Staarcraft: I do not wish to get into a big debate. I can see you have heartfelt beliefs. But as someone who has been there and travelled much of the island, I can tell you much of what you beleive is not what I saw.

The small amount I spent went to folks like the little old lady who set up a card table to sell her homemade cupcakes. I doubt Castro got any of that money. She got the money for what she did. I spent money with a man who was rolling cigars and with a fishing captain who had a battered old boat, and with a cab driver driving a 1956 buick. These people were much better of becasue of my visit. It was a small but real form of capitalism.

The truth is Castro will rule till he dies. Then, I hope not, but I beleive his brother Raul will assume his role.

The Cuban people are much beter off with tourism, than without. It's about their only viable industry. Those people suffer needlessly bescause of our embargo. It hasn't worked in 40 years, unless you consider keeping the Cuban people destitute working. Do we think that after 40 years they are going to rise up and revolt?

If we really want to help them we should stop turning back and deporting the courageous folks who try to get here by rafts!!!

Don't get me worng. I think Castro is an evil man. but he will be rich no matter how poor we make his people. We should help the Cuban people all we can by free trade.

P.S. In case yopu are wondering, I went to Cuba legally. There are several exeptions to the treasury ruling against Americans travelling to Cuba. Canadians enjoy Cuba's beaches by the droves. Thousands of them travel there every week in the winter. The tourism dollars spent by the Canadians provide much needed jobs for thousands of impoverished Cubans. Sure Castro gets some of the $$ but the net effect is many more peole who can feed their families.

I do not beleive it is dishonest to ask why we so eagerly open our trade doors to china. nuclear weapons or not we sure do not have to agressivlly trade with them. We do it simply for huge economic benefit. We don't trade with Cuba for political benefit.