like this, I feel certain.

Would love to see a better relationship and an easing of travel restrictions. OTOH, I hate to think of a Cuba full of McDonalds and Prius's.

it would probably be a more democratic nation by now.

My only regret is not seeing it before everything changes. Perhaps I will try to go next year.

the open travel, would love to go.

The food, the music, the culture, the old cars, the people.

So near, yet so far.

They also say that Cubans as a whole are adamantly opposed to American-style commercialization.

It would be nice if we learned something from their healthcare system. Their doctors are among the best-trained in the world.

not terribly optimistic.

The health care system is indeed outstanding. The training is excellent and there is a strong emphasis on prevention, as well as research. It's amazing what they have been able to accomplish despite the economic sanctions.

The cruise line stocks are doing great today.

http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/1500200.htm

Venezuela money problems has a lot to do with it. Look for talk about US financial aid to come up very soon by a White House staffer.

http://touch.latimes.com/#section/-1/article/p2p-81331668/

Cuba, which prides itself on a comprehensive healthcare system and has long exported doctors and nurses to friendly countries, maintains an estimated 10,000 healthcare providers in Venezuela. The medical outreach program is intended as partial payment for 100,000 barrels of oil that President Nicolas Maduro's government ships to the Castro administration each day.<snip>

The doctors and other health care workers are leaving Venezuela and President Maduro can't give away all that oil.

I'm not sure how a US/Cuba agreement would directly impact this triangle, though.

I don't know that this move is calculated to have that effect, but if the embargo falls, Cuba suddenly has a massive new trading partner, further isolating Venezuela.

Wowsers!

http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/1500200.htm

ridiculous relic of the Cold War. America trades with other Communist countries--why not Cuba?

Now, about that reproductive freedom thingie... And while we are at it, how about the official Vatican caster out of demons, Father Amorth.

Let's talk about those items. For a start...

R&K

Some bad, some good. Let's praise him when it's good and criticize when it's bad.

But they're still homophobic misogynists.

wing catholics in the US that otherwise love that we shit all over Cuba on a regular basis.

We'll see how it goes from here out, but agree with the props given the Pope for whatever facilitation he had in the deal.