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 p

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.