.

The beach, the pictures say all there is to say. Take a look at them and you'll see the kids loved it. Although, the kids like the pool better. Vania and I love salt water, my kids have not inherited that love.

And as you mentioned, there was no question as to why we were there. To celebrate Vun's parents 50th. A two week celebration. It couldn't have been any better. Okay, another week of sunshine instead of rain would have been better. They didn't dance, but that's more to do with their upbringing, but they danced inside. I know it was even better than they hoped it would have been. I know they just appreciated having the family all together and clearly enjoying themselves TOGETHER!!!

As you said, there was much more to this time than just to have a political discussion. The issues are real and merit discussion, but our experience was much deeper than just that. Thanks for the reminder.

I just erased a comment. I also just banned someone's IP for the first time. And I had closed comments on this post.

Having said that, I thought I'd say something and then I'm closing comments on this, I think we've said what needs to be said.

The comment that was just left basically said that my going to Cuba is funding communism and is going to bed with the Devil (insert Bible verse for emphasis - out of context of course) and that my disagreeing with Kim is my way of not dealing with my own guilt. I think that's an accurate reflection.

My thoughts are indirectly related to the comment. Over the last five years I've found that some people use this forum of blogging to not just express their opinions, which I don't have a problem with, even if they're not my opinions, or if their in disagreement with my opinions. I do, however, have a problem with judgemental comments. Often Christians forget that we are told to speak the truth in love. Not just tear people down. I'm tired of trying to be nice to people who could care less how they say things to others. They judge others for, according to them, sinful behaviour. But they miss the point that they speak in ways that God disapproves of. So, I have finally come to the place where I don't have patience for this. I'm all for discussion. Even if you disagree with me. Let's talk, we can learn for each other. If the only thing you have to tell me is that my actions mean that "I'm in bed with the Devil." I'm done with those type of discussions.

Beyond that I would say. When Jesus says, "give to Ceasar what is Ceasar's." Does that mean he is in bed with the Devil because he's supporting a government that is worst than a communist regime. Or maybe another thought, is a Capitalist government system what God has in mind?

I think that's worth discussing. Just point fingers and trying to tear down, is not discussion and it's not helpful. If help is what you're trying to do.

Ok, I'm stopping this thread at this point. And if you find your IP blocked from this blog, it's probably because, at least in my mind, you've crossed this line of judgement I've mentioned here. You might disagree, your right to. You might it's very unChristian of me, your right to as well. But frankly, I'm sick and tired of having to read that kind of stuff, especially when it's done in reference to someone other than myself commenting on this space.