Cuba And DR, More Alike Than Different!

[FuegoAzul21]

Are you kidding me? Did you make this theory up or is that what your cuban friends told you? The reason why i'm asking is because if it was a Cuban who told you this, I'd like to know what that cuban was smoking to tell you something like that.

First of all I'd like to start off by saying that I'm Cuban and grew up 1-town away from you. Second of all I'd also like to say that I still have family over there RIGHT NOW. Thirdly, I'd like to say that I have met several people who have recently gotten to the US from Cuba.

I'd like to state that what you've said on this board has to be one of the most ridicoulous things I've ever read in my life. I cant even begin to point out the flaws in the statements that you've said, I'd be stuck writing paragraphs for DAYS.

I'd DARE you to talk to any Cuban in jersey (black, white, whatever), tell them that communism is good for thier country and see what reaction you get, but, I dont want to be held accountable for medical/funeral bills.

like i said in my origainal post and in my post to carlos, its is better for the cubans of color , most come for economic purposes , from many cubans that i met , they acknowlegde the benefits from it (cubans that have come in the past 15 years),communism that is , but the situation(economic) is very grave (due to santions),hence they come here , the older generation of cuban exiles (much of the hudson county cuban pop) came for economic reasons too , but mostly political (thats why the anti castro sentiment is soo strong) , the ones most opposed to communsim are the rich (many hudson county cubans were proffessionals in Cuba) , most my other points i said to jcarlo ,and as for the reaction , i ve debated this with many cubans (cubans are educated and civilized) and as for medical bills , being raised here i learned how to hold my own , so i dont really worry about that

 

[NALs]

Unification between Cuba and DR?
Please wake up and realize that this is only a dream.

These countries love their flags too much to give one up.

I think you confused unification with conquering.

Neither of the flags will succumb to one or the other, instead they will "merge" as to represent the merging of the two countries to create a totally new one. Thus, the word unification is used.

And yes, its only a dream.

But, with some effort, dreams can come true. After all, if more research goes into this possibility and if begins to get alot of press coverage, the chances that people might embrace this grows. And I think that if people see the benefits and value the benefits, most will support such idea.

In addition, the fact that its a merge of Dominican and Cubans or Cubans and Dominicans makes this more "acceptable" on both sides.

The contrary would be true if it was Cuba taking over the DR or vice-versa.

But, I have not omitted or try to hide the fact that this is only a dream.

But, like I said, if men don't dream dreams, then progress would never come.

 

[NALs]

Your view is still too idealistic to be realistic. A certain level of economic stability is required before countries can merge.

You present a semi-decent response for proposing unification by stating that "globalization and marginalization" are key drivers for a merger of the Spanish Caribbean and I am assuming that you believe that the combined economies of the three countries would be stronger than the current economic state of each. However, as I mentioned in my first post I think a merger between Cuba and the DR would be a hard sell for both countries just from a cultural stand point alone without even deeply examining dollars and cents (sense). If you are going to propose some kind of unification to make the region stronger you should compare an existing regional economic merger like Mercorsur, a free trading zone among four South American countries; Brasil, Paraguay, Uruguay and Argentina and current failures and successes. As well, use the current European Union as an example. It took over fifty years to achieve this union among twenty-five nations currently. The general goal is to achieve political, economic and social unity and co-operation. Each country is still a nation, Europe is not going to become a single entity but continuously a stronger trading zone etc. overtime.

I agree with Mr_DR there is too much to give up from a cultural stand point. I personally would not want to see it. I think more economic unity and may be a free trading zone across Latin America (for argument's sake) would be a more of a logical proposal. Anyway just talking about Cuba alone you are one step ahead, I think dismantling the current regime and freeing the Cuban people should be law and order rather than unifying Cuba and the DR.

Regards,

-Lesley D

That's actually what I was thinking, an economic unification first.

History has shown that when countries unite economically, eventually they unite politically and culturally and before you know, a entire now country has emerged.

Germany developed in such fashion. What today is Germany for many years was nothing more than hundreds of small kingdoms, each spoke a different version of what today we call German. They all united under "free trade" deals, though they did not call it that. But, as time went on, all those kingdoms became more united to the point that they became Prussia, etc.

I can very easily imagine a new continental European country forming out of the economic unions that have swept through that continent and elsewhere in this planet.

However, I must say that what I am proposing here is neither a "final plan" or something that can be implied full force tomorrow, so to speak. What I am proposing here is something that could be applied step by step, little by little. This is a long term unification deal, not something expected over night, because when people rush through these complicated matters, disaster is not far behind.

