Opinion Archives - Page 323 of 486

The State of Cuban Basketball

Those of us with some gray in our hair, or those who left Cuba after the severe economic crisis struck the island in the 1990s, will recall that, at the time, basketball was the second most popular sport in the country, second only to baseball. In practice, the material conditions facing players back then weren’t a whole lot better than they are today, but a successful generation of athletes would fill the court with fans, eager to enjoy the magical way in which Roberto Carlos Herrera handled the ball, or how Lazaro Borrell or Richard Matienzo dunked it.

The Final Hidden Face of High Prices in Cuba’s Markets

Over the last couple weeks, there’ve been several different takes on the topic of the high prices in the markets here versus the scant buying power of most customers. In my view, we’ve yet to recognize the final determining factor in this story.

Cuba: Balancing Commerce to Ensure Freedom

The rapprochement between the US and Havana is starting to have repercussions around the world, even though the economic embargo is still in effect and only the first steps towards the re-establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries have been taken.

Preventing the Violation of Cuban Worker Rights

Problems can be solved efficaciously only if we address their root cause. Applying headstrong measures or forcing people to submit to higher authorities and the like only makes matters worse. Here we look at an issue facing Cuban health personnel.

Cuba and the USA: Backtracking Like Crabs?

Are Barack Obama and Raul Castro backtracking like crabs? That is one of the tacit concerns of the majority of Cubans today. The phrase alludes to the typical way in which these crustaceans move, giving the impression that they are walking backwards.

Addressing Racial Discrimination in Cuba

Pedro Campos: “No one who attended the gathering could have left with any doubts on this matter: racial discrimination continues to exist in Cuba. The country has not been able to overcome the problem”. The photo is of Victor Fowler, expert on the subject.

Fifty Ways to Spot a Dictator

¿Do you think your president is a dictator? Consult this short manual. Dictators have evinced a series of common characteristics – to a greater or lesser degree – since the times of Pericles, 2500 years ago.

In Cuba “No One is Above the Law”

In addition to being illegal and immoral, or precisely because of this, the restrictions on doctors’ families exposes Cuba’s medical brigades to ferocious criticisms from their enemies. These shady, absurd and insensitive measures are the ammunition they need.

Obama’s Contradictory Policies with Cuba and Venezuela

Much bewilderment has been caused by the US government’s decision to declare Venezuela “an extraordinary threat to the national security of the United States” while, at the same time, it makes prodigious efforts to reestablish diplomatic relations with Cuba.

My Lovely Havana, City of Many Paradoxes

If you go to Havana, you may find that things are not what they seem. You may meet a taxi driver or barman who’s an engineer, or with a bachelor’s degree, or a manager who didn’t even go to university. You may see a black man who’s a freemason or a Catholic, or a white person practicing an African religion such as Yoruba or Palo Monte.