Debating Issues in Cuba - A public forum for opinions

[flamingdem]

(edited for copyright purposes proud patriot Moderator Democratic Underground)

http://www.havanatimes.org/?p=30673

*** Note: These forums sound very interesting, a high end discussion by anyone who wants to participate.

HAVANA TIMES, Oct. 7 — To see disagreements between the panelists on a program like Cuba’s news/commentary program “Mesa Redonda” (the Round Table) is something that rarely occurs. To also allow members of an audience to raise blunt criticisms against the government would be truly astounding.

Notwithstanding, this is what happened at the Fresa y Chocolate Cultural Center at the end of September. In the panel discussion held there was a former economic minister of Fidel Castro, a well-known economic analyst from the University of Havana, and a renowned sociologist.

The audience was made up of a hundred of people of all types and colors, and the admission open and free. The great majority of those in attendance were Cubans, but there were also a few diplomatic officials from the US and a couple of foreign journalists.

The topic was the Cuban economic crisis of the 1990s. Upon entering we were given forms so that we could express our opinion with respect to this. The fact that the surveys didn’t ask for people’s names helped everyone to view the inquiry as sincere.

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