Click HERE to see this thread with all of the graphics, features, and links.

Well, this is good stuff.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/12/world/americas/obama-cuba-summit-of-the-americas.html?_r=0



This is one thing I wanted to see done for a long time. This negotiation has been going on for a while with Cuba. It is nice to see it culminate into this. Congrats and thanks to Obama and the Obama administration for doing this.


Discuss your thoughts. Am I being silly for thinking this is awesome? Is this good? etc.

Now they just need to erase Cuba from the terrorist-sponsor list and they might just become normal neighbors

Originally posted by Bentley
Now they just need to erase Cuba from the terrorist-sponsor list and they might just become normal neighbors

Yes they need to do that, and is not that easy, but this is the right begining. Wish cubans the best!

I think it's definitely a start. Cuba will probably not change much until after both the Castros are dead. If Venezuela is any indication, socialist regimes in Latin America built around personality cults start to struggle once the personality of that cult dies. Castro's likely successor, Miguel Diaz-Canel, looks to be another Nicolas Maduro--someone chosen for their loyalty to the socialist cause rather than by their merit or charisma. Now that Cuba can no longer look to the USA as an excuse for all their miseries, there will be more pressure on Diaz-Canel to reform the country. Best case scenario, the embargo comes down, both Castros die before 2020, Diaz-Canel shows himself to be a cautious reformer, and by 2030 Cuba is a democratic country with a burgeoning economy heavy with foreign investment and entrepreneurship.

Worst case scenario, the embargo doesn't come down, Marco Rubio becomes president, Raul somehow lives to be 95, and nothing changes for the foreseeable future.

Originally posted by Omega Vision
Worst case scenario, the embargo doesn't come down, Marco Rubio becomes president, Raul somehow lives to be 95, and nothing changes for the foreseeable future. http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m0hryrATkN1r7bma7o1_400.gif

And Obama lets another terrorist win.

It's like he just doesn't give a shit about this country at all.

Just wrote a poem commemorating the moment. "Elegy to the Embargo"

Maybe we can get Cuban cigars imported now.

Originally posted by Time Immemorial
Maybe we can get Cuban cigars imported now.


I don't smoke nor do I care to ever smoke (it's gross and almost all of it stanks), but I support this.

What's so great about Cuban cigars? lol

Originally posted by |King Joker|
What's so great about Cuban cigars? lol


Absolutely nothing.

What's great, for me, is the fact that someone can choose to smoke them if they wish. It's a metaphor for 2 things:


1. The ability to make personal choices about what you want to consume.
2. The relaxation of embargo rules and the improvement of Cuban-American relations.

Well, I totally agree with that. But apparently they are like ZOMG!!! better than a regular cigar or something, IDK.

Originally posted by Time Immemorial
Maybe we can get Cuban cigars imported now.
As I mention in my poem (shameless plug), Cuban cigars have always been available as Nicaraguan cigars. The tobacco gets sold to Nicaragua, rolled there, and then sold in America. Same quality, just legal.

Originally posted by Tzeentch
And Obama lets another terrorist win.

It's like he just doesn't give a shit about this country at all.


The word 'terrorist' really has no meaning for you other than 'someone I don't like,' does it?


Cuba has done jack-squat to America in my lifetime, or the lifetime of most Cubans.



Also, wouldn't 'winning' be 'make them not-hostile to the US so they don't even have a reason to go against us'? That sounds like the US winning to me.

It sounds to me like you'd rather have both sides lose than have the US win where it's also good for the other side.

wrong post

Originally posted by Q99
The word 'terrorist' really has no meaning for you other than 'someone I don't like,' does it?


Cuba has done jack-squat to America in my lifetime, or the lifetime of most Cubans.



Also, wouldn't 'winning' be 'make them not-hostile to the US so they don't even have a reason to go against us'? That sounds like the US winning to me.

It sounds to me like you'd rather have both sides lose than have the US win where it's also good for the other side. It sounds to me like you just want Cuba's communistic influences in America.

Originally posted by Tzeentch
It sounds to me like you just want Cuba's communistic influences in America.


One, we're so vastly huger than them. Two, they've been shifting away from communism. Three, you really are a little bundle of paranoia aren't you?


Cuba can't threaten us, they'd be even less threat and more asset if we traded with them, and the 'once someone is an enemy we must treat them as an enemy forever,' thing is short-sighted and serves no practical purpose for us.

