| Author | Message | ||
     Electraglider_1997 |
I once had a good friend that had escaped Castro and Cuba with his family. Lost touch years ago when he moved back to New Jersey to be near his family. I tried to teach him to ride but he kept dumping my 80' CB900 and I got tired of watching my old bike getting destroyed bit by bit. Jerry was a great person though and very intelligent. http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/217722,har ley-davidson-motorbikes-turn-revolutionary-in-cuba .html | ||
| Cccpull |
Plenty of Cuban biker/riders down here in South Florida. They give new meaning to the term "Cafe Racer", since a lot of riding is between Cuban coffee (sugar enhanced expresso) stops.  | ||
| Treadmarks |
Cuban Coffee...   No thanks....I'm trying to quit...  Ahh will take another beer tho!  | ||
| Mike_dinger |
MMMM.... CAFECITO!!! That's the only thing I miss from Florida. I actually had a friend mail me a case of Pilon. Now all i need is an espresso machine, or one of those little stovetop deals. | ||
| Adamd |
Great thing about being a Canuck is we get to go to Cuba. Havana is awesome and I took a few shots of cars and bikes. Didn't see many harleys, but a lot of Urals.. | ||
| Cccpull |
Not much left of the island except for some government maintained tourist spots.  | ||
| Supertoon |
Hear, hear, fantastic people in a beautiful country! Did manage to get to Camaguey on a really crappy chinese scooter,saw lots of old bikes and cars there. Man, this would be a great country to tour on a Uly! The only thing better than the coffee are the mojitos, especially when they are prepared fresh. | ||
| Thunderbox |
Actually dispite the US embargo Cuba has done very well. I loved the bikes they ride. Lots of Jawas, DKW, and other bikes from the old eastern block countries. They also have many modern vehicles from countires other than the US. So they are not totally isolated from the real world as much as many woud have us believe. God they have satilite TV just like real folks. | ||
| Cityxslicker |
Hell we took North Korea off the Axis of Evil list, lets get a lil more friendly with the big island down south. At least they have nice beaches, mojitos, classic cars and Latin women .... North Korea? not so much PS I would love to do a bendy and dirty tour of that island on the CityX | ||
| Cccpull |
Thunderbox, Don't get offended, you're actually quite wrong and your comment can only come from not knowing pre-communist Cuba. | ||
| Miamiuly |
Hell we took North Korea off the Axis of Evil list, lets get a lil more friendly with the big island down south. At least they have nice beaches, mojitos, classic cars and Latin women .... North Korea?not so much Not likely, the politicians have to come down here and pander to the Cubans and the most vocal Cubans are with the embargo and in fine communist style, they will do anything to keep the other opinion down. Of course the same Cubans are sending money to THEIR family, but still support the embargo. Stupid shit and I wish our politicians would stop pandering to them and worry about our country. And now we have Mexico following their lead and getting into steering our politics. LAMA= Latin American Motorcycle Association. Now imagine if I started the "Anglo American Motorcycle Association." I'd be called out as a racist. Sick of all the hyphenated American stuff. Like CNN's Black in America that is coming on tv soon. I know we have a ways to go, but sometimes it seems we make it worse by constantly examining and reporting on this crap. I remember in elementary school having to check the white box on our paperwork- it was the first time I even thought about what race I was. And my friend who was as white as anyone trying to figure out what box to check because his dad was cuban but my buddy didn't speak spanish or even look latin. (Message edited by miamiuly on July 10, 2008) | ||
| Cccpull |
Miamiuly, Your comparison of Cubans who support the Embargo with Communists clearly shows your ignorance on the subject. It would be impossible for you to understand their position unless you actually lived and suffered communism, including loss of family and loved ones. What is so hard to understand of people wanting to help "THEIR family". You got me there. I don't think LAMA excludes anyone from joining. Although, do you want to go to get-togethers where all the music is Merengue? I certainly don't. There's already the AMA(American Motorcycle Association), your comparison again shows your narrow view, Latins come in all flavors; black, white, Indians, oriental, not race specific as Anglo would suggest. You could have a German(Italian, Russian, Polish, etc) Motorcycle club in which people share a culture and language familiar to them and can enjoy their heritage. The main problem is the misuse of hyphens, Latin Americans are Latins from the Americas, there's North, Central and South, it's a whole group bunched together. Cuban Americans (like German Americans, or Italian Americans etc), are suppose to be Cuban born naturalized American citizens, a Cuban born here is an American of Cuban descent. The use of the phrase, "African Americans" is a whole other subject, I personally know 2 African American's, but they are both white and speak with a British accent, on the other hand, know many more Americans of African descent. I agree with you on the, check the box with your oigin mentallity. I worked for the county many years ago and never encountered as much prejudice. In their quest to not be prejudicial they actually created it by separating everyone into little boxes. PS And to think ELectroglide_1997 was just trying to share with us information on some motorcyclists from a different place.  | ||