I'm just satisfied that people are seeing this as "unrealistic for now" but still "possible". That is really my motive, I just wanted to see what the DR1 community think of the remote possibility of this occuring.

Thank you all who have posted and continue posting.

Just, (this is for everybody) keep it connect with the unification topic that I started with. Thank you in advance.

 

[NALs]

I used the term "Gusanos" to not say "cubans in the usa"(not tryin to insult them ,) and from what i remember thats what fidel would always call the cubans in Miami , you also have to remember that if blacks and others are poor now, imagine under capitalism (it may help others ), communism convienes to them ,where their children and other Cuban children can get Free education,Free health care , and other things for free,things they would not recieve under capitalism (u think blacks in Colombia or ecuador get any education or healthcare)Cubans are poor due to the incredible sanctions put against them by the usa and european union , and when castro leaves things will change regarding human rights and others, maybe the santcions will be lifted and they can prosper, but change of government ,i doubt, as for cubans in the usa that go to cuba and are treated like royalty becuase they have money , also many cubans do not leave becuase of the government , they leave becuase of economic reasons (like most other hispanics)

Actually, Cuba will change back to democracy and capitalism once Castro kicks the bucket (dies).

The only thing currently keeping the US away from invading and creating another temporary Iraq 90 miles south of Key West is a pact or treaty or agreement that the US did to Castro. Basically, it said that the US would never invade Cuba while Castro still rules or is alive. As such, once Castro dies, that island will fall into capitalism and democracy.

The only thing is that the people in Cuba are frustrated with the inconvenience in existence there due to Communism, but they are also well aware of the neocolonialism that is prevailant in most countries of the world, including the DR.

As such, I don't really know what the situation will become Cuba once the average Cuban joe see's American enterprise dumping their products and services upon the island and the chaos that will rise from those American and other foreign companies and the rich Cubans in Miami who still insist on holdings deeds to their properties whom they lost in the revolution.

In Cuba, much of those properties are now in the hands of the state and the state is "sharing" many of those properties with the masses by housing the poor, etc. Though much of the infraestructure (more so in Havana then elsewhere) is in disrepair.

Cuba is going to see some heated timeperiod once Castro dies, unfortunately that is a very real possibility.

Then again, these things are almost expect. Few, if any, country in the world that have turned democratic have done so without the spilling blood.

All democracies of the world survive constantly through weapons and blood spills. Thus, democracies cry for more democracy in the world and democracies go about imposing their system with military might and the safety of a machine gun.

I have never seen a monarchy wanting more monarchies around the world or a dictatorship wanting more dictatorships around world, but Democracy is a different story.

In addition to that, most of the democracies of the world have been imposed by force by foreigners on any given group of people. Thus, its not surprising that democracy is failing in many countries to the point that most Latin Americans according to a recent poll would support a non-democratic government if they would increase their standards of living.

 

[Spirit7]

Not quite so alike

Cuba is a lot 'whiter' than the DR. The Cubans never got racially mixed to the extent that the Dominicans did and historically they were a Spanish domain until 1898 while the DR was established in 1844, 54 years earlier.

One BIG difference, Cuba does not have an African country sharing their island as does the DR.

The true mulatto countries are Brasil, the DR and Panama. If Puerto Rico were an independent country you could count them too. After that, every other country in the planet has one dominant race and is not really and truly mulatto.

 

[NALs]

Cuba is a lot 'whiter' than the DR. The Cubans never got racially mixed to the extent that the Dominicans did and historically they were a Spanish domain until 1898 while the DR was established in 1844, 54 years earlier.

One BIG difference, Cuba does not have an African country sharing their island as does the DR.

The true mulatto countries are Brasil, the DR and Panama. If Puerto Rico were an independent country you could count them too. After that, every other country in the planet has one dominant race and is not really and truly mulatto.

Cuba has become more mixed in the last 40 or so years. In fact, the rate of mixing has increased so dramatically that its impressive for such a short time period.

The US should be more mixed, especially after the equality movements of the 1960s and yet, the US is still segregated (though more at the will of the people, contrary to the past which was at the will of the state).

If the past 40 years says anything, we can all rest assure that it won't be long before Cuba becomes ever more mulatto, to the levels of the DR.

Besides, the dominant race in Cuba are mulattos, blacks and whites make up less than mulattos does. Cuba is mulatto in every sense of the word and that become ever more evident once people visit Cuba and see's it for him/her self.

