January 25, 2011
This feels like a bad scene from the movie Dirty Dancing.
The Obama Administration's new regulations for academic travel haven't even been written yet -- and the junkets are already being announced.
That's right -- for $3,000, American "students" can learn the mambo, rumba and cha-cha-cha in Havana, all while staying at the Castro regime's exclusive, apartheid-ridden Hotel Nacional.
Surely, this will be great for some rhythmless American travelers. But we fail to understand how this helps the democratic aspirations of the Cuban people (thus potentially violating the Congressional intent of the law that authorizes such academic travel, the 1992 Cuban Democracy Act).
Oh, that's right -- supposedly this will benefit the Cuban people, as some "students" might wonder outside the hotel and buy some tourist trinkets from a regular Cuban on the street. In other words, through-trickle down economics.
Ironically, the Obama Administration, which opposes the concept of trickle-down economics when it comes to the U.S. economy (perhaps correctly so), believes trickle-down economics will somehow "empower" the Cuban people.
We don't know whether trickle-down economics work or not -- and frankly, that's not our issue.
However, here's what we do know -- if the effects of trickle-down economics are arguable in an open, capitalist economy, they surely don't work in a closed, totalitarian one.
Thus, the question becomes:
Will the Obama Administration apply the new regulations responsibly, or will "baby be kept in the corner" (tacky line from Dirty Dancing) while American tourists dance the night away in Havana?
If this were an accredited college or university it might even pass the laugh test, but these types of boondoggles are degrading and insulting:
Summer Programs in Havana
Music, Salsa and Folklore
June 26 - July 10, 2011
Popular Music and Percussion Program offers music classes on all instruments, including percussion, drum set, piano, bass, tres/guitar, trumpet, trombone, flute, saxophone and vocals. Four to five hours of instruction daily including classes on your instrument, arranging, rhythm workshops and ensembles. Classes are separated by interest and level, and feature lectures and presentations with local musicians.
Salsa and Afro-Cuban Dance
Beginning to advanced dancers welcome. You can choose to focus on Salsa and other popular dances like Son, Mambo, Cha Cha Cha and Rueda de Casino. OR combine salsa with Afro-Cuban dances like Yoruba, Rumba, Arará and Palo styles.
Afro-Cuban classes have live percussion. Dancers are separated by interest and skill level.
Price: Double $2,750 / Single $2,995
Includes accommodations with breakfast daily, ground transportation to group events, travel license, classes, lectures, parties and performances. Airfare not included.
Humanitarian Aid and Culture
June 26 - July 3, 2011
Features daily excursions to deliver books and medicine to local neighborhood centers, urban community gardens and schools. Evening concerts and performances focus on Cuban music and its cultural significance.
Price: Double $2,150 / Single $2,295
Havana Jazz Festival
December 12 - 20, 2011
(Date Subject to Change)
Join PlazaCUBA for an exciting week of concerts and excursions during Havana's Jazz Festival. Cuban piano legend Chucho Valdes performs and presides over a variety of Latin jazz, pop, timba and straight jazz groups at multiple venues. You will see hundreds of groups from all over the world, featuring Cuba's best musicians, like Harold Lopez Nussa, Bobby Carcasses, Giraldo Piloto, Pupy Pedroso, Joven Jazz, NG la Banda and more!
Accommodations at the Hotel Nacional
Includes accommodations with breakfast at the Nacional, daily excursions and activities, ground transportation, travel assistance and travel license, and jazz festival pass, good for entry to all concerts.
Upgrade to Executive rooms and suites available for additional fee. Airfare not included.
PlazaCUBA is a humanitarian-based arts organization with more than 10 years experience organizing travel to Cuba for music, dance and humanitarian efforts.
Contact us to see how you can travel legally to Cuba as a researcher or under another type of license.
No hay comentarios:
Publicar un comentario