Popular Post MPS Posted March 27, 2016 Popular Post Share Posted March 27, 2016 http://floodmagazine.com/34721/please-stop-saying-you-want-to-go-to-cuba-before-its-ruined/ Please Stop Saying You Want to Go to Cuba Before It’s Ruined An Op-Ed by Natalie Morales by Natalie Morales header photo by Sean Mennie Editor’s Note: Natalie Morales’ Op-Ed was written before President Obama announced his intention to travel to Cuba and is not in any way intended to be a response to the president’s remarks. Just last week, I was at my friend Michaela’s house dropping off a bag of stuff I’m sending to my family in Cuba. Her husband, Fred, is visiting Havana and was kind enough to be my courier. Among the things I sent with Fred were two packages of Cuban coffee. Yes, that’s right: I’m sending Cuban coffee to Cuba. It’s absurd and hilarious and I got a real kick out of telling everyone I came across that day about it. This is because Cuban coffee is too expensive for the average Cuban to buy in Cuba. So they make do—Cubans always make do—reusing old coffee or grinding in some split peas if they have to get their fix. I, on the other hand, buy it for three bucks at Target. Coffee is just one of the things my family in the States sends to my family in Cuba. Usually, monthly, we send money, medicine or syringes for the diabetic aunt (since the hospital doesn’t have any unused disposable ones), baby clothes, adult clothes, shoes, or food (there’s a website for Americans to buy food that is sent to Cuba, but at an absurd upcharge). They cannot survive without our help. For many Cuban-American families all over the States, this is just a regular part of life, another bill to pay each month. Here’s a terse explanation of why: a doctor, a lawyer, or another similar profession that is considered to be high-earning everywhere else in the world will make about twenty to thirty dollars per month in Cuba. Yet shampoo at the store still costs three dollars. This is because everything is supposed to be rationed out to you, but the reality is that they’re always out of most things, and your designated ration is always meager. And if you live off the land? Well, if you’re a farmer and you’ve raised a cow, and you’re starving, and your family is also starving, and you decide to kill that cow and eat it? You’ll be put in jail for life. Because it’s not “your” cow, it’s everyone’s cow. That’s good ol’ Communism in practice. Now, knowing this, picture me at any dinner party or Hollywood event or drugstore or press interview or pretty much any situation where someone who considers themselves “cultured” finds out I’m Cuban. I prepare myself for the seemingly unavoidable “Ooh, Cuuuuuba”—as if the country itself were somehow a sexy woman or delicious food—followed by the inevitable, “I have to go there before it’s ruined!” I try to be polite, because I am aware that, oftentimes, people who think they are very thoughtful are the least thoughtful. So I ask, “What do you mean by ruined?” and they always say, “You know, it’s so cool looking! It’s stuck in time! They have all the old cars and stuff… Everything’s gonna change soon!” So depending on the situation (and how dumb I would like to make that person feel), I will say some version of this: “What exactly do you think will ruin Cuba? Running water? Available food? Freedom of speech? Uncontrolled media and Internet? Access to proper healthcare? You want to go to Cuba before the buildings get repaired? Before people can actually live off their wages? Or before the oppressive Communist regime is someday overthrown? Make sure you hurry and go observe these human beings in the time bubble that was created especially for you so that you could post a #nofilter photo of it on Instagram.” Look, part of me gets it. I appreciate good art direction just as much as anyone else, and I see that Cuba looks like a beautifully destroyed photo op. But it’s not your photo op. The old cars are not kitschy; they are not a choice. It’s all they have. The old buildings are not preserved; their balconies are falling and killing people all the time. The very, very young girls prostituting themselves are not doing it because they can’t get enough of old Canadian men, but because it pays more than being a doctor does. Hospitals for regular Cuban citizens are not what Michael Moore showed you in Sicko. (That was a Communist hospital for members of the Party and for tourists, and I, for one, think Moore fell for their North Korea–like propaganda show pretty hard.) There are no janitors in the hospitals because it pays more money to steal janitorial supplies and sell them on the street than it does to actually have a job there. Therefore, the halls and rooms are covered in blood, urine, and feces, and you need to bring your own sheets, blankets, pillows, towels, and mattresses when you are admitted. Doctors have to reuse needles on patients. My mom’s aunt had a stroke and the doctor’s course of treatment was to “put her feet up and let the blood rush back to her head.” That was it. And this is in Havana, the big city. I can’t be sure, but I’d imagine things there are a lot better than they are in more remote parts of the country. If you want to go to Cuba, I want you to go. I do. But can I ask a favor? Be aware of what’s going on there. Try, if you can, to stay in people’s homes—casas particulares—instead of hotels. They’ll take much better care of you, the food will be much better, and you’ll be putting a little less money into Castro’s tourism pocket. When you go, ask the people to tell you what’s really going on…not the version they’re supposed to tell you. Things are changing in Cuba, and maybe instead of seeing it before the change, you can actually be a part of the change for the better. Also, for God’s sake, please don’t wear a ******* Che t-shirt. FL Natalie Morales is a Cuban-American actor, writer, and filmmaker. For more on her career, read our Breaking profile. 