About bordering an African country like Haiti, sure, the DR is tide up along the border with Haiti. However, Cuba has alot of Haitians. They are not as obvious as in the DR, because Haitians don't influence Cuban culture like they do Dominican culture and/or its people. But, you will find small Haitian communities in most major urban centers in Cuba, more so than expected. They may not be on the same landmass Haiti is, but they sure do got quite a Haitian community. Though again, not to the extent the DR does, but more than expected.

 

[xamaicano]

When did Haiti become part of Africa?

 

[NALs]

When did Haiti become part of Africa?

Its the most "Africanized" country in the Hemisphere and possibly, outside of Africa, thus people tend to consider Haiti to be a version of Africa outside Africa. They probably equated with the French influenced African countries more so than any other country in that continent.

 

[juancarlos]

I used the term "Gusanos" to not say "cubans in the usa"(not tryin to insult them ,) and from what i remember thats what fidel would always call the cubans in Miami , you also have to remember that if blacks and others are poor now, imagine under capitalism (it may help others ), communism convienes to them ,where their children and other Cuban children can get Free education,Free health care , and other things for free,things they would not recieve under capitalism (u think blacks in Colombia or ecuador get any education or healthcare)Cubans are poor due to the incredible sanctions put against them by the usa and european union , and when castro leaves things will change regarding human rights and others, maybe the santcions will be lifted and they can prosper, but change of government ,i doubt, as for cubans in the usa that go to cuba and are treated like royalty becuase they have money , also many cubans do not leave becuase of the government , they leave becuase of economic reasons (like most other hispanics)

This should not be a discussion on Cuba, it is a DR forum. However, I will tell you that in 1959 and according to UN statistics, Cuba had the lowest infant mortality rate in Latin America, one of the best health indicators and one of the highest literacy rates. Only Argentina and Uruguay surpassed Cuba and Cuba was followed by Chile and Costa Rica. These five countries were always on the forefront in Latin America. However, Cuba had a lot of political corruption, Batista and his coup d'etat, and then came Castro as an alternative. Castro, supported by the middle and upper classes, not by the masses at the time,(life is full of ironies) and he won. The rest is history. What I do want to stress is that the biggest economic sanctions on Cubans come from Castro's own laws which are extremely oppresive, the fact that everything is priced in dollars but workers are paid in pesos also ads to their misery. In Cuba almost everything is a crime. People have to become "criminals" to survive. Worse yet, what today is legal, tomorrow will be outlawed.

Castro trades with all countries, including the US. US food sales to Cuba have established a record in the last two years. Credit is what is not granted Castro by the US. As far as free health care, there are doctors but no medicines, terrible situation in many hospitals, Cubans have to send their relatives medication. In Cuba you can not separate "economic reasons" from politics. In Cuba one is the result of the other.

Free medical care is not new to Cuba. Besides many other countries have it and they are not communist. Also, go to Cuba and inform yourself and see how the people feel.

There is no "communism" in Cuba, let alone socialism, there is only fidelismo and caudillo style dictatorship combined with very effective repression. The rethoric is just the ideological justification, the mask, el disfraz de la mona para no verse tan fea.

Just because FC calls people gusanos does not mean you have to do it too. Also that term was equally applied to both Cubans at home who opposed him and the exile community. Now he does not call them gusanos, but the Cuban community abroad. He's been using that term for about twenty something years now.

When those Cubans you call gusanos travel to Cuba, they have more rights and priveleges than those who never left. They get to stay, if they so desire, where there relatives can't. They can rent a car, but not their relatives even if they have the money and the list goes on and on.

Do not hesitate and do go to Cuba as soon as possible. You have an idealized version of Cuba, you think Castro is great and that whatever Cubans say are lies. Go there and, if Fidel allows you to, which I doubt, stay a couple of months.

 

[Spirit7]

way back when!

When did Haiti become part of Africa?

Almost 500 years ago, when the Spaniards killed off the natives in a short span of time and then discovered they did not want to do the hard work
and started bringing slaves, all these countries became Africanized.

Jamaica, for example, got lucky and was settled by the British, as most of the other smaller Caribbean islands and did not have the misfortune of Haiti, being taken by the Spanish and the French on various occasions. Perhaps you have not noticed that Haiti could be picked up and put right in the middle of the deep African continent and it would be no different than the other countries. Unfortunately, for whatever reason, no African country has had a history of stable, honest, organized governments and societies; just as Haiti.

