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...if only the reality of Cuba was as positive as so many bloggers think it is. https://www.yahoo.com/news/cuban-agents-brutalize-democracy-protesters-13935275

...if only the reality of Cuba was as positive as so many bloggers think it is. https://www.yahoo.com/news/cuban-agents-brutalize-democracy-protesters-1393527552835638.html https://www.yahoo.com/news/cuban-agents-brutalize-democracy-...

crpatino 11y ago
Yes. Cuba, like every other modern State this side of Oz, has some human rights issues. And yes, Cuba is probably worse than average, though you would need to present some references to make a compelling case that it is anywhere near the bottom 10% or so. That does not make the experience of the article's author any less real. Or the culture he discovered any less valuable. It can be even argued that some of those virtues do exist today not in spite, but thanks to the human rights issues. Normal people want to do selfish and/or stupid things all the time; and in a democratic society you let them get away with all but the most destructive of those behaviors as the cost of preserving those human rights. It is a trade-off. On the other hand, Cuba is an example of a different society that chose a different, not necessarily worse or better, trade-off. As a matter of fact, given that this little island was geopolitically isolated at the fall of the USSR, you may even dare to call that tradeoff successful.
Mikeb85 11y ago
Did you watch those videos? Because I'm curious how anyone can watch those videos and call what the police did, "brutality". I've seen more police "brutality" in the suburbs of Canada when the bar closes... BTW, brutality is in quotations because no one can possibly watch those actual videos and call the police actions anything close. The protester (singular) who was arrested, was not only twice the size of the fat, out of shape police officers, but there was barely a scuffle. Here's a good picture of the police brutality from your link: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Ceaq1QXWsAIOVNu.jpg https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Ceaq1QXWsAIOVNu.jpg and here as well: https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/hfg17gfMjN_RcKbCTm1hPw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjtzbT0xO3c9MTI4MDtoPTk2MA--/http://40.media.tumblr.com/1118af5e62014e1197457484a36971cd/tumblr_inline_o4m7jfrPzo1tj53wd_1280.jpg https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/hfg17gfMjN_RcKbCTm1hPw--/Y... So brutal.

crpatino 11y ago

Yes. Cuba, like every other modern State this side of Oz, has some human rights issues. And yes, Cuba is probably worse than average, though you would need to present some references to make a compelling case that it is anywhere near the bottom 10% or so. That does not make the experience of the article's author any less real. Or the culture he discovered any less valuable. It can be even argued that some of those virtues do exist today not in spite, but thanks to the human rights issues. Normal people want to do selfish and/or stupid things all the time; and in a democratic society you let them get away with all but the most destructive of those behaviors as the cost of preserving those human rights. It is a trade-off. On the other hand, Cuba is an example of a different society that chose a different, not necessarily worse or better, trade-off. As a matter of fact, given that this little island was geopolitically isolated at the fall of the USSR, you may even dare to call that tradeoff successful.

Mikeb85 11y ago

Did you watch those videos? Because I'm curious how anyone can watch those videos and call what the police did, "brutality". I've seen more police "brutality" in the suburbs of Canada when the bar closes... BTW, brutality is in quotations because no one can possibly watch those actual videos and call the police actions anything close. The protester (singular) who was arrested, was not only twice the size of the fat, out of shape police officers, but there was barely a scuffle. Here's a good picture of the police brutality from your link: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Ceaq1QXWsAIOVNu.jpg https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Ceaq1QXWsAIOVNu.jpg and here as well: https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/hfg17gfMjN_RcKbCTm1hPw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjtzbT0xO3c9MTI4MDtoPTk2MA--/http://40.media.tumblr.com/1118af5e62014e1197457484a36971cd/tumblr_inline_o4m7jfrPzo1tj53wd_1280.jpg https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/hfg17gfMjN_RcKbCTm1hPw--/Y... So brutal.