Cuban Folk Star Asks Obama, Google for Free Internet
Cuban Folk Star Asks Obama, Google for Free Internet
Posted 02/22/2011 at 9:11am
| by Paul Lilly
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Cuban folk star Silvio Rodriguez made a plea to U.S. President Barack Obama and Google CEO Eric Schmidt to provide developing countries with free Internet access, Yahoo News reports. The 40-year-old singer became inspired to make the request after hearing President Obama recently met with big wig Internet entrepreneurs, such as Schmidt, Apple CEO Steve Jobs, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.
"It's a simple proposal: the world is very unequal, and a lot of pain could be avoided with action that could turn into a worldwide qualitative step forward," Rodriquez explained in a blog post. "I am sure that it is something within reach of privileged minds (and budgets). So you owners of the Internet and President Obama: build a satellite network to give free Internet to the developing world."
Cuban authorities earlier this month praised a new undersea fiber optic cable connecting it to socialist ally Venezuela as a blow to the longstanding U.S. embargo. Venezuela contends the Internet link will be used for "social" purposes and has promised to give priority access to universities and other educational institutions.
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PCLinuxguy
February 22, 2011 at 9:11pm
I mean I get why the guy would ask but come on, seriously.. If your nation is that poor then who the hell has a computer to even use the internet? It'd be going straight to the few rich people so that they can keep their wealth and power and lord it over everyone else. I also agree that I'd be pissed if my tax money went to paying for their internet when the net I pay for, for my system, is expensive for what I get. I also agree that the U.S. isn't the one leading in the broadband powers of the world and the dude should be asking another country instead of the U.S. I'm not trying to be cruel to the guy or other developing nations but realistically what the guy is asking for is very stupid and illogical. I hope Obama and Google turn him down. But knowing Obama he won't and I have no idea which way Google will sway.
Pardon my wording but (censored) them and their "I want free internetz" crap. If they want it, then THEY should pay for it like everyone else. No Free Rides. If they want the help from the U.S. then they better be willing to offer something good in return. I'm tired of this country helping other countries and getting shit on in return. Granted very seldom is the USA helping others, but the rare times it has, the country helped turns around and spits on us. SO, to avoid further crap I say the USA should stay out of it and turn this guy down.
Walnut
February 22, 2011 at 5:54pm
I can see why this is a legitimate request, but I would be pretty pissed to see my tax dollars going overseas to support free internet programs when I'm paying out the ass every month for second-rate broadband.
whathuhitwasntme
February 22, 2011 at 4:29pm
Free internets for everybody!
no really, America is currently ranked something like 14th in the world for broadband access among its citizens. If cuba realy wanted to ask a "internet" super power, they should be asking India, or one of the Scandanavian power houses. They all kick our collective butt's on broadband penetration to their citizens, but then again, if Venezuela wants to spend all that money from OIL on cuba, let em! Better they invest in something of good use than guns an missles to attack other South American neighbors.
logicmaster2003
February 22, 2011 at 3:19pm
first.. they want FREE internet access.
next.. they want FREE computers.
and I bet they're gonna use them for Facebook and stuffs !
the world ask too much from us ! we have to provide to our own people too !
nadako
February 22, 2011 at 1:15pm
i can see the use of the internets helping out countries with the flow of knowledge but it all depends on how that knowledge is used. I wouldnt see the US doing this but knowing google just might. I bet it would just be dial up speeds though.
smashingpumpin
February 22, 2011 at 12:48pm
BS! U.S. still lacks statewide internet access coverage esp. rural areas coz of greedy cable companies and the like. Last time I heard, we are not even among the Top 5 countries with the "cheapest" internet paid by average consumers nor the "fastest". If Obummer and Joogle suck ups to this plea before their proposed internet expansion plans, I'll be fcking pissed and who would'nt be?
Keith E. Whisman
February 22, 2011 at 12:27pm
I doubt the poor in developing countries could afford to acquire computers to access the internet wether it be free or not.
Perhaps we would happily entertain thoughts on lifting embargos with Cuba if its citizens would start protesting their government they insist that the whole Castro regime step down from power and a new era of democracy were to start in Cuba. Hell I would be happy to see the same thing happen in Venezuela. I'm elated to see things change through out Persia and the middle east.
DJSPIN80
February 22, 2011 at 11:37am
Sure thing, and we can supply the entire world with happiness, joy and love!
OK, sarcasm aside, this guy's on crack. Apart from the already ball busting budget deficit we have, it's not our responsibility to supply the world with "much needed intarwebs accessesseses."
Besides, why is it our responsibility to supply Cuba with internet? Doesn't Castro have money? Oh that's right, Cuba's broke because of Casto - so either ask Castro or get him out of power.
Idiots.
MrGeek
February 22, 2011 at 11:24am
The guy was born born November 29, 1946.
Who does the math in this joint?! LOL!
Vino
February 22, 2011 at 11:13am
Yea I have to say this is more of a publicity stunt then anything else. Or its soo naive that you have to wonder where she got her bussiness sense. Could this also be a ploy to make the US look bad? Could they try to turn our refusal into a red flag that proves that America is a greedy country?
praack
February 22, 2011 at 11:13am
saw an article that a fiberoptic cable was supplied by thier freinds in central america. so no free internet from us until we get our people sorted.
I could see more normalizing relations though with the country- though Raoul is little better historically than his brother.
Ntldr
February 22, 2011 at 10:22am
Considering the relationship between the US an Cuba right now I would not see this happening. Also I would say no way should we give them free internet that would just contribute to the problems. I am sure they would be able to pay something for it.
Also what the heck are they talking about, "a lot of pain could be avoided" to me that sounds like a do this or there is going to be pain. Sounds like a threat to me, there isn't pain caused by lack of the US giving free internet to developing countries and I doubt Cuba is developing.
Just my view on the article and I could be wrong but it is my opinion.
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