kvick, Get with it and quit living in the past.

Jor, I wish it were truly all in the past.
Since March of this year, 75 peaceful dissidents have been imprisoned by the Cuban government for terms ranging from 6-28 years, and three individuals who hijacked a ferry boat were executed by firing squad.
When the EU expressed dismay at these actions, the Cuban government arranged marches past European embassies and took over the Spanish cultural center. Presidente Castro said in a subsequent speech that Europe's duty "is to keep its mouth shut."
Should we close our eyes to these things and "keep our mouths shut" because we want a trophy cigar?

I have to admit that in retrospect, bringing the bulbs back that I mentioned previously was in bad judgement.

Although this is not a political forum and rightly so, 'kvick' brings up some very good points. I can't see spending my money to futher any govermnent that treats it's own humanity (or any other for that matter) so inhumanely.

kvick

many of the points you bring up about castro's regime are valid. however, i could counter by saying that the impetus for cuba's reaction during the 60's was a direct result of the policies of the dulles bros. and, later, the kennedy administration.

the total misreading of castro's early intent (which included a desire for close ties to the US) spurred by the morbid paranoia of late 50's style anti-marxism backed cuba into a corner.

this same scenario was concurrently being played out in southeast asia and we all know what a delightfull outturn that had. why do we keep perpetuating a policy based on already admittedly bad diplomacy?

i am no supporter of fidel castro or his brand of marxism which has had all the hallmarks of those items you mention. however, for 45 some odd years, cuba has been signaling a desire for dialogue and rapproachment.

why not give it a try? our current policy is doing nothing but slowly bleeding the cuban people of their only viable economic lifeline...the US.

by the way, i also purchase my little "trophies" from nicaraqua, the dominican republic and sometimes mexico some of whose regimes are somewhat suspect as well.