20 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chefalan86 Posted March 27, 2016 Share Posted March 27, 2016 Thank you! I went this past January and stayed in casa particulars. Took people out for dinner and other snacks and meals. I bought cigars from farmers and people on the street. Loved everyone there! It was a fantastic adventure for me traveling solo, always wanted to go. I will return next year and bring all kinds of stuff with me for the families I will stay with. I hope to watch over the years as this beautiful country changes for the better. I wish for good things for the people of Cuba. I am currently reading Che and am intrigued by all of the history. May there be good things to come for all Cuban natives still living in this beautiful land. God bless. oh, and by the way... I will not wear a Che t-shirt. Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 27, 2016 Share Posted March 27, 2016 Cheers for posting that, MPS. Good read! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cooper669 Posted March 27, 2016 Share Posted March 27, 2016 That's very enlightening, to say the least. Thanks for posting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ralphanator Posted March 27, 2016 Share Posted March 27, 2016 Yes indeed a very good read..and very informative on what happening there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaxG Posted March 27, 2016 Share Posted March 27, 2016 Fantastic piece. Thanks for posting. - MG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LGC Posted March 27, 2016 Share Posted March 27, 2016 Thanks for posting this. I'm sick of seeing the selfish comments and generalizations. Change is part of life and progression. It can never take place in ways that 100% please everyone on the world, especially for those with extremist views. If an entire country of people can break free from oppression, obtain a better quality of life, and feel a true sense of freedom... then cigar prices, availability of double banded sticks, being able to vacation there for "cheap" prices, etc. doesn't really matter... 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JPS72 Posted March 27, 2016 Share Posted March 27, 2016 Thanks for posting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olga Posted March 27, 2016 Share Posted March 27, 2016 Great read. Thanks for posting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JerseyG Posted March 28, 2016 Share Posted March 28, 2016 Yes, thank you for posting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGipper Posted March 28, 2016 Share Posted March 28, 2016 This reminded me of a story Stephen Fry tells of a New York cab driver he met in the USA. The driver was from Romania and was able to get his mother out their home country during the Ceaucescu era. As he drove his mother away from JFK airport and through lower Manhattan, the driver expected his mother to be amazed at the sights of New York City. But she seemed completely unimpressed. It wasn't until the next day, when he took his mother to the grocery store...that she finally reacted to being in the USA. At one point, he lost track of his mother in the grocery aisles. He went back an aisle, and he saw his mother, sitting on the floor, sobbing. He went to her and asked her what was wrong. "They lied! Oh, they lied to us!" she said. "All those years, they told us that Americans were poor, that only a few people were rich!" "But here, even my son, who is just a driver, can afford all the things we could never dream of having back home! They lied to us, all my life, they lied to us!" 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheMonk Posted March 28, 2016 Share Posted March 28, 2016 Great read, thanks for posting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wabashcr Posted March 28, 2016 Share Posted March 28, 2016 Agree wholeheartedly with the sentiment of the article. I don't think anyone takes pleasure in the suffering and poverty of the Cuban people, and many may not understand how that is tied in with the "stuck in time" theme. But I think a lot of people, myself included, would like to get to Cuba before the deluge of American chain restaurants arrives. No doubt that's a cynical and selfish view. But it's the idea of a western nation seemingly untouched by the excesses of American capitalism that appeals to most tourists, I'd think, and not to gawk at poverty. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philski Posted March 28, 2016 Share Posted March 28, 2016 But I think a lot of people, myself included, would like to get to Cuba before the deluge of American chain restaurants arrives. Inevitable, really. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
helix Posted March 28, 2016 Share Posted March 28, 2016 No matter what the changes coming to Cuba , it will always be Cuba and a great place to spend time. More importantly though , let's hope for the Cuban folks to benefit from all this and lend ease to their daily struggles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OZCUBAN Posted March 28, 2016 Share Posted March 28, 2016 Thanks for posting great article Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zigatoh Posted March 28, 2016 Share Posted March 28, 2016 Still not sure exactly how the embargo being there or not will change things, at least in the short to medium term, for the Cuban people. Still a communist country where pretty much everything is owned by the state right? So if macky d's move in, is it a state owned franchise, or does the state act as a recruitment agency, taking the money from the golden arches and still paying a pittance to the workers? And can Cubans afford to eat there? Isn't it like that, or was, in some parts of Russia and/or the Czech Republic, eating in mc Donalds as a special treat as opposed to cheap junk food here? