Posted on 03/06/2008 7:09:54 AM PST by FreeManWhoCan
HAVANA — A growing underground network of young people armed with computer memory sticks, digital cameras and clandestine Internet hookups has been mounting some challenges to the Cuban government in recent months, spreading news that the official state media try to suppress.
Last month, students at a prestigious computer science university videotaped an ugly confrontation they had with Ricardo Alarcón, the president of the National Assembly.
Mr. Alarcón seemed flummoxed when students grilled him on why they could not travel abroad, stay at hotels, earn better wages or use search engines like Google. The video spread like wildfire through Havana, passed from person to person, and seriously damaged Mr. Alarcón’s reputation in some circles.
Something similar happened in late January when officials tried to impose a tax on the tips and wages of employees of foreign companies. Workers erupted in jeers and shouts when told about the new tax, a moment caught on a cellphone camera and passed along by memory sticks.
“It passes from flash drive to flash drive,” said Ariel, 33, a computer programmer, who, like almost everyone else interviewed for this article, asked that his last name not be used for fear of political persecution. “This is going to get out of the government’s hands because the technology is moving so rapidly.”
Cuban officials have long limited the public’s access to the Internet and digital videos, tearing down unauthorized satellite dishes and keeping down the number of Internet cafes open to Cubans. Only one Internet cafe remains open in Old Havana, down from three a few years ago...
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
Freedom will not be suppressed forever there.
BTTT
And the liberals in this country hold up Castro as a hero and the Cuban system up as a model for us to follow...
Reminds me of when a couple of pilots defected here from the USSR. They toured around the US and thought it was some conspiracy to show only the best of the country. They thought that life in the US was too good to be true. Eventually they determined that they had been lied to by the USSR their whole lives.
Viva Cuba Libre!
I recall not to long ago in the UN that some governments were advocating regulating and restricting the internet. Wasn’t Hillary advocating the same not too long ago? GOD BLESS THE USA!
Something similar happened here in my area in the 1990s. We had a delegation of visiting Russians, I can’t recall the venue, but likely ag/veterinary. Our local vet is a gun enthusiast who invited them to go shooting. They were astonished that private citizens could own/use guns. They volunteered that all the stores, etc they had seen had to be Potemkin village constructions, so he gave them a map and told them to pick any place at all or several places within 100 miles to inspect. Bear in mind this is a very rural area. The trip(s) took place and they had to admit that Americans really did live wonderfully.
” recall not to long ago in the UN that some governments were advocating regulating and restricting the internet.”
That’s what John McCain wants, but thank God for the courts that part of McCain/Feingold overturned.
That’s the number one reason I will never vote for John McCain, he wants government to censor groups that criticize politicians. If he wins I’m sure he’ll try again to censor Free Republic and other internet forums.
Ed
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