Wow, I never knew it was that restricted!

Happy holder of a Canadian passport,
FewMiles..

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I agree with you that awful things can happen anywhere and anytime. I have had some awful things happen to me in the US and other countries around the world. It is just that my worst experience to date happened in Cuba.

I do not think that the US is the best place to raise a family but it is the best place to make a good living, in my opinion. I do not have children so raising a family is not an issue right now. I probably will not raise my children here in the states though.

Does anyone know if it is illegal for a Canadian citizen to import Cuban cigars, purchased in Canada, into the USA as gifts etc? What about a Canadian who is a resident of the USA?

makin' miles:

The bottom line with U.S. Customs is that Cuban cigars are not allowed into the U.S., regardless of the carrier's citizenship or where the they were purchased.

I got busted last November trying to bring three cigars into the country from DUS. I tried the journalist angle, too ... no go.

[This message has been edited by essxjay (edited 04-21-2001).]

{dupe}

[This message has been edited by essxjay (edited 04-21-2001).]

ChanelCinq,

I don't have kids yet either and
I know that this is not a travel oriented question, but where would you say is the best /or good place to raise kids?

1. Do you think the Cuban people are better off without our money or with it? Cuban government revenue means medicine and food for the Cuban people. Tourism means jobs, and the informal economy puts dollars directly into people's hands.

2. There are many countries with worse human rights violations than Cuba. Why have we not banned trade with and travel to China, Saudi Arabia, any number of African nations? Hell, the US supported governments in Chile & Argentina that regularly picked up their citizens and dropped them alive into the middle of the ocean. Our policy towards Cuba is inconsistent with the rest of our foriegn policy.

3. The best way to move Cuba to democracy is to engage them. This worked with the Soviet bloc. The only reason we don't do this is because of the power of a bunch of expatriate Cubans care more about the return of their appropriated land and money than they do about the Cuban people.

4. The United States is not by any measure a leader in the protection of Human Rights. While the violation of human rights is abhorrent in Cuba, I find it appalling that the United States takes such a self-righteous stance on human rights violations abroad while developing such a poor record at home.



[This message has been edited by Dudster (edited 04-22-2001).]

posted by Dudster: "4. The United States is not by any measure a leader in the protection of Human Rights. While the violation of human rights is abhorrent in Cuba, I find it appalling that the United States takes such a self-righteous stance on human rights violations abroad while developing such a poor record at home."


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I thank you for bringing up this point. I think that many in the United States reflexively assume that the social conditions here are beyond reproach, just by definition of us being "the greatest country in the world." I mean, come on. Baltimore calls itself "the greatest city in the world", but is it true? No. In fact, such a mentality, which may make people feel better about themselves, is dangerous because it leads to arrogance and allows us to turn a blind eye to the human rights abuses that come in more subtle forms. Look at the plight of the inner city poor in a city near you. I would argue that they, in sum, face collectively worse treatment and dim future than prisoners in China, for example.

I'm not diminishing the significance of human rights abuses, don't get me wrong, but I think we would be well advised to look inward before criticizing others so loudly. I think that some latch on much too easily to the the word "human rights" and fail to realize that human rights go beyond just freedom of speech, etc. and also can encompass the general quality of life of a population.

Regarding Cuba, I think that many people don't actually understand the nature of the government there and simply accept the easier-to-understand label of "Communist government". It's quite embarassing in my mind that so many people still readily leap to the 1950s conclusion that "communist" = "bad".

[This message has been edited by TA (edited 04-21-2001).]

TA, Dudster, excellent points. I personally believe that our current embargo on Cuba is in its last decade of life and that shortly after Cubas transformation will be swift and dramatic. This is precisely the reason I want to see Cuba now.

As for Human Rights in Cuba, yes there are clearly problems that I have a conflict of interests with when I choose to support a government financially, albeit indirectly. I am a vegetarian because I choose not to economically support the cattle & ranching industries warehouse farmed chicken, et cetera. I clearly understand that I do vote with my dollars and I don’t except that responsibility lightly.

I know more of U.S. interventions in Latin America then most and not one of them has been carried out for Human Rights, though our government chooses to market their actions this way. In Cuba we supported Batista who was as tyrannical as they get, he makes Fidel look like a saint. But the Cuban hero Ernesto “Che” Guevara? Personally I feel he was a lot like the CIA in his covert operations (always a foreigner) and I fail to see how outside of Cuba he could be admired in the way he is. He is simply more fashionable now.

But as for Cuba, I would love to see it before any major changes, for all of it’s glories and catastrophes. I just won’t be the on yelling “¡Viva la revolucion!”

Sweet Willie,

I am definitely biased. I have only lived on the San Francisco Peninsula and in Paris for a year and a half. I have spent a lot of time traveling but mostly third world countries which is my travel preference.

If I were to have children I would probably raise them in France. I have to be near a metropolitan city but I would probably not raise them in Paris. I love Paris but the the people are not as welcoming as the rest of France. I was very welcomed in my early 20’s and American but the Parisians definitely have attitude. Lyon and Lille are the second and third largest cites but I would have to choose somewhere in southern France. In 99 I spent 6 weeks studying in the (French) Basque country. I was living in Aglet, right next to Bayonne and Biarritz or known as BAB. Very friendly people and no one spoke English which I loved.

I am not saying that France does not have it’s problems. While living in Paris there were the metro bombings but in the US these school shooting are insane. I live in Belmont, a really small city on the San Francisco peninsula. We had a school shooting threat at a small private school down the street and the kid is know in juvenile hall. In Paris I witnessed two separate metro suicides and read the paper inside out the following day of each incident. There was no mention of the suicides. It seems like in Europe jumping in front of a train is a popular way to kill yourself but it bothered me that there was no mention of it in the papers.

I don’t even know if I want to have children. If I do have children where I raise them will have a lot to do with where I am living and working at the time and what nationality my future husband is.

http://www.treas.gov/ofac/ccigars.pdf

"Only persons returning from Cuba after a licensed visit there are permitted to bring Cuban cigars into the United States provided the value of such cigars does not exceed 100 US dollars, and that the cigars are for that person's personal use and not for resale...it is illegal for travelers to bring into the United States Cuban cigars acquired in third countries (such as Canada, England, or Mexico)."

Within the past week one news radio station in California was commenting on how USA citizens, who visit Cuba, are being hit with a fine (something like $7,500 I thought), either when re-entering the USA or via a bill thru the mail. The brief story seemed to emphasize that President Bush wishes to make it clear to USA citizens that Cuba is off-limits.

When you are in Cancun, what are the reputable places and websites to buy a trip to Havana?

Nine years after the United States Congress granted the right to civil hearings for anyone accused of violating the Cuba travel ban, no judges have been hired and no hearings have been held.

As of September, 357 cases were pending, some of which date to 1995, said a congressional aide, who provided the figure on condition of anonymity. Piano tuner Ben Treuhaft, for example, has waited for his day in court since being accused in 1996 of illegally traveling to the communist island.

http://www.cnn.com/2001/TRAVEL/NEWS/....ap/index.html

i think what he meant was
"who(=US gov't) gives a s**t about the people who live there'
i can't think of other interpretation that is logical at all.