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phatskipper Posted March 28, 2016 Share Posted March 28, 2016 Thank you for the article... It is refreshing to hear some rational thoughts on the subject as opposed to the Sunshine and Rainbows that the President's Comrades seem to talk about when on the subject of Cuba. I understand the authors visceral response to hearing "before it is ruined"... but I think it might be a case of imprecise language? At least that is what I hope is going on. I hope people mean that they want to go so that they can go experience Cuba before the inevitable changes, without implying the change is a bad thing. In my case, I hope to be a part of that change and spread some of my hard earned cash around to some nice folks along the way. Hopefully, most people understand that Michael Moore and his ilk have a political ax to grind when he tries to demonstrate that socialism is superior to capitalism, and he wouldn't be able to make his point if he showed the suffering of the people as explained by the author. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
treberty Posted March 28, 2016 Share Posted March 28, 2016 Great article. To me Cuba is already in ruins: communism simply doesn't work - especially when your Soviet friends start thinking that capitalism is the way to go ;-) The whole infrastructure of the country needs to be rebuilt (contractors will have a ball when Cuba opens up), industries are so inefficient it's not even funny, the health system is crappy for the average Cuban. The Cuban people is sooo resilient, ingenious, friendly and generous... that's why I went so many times and probably go another time before it's "ruined". That's what I find appealing: a strong people that's able to keep smiling despite the fact that they are being beaten up daily by a senseless system. That said I am one who believes that once Americans (hotel & restaurant chains, tourists) will start invading the island it will lose some of its charm. Don't get me wrong: I love Americans and go to the USA as often as I can, but the island will change forever - which will be great for the people. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luv2fly Posted March 28, 2016 Share Posted March 28, 2016 Great read. Spot on. I think I take for granted the gifts I have living in a "free" society. Yes I want to see Cuba as many of you have but not at the expense of the Cuban people. I will go there with freedom in my heart and love for the Cuban people someday. Thanks to you MPS for bringing this to light. My attitude has changed. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan Posted March 28, 2016 Share Posted March 28, 2016 Still not sure exactly how the embargo being there or not will change things, at least in the short to medium term, for the Cuban people. Still a communist country where pretty much everything is owned by the state right? When the embargo comes down, the current regime no longer will have an excuse for things being the way they are. Every Cuban knows this. There's a saying, "the embargo has been Castro's greatest ally." The Castros have spent the last 55 years rallying Cuban support around denouncing the embargo as the cause of all their woes. When that goes, no more excuses. Something will have to give. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
riazp Posted March 28, 2016 Share Posted March 28, 2016 Great read. I love Havana, its people, the sights, the sounds, the restaurants, the culture. I can only hope that they can benefit and thrive from an emargo free land, and hopefully the fall of communism. I pray they stay true to who they are, I really do. Only the future will tell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shortsqueeze Posted March 29, 2016 Share Posted March 29, 2016 When the embargo comes down, the current regime no longer will have an excuse for things being the way they are. Every Cuban knows this. There's a saying, "the embargo has been Castro's greatest ally." The Castros have spent the last 55 years rallying Cuban support around denouncing the embargo as the cause of all their woes. When that goes, no more excuses. Something will have to give. Precisely. Did you see Fidel griping in the paper? He knows the day is coming ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oliverdst Posted March 29, 2016 Share Posted March 29, 2016 It would be great if when the embargo is lift Cuba becomes a first world country. Forget about that. Anyone who has gone to small cities in South/Central America knows that all the wealthy goes just to few cities. It will improve people lives? Sure. But the price to be paid is having problems that they never had before popping up. 95% (I think is more than that) of FOH members were born and raised in rich countries. I envy you but you don't know the problems people in 3rd world have, maximum just a glimpse idea. I have gone to Cuba just twice so I am still a sofmore but they don't have problems that most of the other poor countries have. The writer of the article is an actress. Maybe she thinks that Havana will transform into Los Angeles and Cuba into California. She couldnt be more wrong and naif. Dont get me wrong: I want people in Cuba having more rights and opportunities but things are not that easy. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David88 Posted March 29, 2016 Share Posted March 29, 2016 It makes one feel a little guilty when lighting up a Cuban cigar I was actually thinking about this the other day. If a roller is paid $30 a month and has a quota of 100 cigars a day, they are paid little over 1 cent per cigar. When it arrives in LCDHs/B&M stores and you pay upwards of $20 per cigar it does not seem fair. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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