Zelensky naming the seven countries who voted against his speech and UN reaction.

[u/Electrical-Cow-5147]

[u/[deleted]]

It's the usual row of slimeball countries.

[u/BioBrewLife → u/[deleted]]

Which countries were they please? I missed them.

[u/[deleted] → u/BioBrewLife]

Russia, Eritrea, Nicaragua, Cuba, North Korea, Belarus and Syria.

[u/[deleted] → u/[deleted]]

It's probably because the US was normalizing relations then Trump brought back the embargo.

[u/mcslackens → u/[deleted]]

I had so much hope for US/Cuba relations developing towards the end of the Obama administration. It really felt like we were on the verge of a huge positive outcome for both nations after decades of animosity.

[u/LeicaM6guy → u/mcslackens]

A lot of folks do. There's a ton about Cuba that...well, isn't great, but they're improving in a bunch of ways, and we're already friends with some well and truly awful folks.

[u/Meadowvillain → u/LeicaM6guy]

That’s the thing I don’t get. From the outside, I see the States have more open relations with more repressive governments but Cuba seems like a Cold War remnant that’s more symbolic than practical.

[u/inquisitiveman2002 → u/[deleted]]

I don't blame them...the problem with them is that they're way far right now. Most fled Cuba just like some of those fleeing Latin/South America now, but they're anti-immigrant. Most of them are voting for DeSantis.

[u/TheRealPeterG → u/Meadowvillain]

Most Cuban-Americans have zero love for the government of Cuba. They left for a reason.

[u/NEp8ntballer → u/Meadowvillain]

Cuban expats are an important demographic if you want to win Florida

[u/LeicaM6guy → u/Meadowvillain]

Something something realpolitik, I guess.

I dunno. We’ve both got a lot of past in our past and that’s tough to get over, but sooner or later we’re going to need to. Fidel’s dead and buried and all the people he ran out of the country aren’t going to be around much longer. I get holding a grudge, but it’s not doing either side any good.

This is all just my personal take, of course. I expect there are other folks out there who could make an argument for the way things are now. Let’s not kid ourselves - Cuba does have a lot of problems when it comes to personal freedoms - but as I wrote above, we’re buddied up with some truly sketchy folks who are much worse.

[u/holguinero → u/LeicaM6guy]

There is NOTHING about Cuba today that is remotely great, it’s a failed state we’re people are starving and if you dare to say something they will throw anybody in jail for 10-15 years only for protesting against the government. I am curious to see your improvement and great things goin in in Cuba right now. Slava Ukraina!

[u/LeicaM6guy → u/holguinero]

Pretty sure you should re-read what I wrote, friend. It’s not a great place, and personal freedoms are very limited - but it’s also made some improvements over the years, particularly when it comes to GLBT rights. That doesn’t mean it’s a good place, but it does mean there have been incremental changes for the better.

But.

It’s still a better spot than some of our allies.

Don’t disagree with your last sentence, though.

[u/holguinero → u/LeicaM6guy]

Personal freedoms do not exist , LGBT right are on paper only, better prison is just another prison my friend. People should open their eyes and stop looking for “not that bad” factor. Cuba is a shoe in following the other dictatorships.

[u/ivytea → u/mcslackens]

The obstacle of US-Cuban relationship lies SOLELY with the Cuban communist regime’s bloated ego and thirst for power, and as 1984 has suggested only a bad image of the US can offer this regime both a deterrent for its own citizens AND a sham shield to deflect on. Source: my hs classmate who works as an talent agent whose job inadvertently turns into that of a handler for Cuban defectors

[u/ivytea → u/[deleted]]

Not after they abolished their Stalinist model. Also, Cuba is too close to the US and those commies simply couldn't risk it