Obama/Castro Press Conference

[KB24]

Well that couldn't have been more awkward and uncomfortable.

[cosmoker]

What??

[Corylax18]

Some comments from both Obama and Raul highlighted the realities of the situation. Weather you like those realities or not. It was probably awkward and uncomfortable for many people, which is why we are STILL in a similar situation to the one 60 years ago.

I don't think it could have gone much better. I think uncomfortable and awkward is exactly how some people should be feeling about this situation right now. Fortunately the two people on that stage working to better the situation aren't in that group. These smiles don't look like bullshit to me:

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/obama-cuba-schedule-monday-includes-meeting-raul-castro-n542556

[Fugu]

That's what you call diplomacy.

[KB24]

I'm referring more to the press conference than the overall situation. They weren't supposed to take questions and then did which went off script which made things interesting. The language barrier definitely came into play but also it was the lady who was given an opportunity to ask a question decided to take her 15 minutes and ask about 13 questions all wrapped up into 1.

Then Castro tried to raise Obama's arm like they do after a boxing match and he wasn't have any of it probably bc of some of the things that Castro just said while answering a question he wasn't supposed to be asked in the first place.

[MPS]

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[JohnS]

Oh well...look on the bright side. They're a lot closer than John F. Kennedy/Fidel Castro in 1962, just by being in the same room!

[Fugu]

I'm referring more to the press conference than the overall situation. They weren't supposed to take questions and then did which went off script which made things interesting. The language barrier definitely came into play but also it was the lady who was given an opportunity to ask a question decided to take her 15 minutes and ask about 13 questions all wrapped up into 1.

Then Castro tried to raise Obama's arm like they do after a boxing match and he wasn't have any of it probably bc of some of the things that Castro just said while answering a question he wasn't supposed to be asked in the first place.

would you have a link to that press conference, vid or something?

[Corylax18]

Haha, That photo is HILARIOUS. I had not seen that yet.

I understand what you are saying. The press conference itself was a little choppy, the language barrier very apparent. How hard would it have been to learn even a little conversational Spanish? I know most of us English speakers (not just the yanks) are accustomed to speaking English everywhere we go, but Spanish is not a difficult language to learn at all.

The bottom line is they're trying. And I cant stop scrolling back up to that picture.

[Guest photorob]

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when your "girl on the side" brings you home to meet her parents

[Vetteman]

I think it's particularly difficult when you're attempting to weigh your remarks against both the domestic and international audience

[Lotusguy]

That picture will be used in soooo many Memes - hilarious!

[SmokeyJoe99]

That's freaking hilarious. Can't wait to see what the Internet does with this pic.

[KB24]

[Guest photorob]

there is an interview with Obama on ABC in 5 mins.

[ShortFatHokie]

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That awkward moment when the King of America tells the Cuban leader to bow down and kiss his ring...

[luv2fly]

As an American, I do not and have never condoned the embargo. This was my feeling as a child learning about it in grade school. My teachers labeled me a "trouble maker" when I questioned the logic of cutting off an entity that we wanted to change, hopefully for the better. It may have been needed in the 1960"s but I feel it should have been removed once the the crisis was over. I do not want to "Americanize" the world. We enjoy a great but also not so great life here. Nothing is perfect. I believe that the people of any country have the right to assemble, protest, and question their government.

Utopia does not exist. If the embargo were to end, Cuba would loose its "1959" charm but I do think that "charm" has been at the expense of the Cuban people.

After WWII, we may have tried to "Americanize" Europe but it didn't go the distance. I do not agree with everything my government does and to comment on El Prez comment that we get what we vote for....spot on sir!

My $0.02 worth.

Carry on.....

[PapaDisco]

I got the impression that Raul wanted to play it for whatever he could get out of it, just like Fidel's trip to the U.N. in 1960. And I got the impression that Obama was both enlightened and annoyed at the attempts.

So far, 'constructive engagement' has not worked to transform communist governments (China being the most glaring example), whereas 'containment' did in fact force the disintegration of the Soviet Union (although it never would have happened without Gorbachev on the Soviet side so that's a bit of random luck). Maybe it will work better on a smaller scale?

