Winner 2013 Webby Awards for Best Political Website
June 17, 2013

 Choose a size
Text Size

Trending:     chris hedges     economy     nsa     politics     robert scheer
Most Read

The FBI May Have Finally Found Jimmy Hoffa

Say Hello to the 'Super Rich'

Bush Caved on NSA Surveillance After Top Officials Threatened to Resign

New Iranian President Wants to Heal 'Old Wound' With U.S.

Controversial Voting Law Struck Down, Snowden ‘Honored’ by Cheney, and More

Most Comments
Most Emailed

 * NEW! * This Will Not End Well
Great Gatsby Economics



The Unwinding


Truthdig Bazaar more items

 
Ear to the Ground

Calling All Cubans: Cell Phones, Gays OK!

Email this item Email    Print this item Print    Share this item... Share

Posted on Mar 28, 2008
Alarcon y Mapplethorpe
AP photo / Jorge Rey

Ricardo Alarcón, president of Cuba’s National Assembly, pauses to contemplate how the homoerotic imagery of Robert Mapplethorpe relates to the “new socialist man.”

Be it through changes in cell phone restrictions or proposed legislation recognizing same-sex unions and transgender rights, Cuba’s political future is looking up for many of its citizens.

Recently appointed President Raul Castro appears to be moving to act on the “structural and conceptual” changes he promised in last month’s inauguration speech. First on the list is the loosening of ownership restrictions on cell phones, a luxury previously limited to statesmen and employees of foreign businesses.

And while historically considered a “capitalist illness” punishable by forced labor, discussion around and policies on homosexuality appear to be changing as well. Led in part by the efforts of Mariela Castro, daughter of el nuevo presidente, legislation is in the pipes to give not just legal equality to same-sex partnerships, but also subsidies for transgender operations.


The Guardian:

The Cuban president, Raúl Castro, today lifted restrictions on ownership of mobile phones.

Castro’s move was another indication that he is prepared to grant more freedom to the island’s residents.

Castro—who formally assumed power from his brother, Fidel, in February—promised in his inaugural speech to ease some of the restrictions on daily life within weeks.

He pledged “structural changes” and “big decisions” in the near future.

Read more

More Below the Ad

Advertisement


New and Improved Comments

If you have trouble leaving a comment, review this help page. Still having problems? Let us know. If you find yourself moderated, take a moment to review our comment policy.

By Conservative Yankee, March 31, 2008 at 6:41 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

...and over 100,000 Chileans “disappeared” over the course of his reign… BUT Alexander Haig was happy!

Report this

By cyrena, March 29, 2008 at 6:48 pm Link to this comment

Well CY, that’s pretty much what genuine ‘obrero sin categora’did..at least the ones under Batista.

I damn sure can’t blame them. I would have done the same. Just as I’m an American ‘obrero sin categora’ and always have been, I’d damn near welcome the devil with open arms at this point.

(that might be stretching it a bit, but surely there can’t be anything worse for the average American citizen now than the devil we know in Dick Bush, unless it’s John McSame.)

Meantime, things are looking up for the Cubans, and that’s good. Even before that, they could still ‘look down’ on the obrero sin categora of the US. At least for the past 7 years, since they’ve been better off than we have.

Seriously..food, health care, housing…the basics. Ya know, the stuff that we DON’T have?

Report this

By Conservative Yankee, March 29, 2008 at 12:15 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

Had I been a “obrero sin categora” (lower class worker/laborer) under Fulgencio Batista, I would have welcomed Castro with open arms.

Report this

By Thomas Billis, March 29, 2008 at 11:52 am Link to this comment

Ah the morons who respond here.You do live in a socialist country.Only the socialism is on top and you do not get shit.I guess the government bailing out Bear Sterns is capitalism.Only the middle and lower classes get sold that capitalism crap.On top it is socialism pure and simple.When they go to Congress to lobby it is not for more competition it is for less.On top they slice up the pie and legislate so you cannot even get a sliver.The morons who think there is not socialism in this country should check the legislation that gets passed and then come back to TRUTHDIG with their apologies for being so naive.

Report this

By jimmyjam, March 29, 2008 at 11:39 am Link to this comment

Yea Hugoville is the way to go. ask all the people giving away what they worked hard for. maybe you can give away tour computer and 2/3rds your paycheck.I love it you all tout socialism, but dont have the balls to live in a country that is socialist.

Report this

By Conservative Yankee, March 29, 2008 at 8:00 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

Funny, while reading, watching, or listening to discussions about Cuba’s “democratic” future, or her “Communist past” I never hear mention of the name that allowed Castro to rule for half a century.

Were I a Bracero in Cuba, I would prefer the rule of either Castro to the rule of Fulgencio Batista.

Report this

By jatihoon, March 29, 2008 at 7:42 am Link to this comment

Cuba has not lifted ban on cell phones but they have lifted ban to sell, “cell phones”.

Rahul Castro declaration, “From today onward, let all cell phones ring,“but no mention of freely.Time for cuban policy makers to “Ring” there thoughts freely so that all free loving cubans people could understand and hear it clearly.

Report this

By Saddler, March 28, 2008 at 12:15 pm Link to this comment

Here’s hoping Cuba join Venezuela in leading the way for socialism in the 21st century! Corporations and the U.S. are licking their chops at the possibility of a “transition to democracy” that favors their interests, but the Cuban people might just surprise them.

Report this
Newsletter

sign up to get updates


 
 
 
 
Join the Liberal Blog Advertising Network
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A Progressive Journal of News and Opinion. Editor, Robert Scheer. Publisher, Zuade Kaufman.
© 2013 Truthdig, LLC. All rights reserved.