Wow, so basically you just don't even care about our history or America. Why the hate? I bet you're from Canada or some other middle eastern shithole we've bombed recently LOL

Originally posted by Omega Vision
I think it's definitely a start. Cuba will probably not change much until after both the Castros are dead. If Venezuela is any indication, socialist regimes in Latin America built around personality cults start to struggle once the personality of that cult dies.

Cuba and Venezuela are very different beasts, Chavez had a virulent internal opposition and was never able to counter the violence and corruption in his country. Compared to Venezuela even Cuba isn't that corrupt.

Originally posted by Tzeentch
Wow, so basically you just don't even care about our history or America. Why the hate? I bet you're from Canada or some other middle eastern shithole we've bombed recently LOL

Top lels

Originally posted by Q99

Eh, you haven't met Tzeentch before I take it?

Because jokes and stuff.

Originally posted by StyleTime
Eh, you haven't met Tzeentch before I take it?

Because jokes and stuff.


Poe's Law, it's almost impossible to tell who's serious and who's not without a direct indication in this kind of thing, especially when, well, a ton of people really arguing the exact same thing!

I've not only seen worse by people who mean it, I do so on a regular basis, so if it's meant to be satire, it fails

Morgan's maxim.

And you also run into the type who says they're 'only joking' but too consistently argues the same thing for it to be believable.

Q, it's okay.

I forgive you.

Originally posted by Q99
Poe's Law, it's almost impossible to tell who's serious and who's not without a direct indication in this kind of thing, especially when, well, a ton of people really arguing the exact same thing!

I've not only seen worse by people who mean it, I do so on a regular basis, so if it's meant to be satire, it fails
That is why I alerted you to it. Happens to the best of us. ('Cept me obviously)

Well, it was a funny joke that turned into a successful troll.

Blax isn't trolling. He really believes that. It's his ability to maintain the facade that he is trolling that is the real trolling.

Who's Blax? Oh wai--

Trollception.

I've been trolling for so long that even I can't remember what my actual beliefs are.

Originally posted by Tzeentch
Trollception.

I've been trolling for so long that even I can't remember what my actual beliefs are.

Debating about Star Wars for far too long will do that to a man.

Originally posted by StyleTime
That is why I alerted you to it. Happens to the best of us. ('Cept me obviously)

Well, it was a funny joke that turned into a successful troll.


*Shrugs* Even if it was intended as a joke, people around here seem pretty uninformed on a lot of political matters, might as well set things straight.

Q, it's alright.

C'mere.

We all watch Fox News. You understand

Originally posted by Tzeentch
Q, it's alright.

C'mere.


Also, similar to how 'if you leave off emoticons or other signs of tone, your tone doesn't come across,' ignoring such signs other people do make it seem like you're trying to stretch the joke after it falls flat


Polish your humor a bit, simply saying common-dumb stuff isn't sufficient to make a joke, even if your intent is there you need an actual delivery mechanism to get a laugh.

You're being too hard on yourself.

Originally posted by Q99
Also, similar to how 'if you leave off emoticons or other signs of tone, your tone doesn't come across,' ignoring such signs other people do make it seem like you're trying to stretch the joke after it falls flat


Polish your humor a bit, simply saying common-dumb stuff isn't sufficient to make a joke, even if your intent is there you need an actual delivery mechanism to get a laugh.
Using emoticons is often a crutch. People who consistently develop a "voice" can pull off sarcasm without them. Examples being Blax and Mindset. In your case you haven't been around him long enough to realize his tone and his voice, but it's no fault of his, because anyone who reads Blax's posts long enough wises up.

Originally posted by Q99
Also, similar to how 'if you leave off emoticons or other signs of tone, your tone doesn't come across,' ignoring such signs other people do make it seem like you're trying to stretch the joke after it falls flat


Polish your humor a bit, simply saying common-dumb stuff isn't sufficient to make a joke, even if your intent is there you need an actual delivery mechanism to get a laugh.
Q, it's ok. It happens. We aren't going to kick you out the clubhouse.

Mindset is always serious

Originally posted by StyleTime
Q, it's ok. It happens. We aren't going to kick you out the clubhouse. I am.

Yeah well Neme also founded the No Homers club.

Which one is Neme kicking her out of?