[eswary]

History in the making. Im not a "Obama-guy" but I think it's great to see a US President step on Cuba soil and "attempt" negotiations.

That being said, I think it's going to be a long chess game. America needs to slow roll this and let the Cuba government decide their own fate like Obama is suggesting.

If Cuba wants the embargo lifted they need to be more diplomatic and allow Cuban citizens rights and build infrastructure for basic human needs. If that doesn't happen...No Soup for You.

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[CaptainQuintero]

History in the making. Im not a "Obama-guy" but I think it's great to see a US President step on Cuba soil and "attempt" negotiations.

That being said, I think it's going to be a long chess game. America needs to slow roll this and let the Cuba government decide their own fate like Obama is suggesting.

If Cuba wants the embargo lifted they need to be more diplomatic and allow Cuban citizens rights and build infrastructure for basic human needs. If that doesn't happen...No Soup for You.

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There is already an incredibly well built infrastructure for a variety of basic human needs. Education and healthcare is one of the best in the world. Better than where many of us are posting from.

Life expectancy is 3rd in the Americas, behind only Canada and Chile.

Literacy is 99.8% 10th in the world. Bearing in mind:

Italy 27th

Japan 28th

Germany 29th

Australia 38th

Ireland 41st

France 43rd

United kingdom 44th

United States 45th

Spain 71st

Israel 75th

This isn't defending the regime by any stretch, it is a one party system. But political and economic freedom are only two slices of the cake. There is a lot Cuba needs to give its people what they deserve but it isn't completely devoid of basic human needs.

[El Presidente]

There is already an incredibly well built infrastructure for a variety of basic human needs. Education and healthcare is one of the best in the world. Better than where many of us are posting from.

Cap I can tell you first hand that the Cuban doctors and nurses that I have come across over the years have been excellent (and not just in Havana). No doubt there are some who are dodgy but that is everywhere (including here in Oz).

However when you go to a Cuban hospital (not the Cira Garcia which is effectively for foreigners) you will see that the infrastructure is falling apart in so many areas. Broken windows, broken or old furniture, dated or non working medical machinery, paint peeling off walls.

Still. Having travelled around central and South America, Cuba is lightyears ahead.

[Habanos2000]

There is already an incredibly well built infrastructure for a variety of basic human needs.

Such as freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, freedom of the press...

[CaptainQuintero]

Such as freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, freedom of the press...

Yeah part of the cake, you want the whole cake obviously and eventually Cuba will get it. But if I was in a nation where you only had two slices to choose from, I'd want my kids to be healthy and well educated rather than scrawl their mark onto a ballot paper with their one good arm.

Without going off the rails too much how often has the West recently given nations a new found political and press freedom, yet when given the reigns they fall back into tribal medievalism because their education and social system is so stunted?

The Cuban people, as soon as they get their fast approaching chance, will be able to compete and innovate with any other nation because of the start they have been given. There is an argument to be said that if the regime truly had no aspirations beyond a stagnant police state, why would they educate their population to such a high degree?

[CaptainQuintero]

Cap I can tell you first hand that the Cuban doctors and nurses that I have come across over the years have been excellent (and not just in Havana). No doubt there are some who are dodgy but that is everywhere (including here in Oz).

However when you go to a Cuban hospital (not the Cira Garcia which is effectively for foreigners) you will see that the infrastructure is falling apart in so many areas. Broken windows, broken or old furniture, dated or non working medical machinery, paint peeling off walls.

Still. Having travelled around central and South America, Cuba is lightyears ahead.

It makes you wonder what part of the current easing of the restrictions would rectify this. Hotels and Internet are all well and good but that seems to be falling short of the cash flows needed to bring those changes needed in state hospitals.

Possibly the banking restrictions being lifted/lines of credit being opened to the government?

[KB24]

Back to the topic...do you think both sides panicked afterwards or did they chop it up to just something that happens when you go off script?