| Treadmarks |
Now imagine if I started the "Anglo American Motorcycle Association." I'd be called out as a racist. Hey Miami, You start it, and I'll be the first to join. | ||
| Thunderbox |
Carolina Corner Carverspull. If you haven't ever been to Cuba I suggest you stop paying attention to what you hear in the American press and take it from someone who has spent some time there and I don't just mean at a resort. You would be amazed at how well Cuba is doing. Yes it is not the USA but I can tell you as a person who has been and will go every year, it is a great place and is unique thanks to the embargo. By the way I know my history about Cuba pretty well and it isn't the picture posted by most Americans. I feel sorry that the people from the land of the FREE are not permitted to travel to a place like Cuba. Sounds kind of unfree to me. Who are really the oppressed in this case. I will also tell you I found the people very friendly somewhat like the people in your country. Oh and by the way I am no offended in any way by your comments. But I can assure you what I said is true I am not wrong. You on the other hand have Cuba painted with a brush that does not exist. They are not rich materialistically but they have many things not avaiable in your country or mine for that matter. (Message edited by Thunderbox on July 10, 2008) | ||
| Cityxslicker |
All my rowdy american friends seemed to have settled down. If I want to get a bender on and get randy with no holds bared, its the Crazy Russians and the Ural club. And they do have their own club. Luckily you dont have to be Russian to join, but when the vodka flows, it helps to know that they are saying  | ||
| Cccpull |
Thunderbox, I don't know what you compare Cuba to, but if you're comparing it to some 3rd world country, I guess you're right. Believe me I do not need the opinion of the American Press to form my own. Yes, the Cuban people (what's left of their culture)are very nice and friendly. They are as friendly as the people from your country, too, and definitely as friendly as the people from my country. The only thing the Cubans have that's not available in Canada or the US is a great desire to get the hell out of Cuba. Oh, BTW I'm also well informed with Cuban history, I was born on a famous Cuban holiday (El Grito de Baire), which marked the start of the war of independence from Spain. Oh yeah, I was born n Havana,Cuba.  BTW I love traveling though Canada, great friendly people. Unfortunately I have only been to New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Alberta, BC, and the Yukon territoies. | ||
| Thunderbox |
I could name a few things available in Cuba that neither of our countries have or offer but I get the sense you do not want to hear any of that "nonsense". So we can just agree to disagree which is not a bad thing considering we have our own view of the situation. I for one would love to ride down to Mexico and take the ferry across to Cuba and tour the island some time. I can think of many worse places to go and enjoy my riding. I am sure it would be an absolute delight and a great experience. We are very fortunate here in this country as we are actually allowed to go to any place we want to. As far as I know no country will stop us from visiting and our own country allows us to go where we please. I find it particularly humorous that if a Cuban "escapes" he is a defector. If an American moves to Cuba he is a traitor. Yes there are many Americans living for what ever reason in Cuba. For any others who may be reading this, It is important to understand that any conditions in Cuba which would lead a person to want to leave are not caused by the Cuban Government but by foreign ones. You tell me who the tyrants really are. I can not come up with a single valid reason to have or continue an embargo against Cuba. I guess if you once owned the fruit company that started all this BS you can still be pissed, but come on so far it hasn't worked. Many will say batista was legally ellected. Yes but if everyone could have voted it would have been a democratic thing. That is not the case. They made a law, you had to have at least $200 to vote. Well back in the 50s $200 was a lot of money and most of the Cubans couldn't even vote. Yes I know a lot about the history of Cuba. This has been going on for too long. 9 or 10 presidents have come and gone and Cuba is still there threatening the powerful USA, right. The only accomplishment to date is to have punished the people of Cuba who were originally exploited by large companies in the first place. They are the ones who pay the price. It's always the people who pay. Doing the same thing over and over again expecting a different result is a sure sign of insanity. It needs to stop. If relations would have been normalized 50 years ago the US would have taken over Cuba economically long ago. I really didn't delve in here to do a political rant but sometimes I get involved and can't seem to avoid discussion. I get frustrated when I hear opinions that are not fact based and accepted by the general population. I have come to accept and understand that other cultures may not want to have a lifestyle as we have. I embrace them and see a lot of good in every society I have visited. I found Cuba to be no exception. Friendly and happy people for the most part and a beautiful clean country in comparison to many. If I were a Cuban I would be so proud to have accomplished as much as they have considering the greatest and most powerful government on earth has done everything it can to bring the country to it's knees. Cuba is where it is despite the US governments efforts not because of it. I really like the US, I just don't think I need to have the same political beliefs to be their friend and a good neighbor. We as Canadians are more like americans than any other culture, yet we are so different in many ways. (Message edited by Thunderbox on July 10, 2008) | ||