To me, Haiti is a totally African country and we have had the misfortune of having to share the island of Hispaniola with people of different customs, religion and language; the only one of its kind in the planet. To top it all off Haitians are even a lot worse off than us who have to deal with our own damned mix of Iberian/African/native heritage and all the negatives that represents. The Dominican Republic has a huge problem of illegal migration
and we are unable to handle it.

Do you think it is by pure luck that the USA and Canada have had no problems in having organized, settled societies and everything south settled by the Iberians and Africans with the natives mixed in have had a long history of war, corruption, unsettlement in most facets of their cultures and societies?

 

[FuegoAzul21]

Anybody familar with my posts over the years on DR1 must know how much of a chuckle this thread is giving me.

I'll tell you one difference between Cubans and Dominicans:

Dominicans like to say how Cubans and them are so much alike. Cubans don't!


As for FuegoAzul's post lets just say he listens to michael moore too much.

Tony C.

The post was pretty crazy .i know,but if ur trying to insinuate that im communist, ur wrong, however i do like micheal moore

 

[Rocvill214]

lol

If I were a Dominican,I would pray that "Fidel" never dies! It will mean the death of the DR's tourist industry within 5 years of his death!!
cccccccccc

Dominican tourism has mainly been european based also has cuba. It makes no difference if fidel lives 20 years more or dies tomorrow, tourism in the DR will not only survive but prosper.

As for your DR is a garbage heap and cuba is neat remark, tu lo que eres es un aburrido comunista que sabes que tu idiologia se esta evaporando en el mundo entero.

 

[Mr_DR]

That's actually what I was thinking, an economic unification first.

History has shown that when countries unite economically, eventually they unite politically and culturally and before you know, a entire now country has emerged.

Germany developed in such fashion. What today is Germany for many years was nothing more than hundreds of small kingdoms, each spoke a different version of what today we call German. They all united under "free trade" deals, though they did not call it that. But, as time went on, all those kingdoms became more united to the point that they became Prussia, etc.

I can very easily imagine a new continental European country forming out of the economic unions that have swept through that continent and elsewhere in this planet.

However, I must say that what I am proposing here is neither a "final plan" or something that can be implied full force tomorrow, so to speak. What I am proposing here is something that could be applied step by step, little by little. This is a long term unification deal, not something expected over night, because when people rush through these complicated matters, disaster is not far behind.

I'm just satisfied that people are seeing this as "unrealistic for now" but still "possible". That is really my motive, I just wanted to see what the DR1 community think of the remote possibility of this occuring.

Thank you all who have posted and continue posting.

Just, (this is for everybody) keep it connect with the unification topic that I started with. Thank you in advance.

Nal0whs where in the Dominican Republic do you live?
just tell me so that i never go around that area because according to what you are showing me it must be very boring down there to give you time to think about this kind of nonsense.

Save your brain cells and try thinking of ideas that could solve dominicans electricity, trash, traffic, economy, health care, crimes/corruption and education problems. Stop dreaming about flying white horses and wake up or
please share with me the stuff that you are smoking because i would love to get my hands on some of that.

I am both cuban and dominican and that is what i love the most, having both cultures because whether you admit it or not, there are a lot cultural differences.

 

[FuegoAzul21]

This should not be a discussion on Cuba, it is a DR forum. However, I will tell you that in 1959 and according to UN statistics, Cuba had the lowest infant mortality rate in Latin America, one of the best health indicators and one of the highest literacy rates. Only Argentina and Uruguay surpassed Cuba and Cuba was followed by Chile and Costa Rica. These five countries were always on the forefront in Latin America. However, Cuba had a lot of political corruption, Batista and his coup d'etat, and then came Castro as an alternative. Castro, supported by the middle and upper classes, not by the masses at the time,(life is full of ironies) and he won. The rest is history. What I do want to stress is that the biggest economic sanctions on Cubans come from Castro's own laws which are extremely oppresive, the fact that everything is priced in dollars but workers are paid in pesos also ads to their misery. In Cuba almost everything is a crime. People have to become "criminals" to survive. Worse yet, what today is legal, tomorrow will be outlawed.

Castro trades with all countries, including the US. US food sales to Cuba have established a record in the last two years. Credit is what is not granted Castro by the US. As far as free health care, there are doctors but no medicines, terrible situation in many hospitals, Cubans have to send their relatives medication. In Cuba you can not separate "economic reasons" from politics. In Cuba one is the result of the other.

Free medical care is not new to Cuba. Besides many other countries have it and they are not communist. Also, go to Cuba and inform yourself and see how the people feel.

