Funny by Kwame, Issue 17

Funny by Kwame, Issue 16

The Castro Brothers

Since Kwame has been doing all the heavy lifting for this blog, I thought I’d make a contribution. Last week, I randomly attended a talk by a Professor from the University of Havana. It’s not common that you hear from a Cuban academic, especially living in the US, so I thought I would seize the opportunity.

Anyhow, I was rewarded with a rare insight into the US embargo of Cuba. Enacted in 1958, the embargo has stifled the Cuban economy. Not only does it prohibit American tourists (and since tourism is one of the largest industries in Cuba, this hurts), it also prohibits any Cuban exports to the US as well as tremendous restrictions of US imports into Cuba. This embargo has significantly hurt the Cuban economy and in turn its people.

Now, I understand that the Castro brothers are bona fide dictators who restrict political dissension with a heavy hand, but how exactly has this embargo helped erode their political power? If anything it has helped the Castro regime as the US provides an ideal scapegoat for any of Cuba’s problems, easily exploited to deflect blame.

Consequently, it puzzles me why there is so much uproar and protest to Obama’s suggestion that we talk with Raul Castro. Obviously, the needful diplomatic processes would be conducted to ensure that it would actually be a productive meeting. But in the end, a fresh approach may make a difference and turn an enemy at our doorstep into at least a non-enemy. Trying something different must be better than continuing the same old failed policy. Currently, 75% of the Cuban population have been born under the embargo and have known nothing else. It may be time to stop punishing the innocent Cuban people. Perhaps it is time for a change. Change we can believe in.

Funny by Kwame, Issue 15

Funny by Kwame, Issue 14

Funny by Kwame, Issue 13

Funny by Kwame, Issue 12

Book Recommendation: Odd Thomas

Book: Odd Thomas

Author: Dean Koontz

I don’t usually enjoy works of fiction that purport to know what the afterlife is like and the rules that may govern the various realms between this world and the next. I am sure there are interesting subconscious reasons for this peculiarity. The movie Ghost and Mitch Albom’s novel The Five People You Meet in Heaven are among the notable exclusions to this personal rule. By way of a vey accidental recommendation I have discovered another such exclusion.

Odd Thomas tells the story of a twenty-one year old short-order cooking living in the desert town of Pico Mundo, California. The title character

Funny by Kwame, Issue 11

Bush-McCain in 2008

Certain, more conservative contributors to this blog (eh hem, John) have suggested that the insistence on labeling the potential John McCain presidency a continuation of George W. Bush’s failed presidency amounts to little more than typical partisan Washington name-calling and political game-playing, and further suggest that it is inaccurate. I could not disagree more.

In my humble opinion, this election must focus on three main issues: the war, the economy, and health care. For each of these issues, I can provide a quick summary of how McCain is like Bush and unlike Obama.

The War. Easy one.  Bush started the war and wants to stay. McCain also wants to stay. Obama wants to implement plans for responsible withdrawal.

The Economy. First, Bush and McCain are alike in that most people know that neither of them understands the economy. Tales of Bush’s economic ineptitude and general detachment have always been documented, but more recently McCain himself admitted the economy is a weak point for him saying, “The issue of economics is not something I’ve understood as well as I should.”  And there has been no shortage of experts who agree with him. 

Secondly,