| Miamiuly |
Hey Miami, You start it, and I'll be the first to join. And we'll get patches like them and ask Petersons if we can set up a booth at Fudds to get members. We'd be sooo popular. | ||
| Etennuly |
I would like to go back about a dozen posts or so in this thread, just to say.....UH-OH!  | ||
| Treadmarks |
And we'll get patches like them and ask Petersons if we can set up a booth at Fudds to get members. We'd be sooo popular. Sweet... We could like...get our own flag....and have our own language.....er... ahh....nevermind  | ||
| Pherris |
It's the cuban lobby in this country that most supports the embargo and fights to keep it in place. I've never been to cuba. I'm sure they have an amazing and unique culture like every country. But, the peopel there are oppressed and don't have the standard of living and liberty they deserve. One thing that they have that i wish i could get are cigars. Whenever I travel abroad, i always pick up some Cohibas to sneak back into the USA. They have the best cigars on the planet. | ||
| Cccpull |
Thunerbox, That history must be the Canadian edition of Cuban history. You must forgive me for actually having lived it. You're so completely wrong it's not only sad, it's absurd. Are you sure you're mot a member of the Cuban communist party, or for that case any communist party? I like Canadians too, but their politics simply suck. | ||
| Johnboy777 |
Now see, I am torn ... because I occasionally go to Canada for my Cohibas. . | ||
| Teddagreek |
If people want to have clubs with people they relate to more power to them.. CUBA: They open the Gates, I'm there.... I've been wanting to go to Cuba since I was a kid.. I grew up with my Dad telling stories of his trips there.. | ||
| Cityxslicker |
Ive been, but some how I dont think Gitmo really counts. It actually was one of our annual ports of call back in the 80s.... Ah I miss the 600 ship Navy and gun boat diplomacy of Reagan. I used to get to travel more, and further. | ||
| Nevrenuf |
i don't think gitmo counts. was there back in 76 for fun and games the navy way. although i did stop drinking beer down there because of the phemeldahide they put in the beer. couldn't stand the smell of it. did enjoy getting drunk on rum and coke at the outdoor theater. | ||
| Thunderbox |
Like I said earlier Cccpull, it wouldn't matter what anybody said. It's so typical now you pull out the communist card. You think you know something which is a lot more dangerous than actually knowing something. Then the name calling starts. How old are you anyway? | ||
| Miamiuly |
Go figure, rather than stay and fight and maybe even die for your beliefs, say like in our civil war, the well to do people fled their country in order to fix it from the outside by hijacking our politics. The exile community can kiss my ass. Being an exile means you want to go back and therefore are not an American even though many have citizenship their LOYALTY is to the wrong country. Now and immigrant on the other hand WANTS to be here and wants to be an American, not a hyphenated American. The girl that cuts my hair just got here a year ago, my friends wife about 10 years......I see more Cuban flags in Miami than American flags. I think I have some insight. Brothers to the Rescue guy is my old best friend's uncle. As was everyone who fled after Batista, they were rich and want their land and money back and want the U.S. to make it happen. Of course they do well here in the sugar industry- killing the everglades and tearing up the road with overloaded unsafe cane trucks. How many times I've heard about the grandfather getting into his seaplane, flying one last time over the plantation that is now a school, and seeing Castro's troops rolling in to seize his land. My whole life I've had to hear this crap, no real talk or action on Miami or this country, just a constant Castro watch. That place you see the politicians pandering to the latins from, Versailles Restaurant, is no more than two miles from here and I spent plenty of time there after parties back in the day. exile} 1 a: the state or a period of forced absence from one's country or home b: the state or a period of voluntary absence from one's country or home 2: a person who is in exile (Message edited by miamiuly on July 13, 2008) (Message edited by miamiuly on July 13, 2008) | ||
| Cccpull |
Thunderbox, I wasn't name calling, asking you if you're a member of the communist party would give me a better idea of why you have your views, which are limited to your vacations in Cuba and maybe some reading. If you did not live it, you are not qualified to make such statements. You can definitely have you opinions on the subject, but not state them as fact. BTW I'm old enough to have lived through the actual revolution. Didn't have to read about it. (Message edited by cccpull on July 13, 2008) | ||
| Cccpull |
Miamiuly, I can't figure out your point, especially the exile part. Somehow, I just don't think you would go to Versailles and make that statement, anymore than you'll put a tent for the Anglo Motorcycle club at Fuddrucker's on Thursday night, unless it was in fun. You seem to have some information and also be missing quite a bit. If you ever want to clear up some of your misconceptions or be more informed, I'll be happy to talk to you personally to debate some of your points. My typing is to slow and the subject too long. BTW We've met at Fuddruckers, and I've ran into you at Petersons. |