There is no "communism" in Cuba, let alone socialism, there is only fidelismo and caudillo style dictatorship combined with very effective repression. The rethoric is just the ideological justification, the mask, el disfraz de la mona para no verse tan fea.

Just because FC calls people gusanos does not mean you have to do it too. Also that term was equally applied to both Cubans at home who opposed him and the exile community. Now he does not call them gusanos, but the Cuban community abroad. He's been using that term for about twenty something years now.

When those Cubans you call gusanos travel to Cuba, they have more rights and priveleges than those who never left. They get to stay, if they so desire, where there relatives can't. They can rent a car, but not their relatives even if they have the money and the list goes on and on.

Do not hesitate and do go to Cuba as soon as possible. You have an idealized version of Cuba, you think Castro is great and that whatever Cubans say are lies. Go there and, if Fidel allows you to, which I doubt, stay a couple of months.

My intention was not to glorify Fidel Castro,Communism,or Socialism ,neither to defame,insult,disrespect,or misjudge the Cuban American community ,if that is how my post came through, im deeply sorry, i tend write post a present emotion(bad habit) ,however , anybody can insult me,rip me apart,threaten me, or whatever ,but no one has yet to tell me how capitalism will help the Blacks and mullatos of Cuba , specifically , ,let me ask u this ,were the blacks better off before 1961 or after ? and i am making these statements in comparison to how blacks live and are treated in other latin american countries ,and if the Cuban blacks are in a bad situation now ,will they be better off without free education ,free healthcare,employment,? questions i still havent gotten answers to after the being practically attacked on this forum,and that is as far as i will take the discussion

 

[NALs]

Nal0whs where in the Dominican Republic do you live?
just tell me so that i never go around that area because according to what you are showing me it must be very boring down there to give you time to think about this kind of nonsense.

Save your brain cells and try thinking of ideas that could solve dominicans electricity, trash, traffic, economy, health care, crimes/corruption and education problems. Stop dreaming about flying white horses and wake up or
please share with me the stuff that you are smoking because i would love to get my hands on some of that.

I am both cuban and dominican and that is what i love the most, having both cultures because whether you admit it or not, there are a lot cultural differences.

Well, lets see.

A united DR/Cuba would mean, more "national" land to grow more food, thus food becomes cheaper nationally (nationally meaning Cuba and DR together).

More natural resources means more opportunity to have better access to hard currency. Hmm, maybe I am thinking about the overall well being of the peoples of both islands.

The huge educated work force of Cuba and the work force of DR would do wonders together. There would be an ample supply of brain power whose success would no doubt influence the average Dominican to educate themselves better on their own. Hmm, maybe I am thinking of a way to shift the national obsession with our kids dreaming to become baseball players into dreaming to become intellectuals.

The bigger the "national population", the bigger the potential for economic growth. The bigger the "national" economy, the better influential and important we become in this region. DR, Cuba, and PR all lie in the path of major economic trading shipping routes. The potential to become trading giants is very interesting. That generates more jobs, income, and wealth...

There are hundreds of other economic incentives for all three Spanish speaking islands to join and become a better society overall.

Obviously you did not see the economic opportunities of a union, but then again, I was not expecting people to see that since I did not made much mention about it.

But, now that I did, hopefully people would see the economic opportunities that would arise from such union.

In addition to that, we could develop a substancial airline industry, especially if the peoples of each island shuffle around each island with no restriction of movement. A national airline industry spaning Cuba, Quisqueya, and Borinquen would be large enough to "spill over" into the rest of the Caribbean, thus becoming the premier hub of airline activity in the entire Caribbean area.

The potential when it comes to the financial sector are truly great! The banking sector could expand and engulf all three islands, thus making the largest banking sector in the Caribbean. The banking sector could also "spill over" to other non-Spanish speaking islands, thus bringing more potential capital into the hands of Cuban/Dominican banks.

The hotel industry and the manufacturing industry would have ample workforce to further expand and sustain light manufactoring or maybe even heavy manufacturing.

The television industry would further expand, the literary industry would expand. The same would go with the different musical styles, the art scene, the construction industry, the shipping industry, etc etc etc

There is alot of economic gain to be had with this unification.

But, like I said before. This is something that would work best in a "phased in" fashion rather than over night.

 

[Porfio_Rubirosa]

As for your DR is a garbage heap and cuba is neat remark, tu lo que eres es un aburrido comunista que sabes que tu idiologia se esta evaporando en el mundo entero.

Fijase! You've only got two posts, and already you're going after a moderator. You've got it all wrong. Criss isn't pro-Castro. He's anti-Dominican. Criss has been called many things on this board, but a communist sympathiser has never been one of them.

