To those who travel to Cuba for fun!
If you really want to go to Cuba, here is something you must keep in mind: As a tourist in Cuba, you will be supporting an economic and political system that practices apartheid and discrimination. As a tourist, you will have access to hotels, restaurants, beaches, transportation, food, drink, and all other sorts of amenities that are strictly off limits to 99.99% of the Cuban population. Cubans are not allowed to set foot in tourist hotels under any circumstances, or to use the beaches or pools, etc... unless they work there. And to work there, you have to kiss ass and play the game the governing elite want you to play. You also need skin that is not too dark. African Cubans tend to be discriminated against by the white elites who run the island. If you are lucky enough to land a job in a tourist facility, aAs a Cuban worker you will also only earn about 17 dollars a month, even though the European hotel chain is actually paying out about 10 dollars an hour for your labor. The military junta that runs the island skims the profits. A new law has made it illegal for Cubans to accept tips or gifts from foreigners.
99.99 of the Cuban population is forbidden access to computers and the internet. Good luck finding someone who is not a member of the ruling class who will exchange emails with you.
Have you any idea how repressed the Cuban people are?
No freedom of speech.
No free press.
No freedom of assembly.
No free enterprise of any kind.
No freedom to travel outside the island.
No labor unions.
No access to all facilities used by tourists.
And so on....
Go at your own risk. Your body will probably be safe, and you will find plenty to eat and drink. But your soul will be in peril, along with your conscience. If you care about human rights.
Carlos Eire
