Re: Less on Gore (was Re: Wonderful article)

[Jonathan Jefferies]

Boy, am I glad I pulled back from entering the fray about Gore vs Bush!!!

But I still believe that normalizing US Cuban relationships particularly
economic relationship is desirable and even inevitable. But hinges on
two catches, Castro's demise with the probable internal realignment of
cuban politics - similar to eastern europe, and/or a change in american
right wing politics. The first is probably inevitable but I'm not at all
so sanguine about the latter.

But to bring us back to fencing, would such a change result in a flood
of cuban fencers and fencing instructors into the US similar to what
we have recently seen from Russia and eastern europe? Wasn't there
something similar with an influx of cuban baseball players?
Or am I just remembering some TV program or the other?
Going back to the original article - is there really a large
pool of fencing and coaching talent just lying there in cuba?
Any knowledgeable comments?

J.


JDzik wrote:
> I wrote:
>
>
> Paolo's and Jonathan's comments reflected skepticism on the question of whether
> the results of the election reflected the intent of the voters. IMHO, the NORC
> study pretty convincingly demonstrated that such skepticism is entirely
> appropriate. The election was a travesty. To hold it up as an example of a
> healthy democracy in action, and to hold up the selection of George Bush as an
> example of good democratic method, is absurd. *
>
> * One exception. The election did show a healthy adherance to the rule of law.
> But rule of law and good democracy are not the same thing, though admittedly
> related.
>
> Joe
>
>
>
>

[JDzik]

Jonathan Jefferies writes:

>But hinges on
>two catches, Castro's demise with the probable internal realignment of
>cuban politics - similar to eastern europe, and/or a change in american
>right wing politics.

I don't think this is a right-wing/left-wing thing in the US. I'd put it down
to the fact that a highly vocal minority cares a great deal about this issue
and are highly opposed to Castro, and no one else really has strong feelings
either way. And so both sides end up caving to that special interest.

What I think you would need is for the Cubans in Florida to stop caring so much
about Castro, or for another interest group to rise up who have a strong
interest in normalizing relations.

Hmm... maybe we fencers are that group! Support the import of Cuban fencing
coaches! Bring in Cuban directors to solve all our director needs! Here's our
chance to have a national impact!

Joe

[Wolf]

> >But to bring us back to fencing, would such a change result in a flood
> >of cuban fencers and fencing instructors into the US similar to what
> >we have recently seen from Russia and eastern europe? Wasn't there
> >something similar with an influx of cuban baseball players?
> >Or am I just remembering some TV program or the other?
> >Going back to the original article - is there really a large
> >pool of fencing and coaching talent just lying there in cuba?
> >Any knowledgeable comments?
>
> I don't know about that, but the article makes it clear that there's a
> large and untapped market for American fencing *products* a mere
> ninety miles off the Florida coast.

Considering they can't afford to buy equipment from anyone, as it stands
now, I don't see how that market is particularly large. The demand is there,
yes, but not the currency.

-Bill

[Bryan J. Maloney]

"Wolf" <wolf@parrett.net> nattered on
thusnews:vv9ac767si2aab@corp.supernews.com:

> Considering they can't afford to buy equipment from anyone, as it
> stands now, I don't see how that market is particularly large. The
> demand is there, yes, but not the currency.

They could sell their factory second cigars at premium prices in the US,
just on the cachet of "Cuban cigar". Likewise, they could seriously
undercut US sugar company prices with Cuban cane sugar. I've heard their
coffee is nothing to sneeze at, too.