 

[juancarlos]

My intention was not to glorify Fidel Castro,Communism,or Socialism ,neither to defame,insult,disrespect,or misjudge the Cuban American community ,if that is how my post came through, im deeply sorry, i tend write post a present emotion(bad habit) ,however , anybody can insult me,rip me apart,threaten me, or whatever ,but no one has yet to tell me how capitalism will help the Blacks and mullatos of Cuba , specifically , ,let me ask u this ,were the blacks better off before 1961 or after ? and i am making these statements in comparison to how blacks live and are treated in other latin american countries ,and if the Cuban blacks are in a bad situation now ,will they be better off without free education ,free healthcare,employment,? questions i still havent gotten answers to after the being practically attacked on this forum,and that is as far as i will take the discussion

Well, I am glad you did not mean to insult or demean the Cuban community. That's the impression I got because no group of people likes to be called "worms". I believe you have given a sincere explanation.
Now to some of your questions: You have assumed that after Castro's dictatorship and a change of system, Cubans will not have free education or that blacks and mulatoes in particular, will be disenfranchised or denied services! There are countries in Latin America which provide their citizens very good health care. Costa Rica is one of them and everyone benefits regardless of color. Blacks in Costa Rica have a much higher standard of living than blacks in Cuba today. The same applies to Panama. Uruguay and Argentina also have very good free or affordable health care systems. Besides, look at Spain, Canada etc. In 1959, Cubans did not have to purchase health insurance, all hospitals were free as well as multi services neighborhood casas de socorro. In addition,many Cubans enrolled in low cost membership private clinics. Cuba followed the European model of health care rather than the American model. After Castro came to power, he expanded the public health system and improved its availability in remote zones, where attention had been more deficient. As far as blacks and mulatoes were concerned, you must know they were Batista's traditional support base, along with the army and organized labor. Such was the case that in January, 1959, Bohemia, Cuba's leading magazine published a large testimonial article in which blacks interviewed reasured Cuba's non-white sector that Fidel was no racist! This was done because at first there was a lot of aprehension among blacks regarding Castro's intentions towards them. He knew he had to win them over and, after securing power, he took a number of measures such as prohibiting the segregated black and white social clubs, denouncing racism and offering scholarship to many poor Cubans to go on to higher education. Many blacks also benefited from these. Today, the situation is radically different. Blacks are worse off than at any other time since Castro took over, are suffering from social and employment discrimination, do have a lot of unemployment and underemployment and are harrased by authorities on the assumption that they may be criminals. Because they do not have access to the dollar economy, crime is higher among blacks and they are sent to prison in very disproportionate numbers.

In addition, there was no racial discrimination in Cuba's educational system before Castro. Batista also did a lot to spread schools and education to all. He was mulato by the way and from a very poor family himself. Other govts. also contributed in a progressive and positive manner to Cuban education. Such was the case of Grau's and Prio's administrations. Celia Cruz came from a poor black family and before becoming a singer, attended Havana University and graduated as a teacher. Her own words and she was not the only one.

If anything, after Castro, Cuba will have a lot of potential and Cubans demand and expect good medical care and they will have it. As for blacks, it can't get worse than now, and that applies to all Cubans, regardless of race.

 

[DRsScarface]

Haiti, Cuba and DR

Spirit7,
Eventhought Cuba is not connected to Haiti by a land border they are very close. Haitians have been taking "yolas" to Cuba for decades and have influenced Cuban culture, maybe even more than in the DR. Santer?a and other vodoo/african religions have been brought to Cuba by the Haitians and many people in Cuba (even white and mulatto Cubans) have accepted and embraced it something that DOES NOT happen in the DR. The Dominican government and many Dominican people are against vodoo and african religions (mostly because they don't like Haiti.) If you go to Cuba you will see that many people disguised the african saints by making them look like Catholic saints (eventhough they were really praying to the african one.) I have friends that have gone to Cuba and witnessed those santer?a ceremonies and have pictures of them and pictures of the people in the ceremonies dressed in african type clothing.

 

[DRsScarface]

P.s.

Nations don't have to be connected by a land border for migration to take place from one country to another. You see the large number of Cubans in the U.S. and the U.S. is not connected to Cuba by land but it is a short distance by water just like Haiti is to Cuba.

 

[Tony C]

Santer?a and other vodoo/african religions have been brought to Cuba by the Haitians .

Santeria is a Cuban Religion. . Haitians have nothing to do with its spread.