Visit to Cuba leaves Castro looking suspicious

Those who read the article about former President Jimmy Carter visiting Cuba on May 12 know that he was the first U.S president to visit that country since 1959. When I read this article I was puzzled by this unexpected visit. Jimmy Carter and Fidel Castro “friends”?As a Cuban American reading this article, it really made me think that something suspicious is going on with these two, or at least with Fidel.

It has been years since any U.S. president has stepped foot into this communist country, and the fact that we have an embargo with them makes me wonder why suddenly he has an American friend.

Fidel fancies his guest with a red carpet and a welcome by playing the national anthem, as well as the Cuban national anthem.

Now, my question is, is Fidel trying to make ourcountries unite? Why is he all of a sudden a nice guy, especially by respecting America in a manner like this?

Anyone who really knows Fidel’s true colors knows that he doesn’t do kind gestures for people in a situation like this. America is great, but what

America doesn’t know is how bad Castro has made Cuba, particularly for the people who live there. What America doesn’t know is how much the people are suffering there. What America doesn’t know is that Cuba isn’t the paradise it seems to be.

People don’t understand that when they visit Cuba for vacations every American dollar goes to Fidel. Not his people, himself.

During President Carter’s visit, it was somewhat vital to visit the scientific center, which includes the making of biological weapons. He was more than welcome to give any suggestions that he had because of his background in nuclear technology.

To me this shows a sign that Castro has something in mind. Castro is a very manipulative man, and he always seems to get around to what he wants in his own secret ways. Hopefully, he has nothing dangerous, but I think that the United States should be on the lookout.

This visit from Carter just seems very strange and Fidel has always been a dangerous man. This kindness from Fidel is a shock, and it isn’t a typical gesture that Fidel would do.

Lianely Rovira is a freshman.

Selling photos is a right to capatilistic freedom

On Thursday, The Oracle made an incredible statement in its opinion editorial. “How quickly patriotism takes a back seat to capitalism.” This comment regards the photos that President Bush has offered during fund-raising activities and the fact that many Americans support their use.

This statement would lead us to believe that capitalism is incompatible with patriotism. This, in fact, would only be accurate if we employed an economic system similar to that of the former Soviet Union.

Thankfully, we still retain some degree of economic freedom despite record levels of taxation and economic regulation. Capitalism is the essence of our patriotism; it is the freedom to live our lives as we see fit, not as a faceless bureaucrat dictates.

It is the freedom to buy products that we feel are of more value than the money we are willing to spend. Any infringement on this basic tenant of America only reduces the quality of life for all by limiting the ways in which Americans can economically interact with each other.

Our economic freedom has been under attack for decades. Young people are taught in our government schools that corporations are evil and somehow un-American. They are led to believe that they need to be “protected” from capitalism and “evil” corporations through more and more government regulation.

Unfortunately, they are not informed that corporations do not suffer from those regulations; corporations only exist to generate profit by offering products and services that consumers desire.

Therefore, all economic regulations only serve to limit the ways in which corporations can satisfy us, and corporate taxes only serve to increase the final price of those products the government allows them to produce.

It deeply saddens me to see more and more Americans every day who do not value economic freedom. Without capitalism, there can be no patriotism.
Erik Wilensky is a senior majoring in secondary science education.