January 2004 Archives

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If anyone has Movable Type and gets this same kind of crap and knows how to get rid of it all quickly, please let me know.

So I'm back to class, my Tuesdays and Thursdays are loaded but the rest of my days are great. All of my classes are 1.25 hours or longer, which sucks, but then again, I don't have class on Fridays! So far I've been to American History (prof is kinda strange), Media and Politics (with Peterson) and Modern Political Though (with tons of hard books to read). You can see what I'm taking here, but I really should just get going to class now (Java Programming, which should be fun...).

Well, the whole Cuba experience was wonderful, I've learned so much, and I want to share it with everybody, but I don't know the best way to do it. I want to come out and make two things clear: first, I think Castro is a bad guy and is the main reason why the system there is failing and second that the embargo (or blockade as it really is) that the US has against Cuba hurts the Cuban people and our own interests more than it hurts Castro. I would also like to say that I'm not really a fan of Che either, he advocated violence and supported Soviet Communism. I'm sure that most college students who wear Che shirts and think he was a great leader don't know what he really stood for, they wear it to look 'cool'. I was able to bring back some cigars and some rum (my 21st birthday is in 4 days, the 29th, not that I'm really counting) with no problem from either the Cubans or the Americans, which makes me happy because it made Shrub's stupid policy irrelevent. [Read His Full Speech Here]

Ending the embargo will open a new, close and needy market for the crops grown by farmers in America's heartland. Opening travel will allow average Cubans to interact with Americans visiting, to learn about our system, and before you know it will demand change from their own government. Cubans only have access to dollars from tourists, and Castro can keep them oppressed because of the embargo, but once it is lifted, he'll have no excuse. The Cuban lobby in Florida is the reason why this outdated policy is still in effect against a small, peaceful nation. There are problems in Cuba, Castro should not be in power, but keeping this embargo does not solve the problem.

I still have to finish writing my journal for the trip (it is part of the grade) as well as come up with a 15 minute presentation about the embargo and its effects on the Cuban people. Spring semester starts tomorrow, I still have to rent my books as well as buy supplies. Hopefully my classes won't be too hard, I would like a break but I'm doubting it will be the case. I have 18 credits this semester, but going hardcore this year means I get to graduate a semester early. It will work out well, if I can commit myself to study and do the work needed to do well. I will actually try to work on my blog more...

So this is day two in Kenosha, WI. I'm staying at Carthage College for the Cuba classes until we leave Sunday morning. I'm living in a dorm with another student who is going as well, and the dorm life is just as I remembered it. I really don't see the appeal of going to school here and paying like 10 times as much as going to Eau Claire. The dorms are the same, the food sucks just as much here, and their technology isn't nearly as good. The buildings are just as ugly, the instructors aren't all that remarkable, and the class sizes aren't that different. They don't have a damn hill, and they are by Lake Michigan (RIGHT next to it), but that isn't worth the extra $24 G's a year. There was no warm water in the shower this morning. That really sucked because it is like -3 degrees F here. The buildings are close, but it is still damn cold to walk with all the wind from the lake.

Class is going well, I'm learning like the entire history of communism from this Russian Econ professor that is going with us, but he really gets off topic. I'll try to blog more later, but I need a nap now.

CUBA