[LEVE]

1. I take my hat off to these guys!
2. They should be brought to the US,
3. And set up in MOAB,
4. Putting their Fabrication Skills to work!
5. People die for Freedom!
6. And a great number of our society,
7. Won't even exercise that which they have...
8. You never know what you have,
9. Till you loose it.
10. Just as an aside,
11. For several years we've called,
12. These vintage ol' US Iron,
13. Boats...
14. I guess it's true.

 

[1437]

give me a 5lb hammer, table vice and brake clean and ill build anything

......it was pretty intersting about the boats/cars/trucks/tubs/fridge's that they make in to boats to cross the waters from cuba to the USA.......

later
john

 

[Jim_Lou]

Things are a lot different in Cuba in many ways, but one of the consequences is that much of their machinery is Soviet-era junk or pre-Castro imports. The skill and ingenuity it takes to keep that stuff running without proper replacement parts is astounding.

IMO it's bad policy to send those folks back to Cuba, both on humanitarian grounds and because they would be a great asset to our country. Leve, if you and I were running this outfit . . .

 

[MarineOpLaw]

They definitely have the will and initiative to improvise and go against conventional wisdom...

Maybe we ought to send them to MIT (or other such institution for advanced learning) where they can refine their in-born knack for creative engineering and get a good dollop of technical know-how to go along with. Then send them to Detroit (or ????) to apply their honed skills/abilities.

We need more like these and less w/ their hands out looking for giveaways... (applies to natural-born citizens too!

).

 

[1675]

If you read the story, these are the same individuals that tried earlier this year "driving" a 51 Chevy truck.
"If at first you don't succeed, try, try again."


By the way, my fab skills stink, I cuold sure learn a thing or two from them.

 

[517]

Good example of necessity being the mother of invention. Anyone who told me they were going to try something like that, I'd be full of doubts, but obviously it works and they made it. Ingenious. Are boats that scarce? I'd rather steal a Hobie Cat off the beach of Varadaro than try to drive a homemade amphicar to Florida. Must be some reason for all that effort.

As you know, a lot of us Canadians travel to Cuba for vacations. It doesn't look like that poor standard of living. Something like early 20th century but with automobiles and better medicine. Nothing as grand compared to middle class America, but on the other hand they have free medical care with a Doctor in every community. I'm inclined to like the people and place, were it not for their (former?) allegence with the Soviets. I hope there can be a peaceful co-existence now that its clear that communism isn't spreading like the plague.

 

[knifeboy2]

I read that article the other day. Its amazing how many attempts are made each year and how many die. It must not be the utopia TiminMb described otherwise all these people wouldn't risk their lives knowing that there's a good chance they will either die or get sent back to Cuba over and over again. These people never give up, and the determination is to be credited but the question still stands as to why they feel they need to escape? I give these guys kudos for creativity and guts.

 

[Dirt Dog]

My skills are great, and thanks for asking.

But those boys there should be let in. They have the skill to do things lots here can't. And some big kahunas.
I say let em stay......almost looks like American ingenuity to me.

 

[Grapehead]

are you sure those arent just the winners of a "junkyard wars" episode?

i admire their persistence. makes me feel guilty for taking what i have for granted.

 

[Guest]

Allow me to take the opposing stance:

As a resident of Miami, I say we build a big cement wall between us and Cuba.

You want to see people that *really* have it bad, take a trip to Haiti. We turn them back no matter what while the Cubans get to stay if they touch land. I have seen so many beach landings in my life and can tell you no one down here other than Federal Agencies will attempt to stop them form coming on shore.

The city has paid the price too... corruption and bankruptcy.

 

[knifeboy2]

I recall many years ago my father had an employee working for him who came from Haiti. I don't recall why but he was witness to both of his parents and his brothers murder while he hid under the bed one day. He was able to escape the country and was living legally in the US and had really made something of himself. He had become a substance abuse counselor.......which is a job that is not easy seeing as he only dealt with heroin addicts. Talk about take your kids to work day......I saw dozens of herion addicts every day........but I digress. There are many nations of people who can't live freely because of govt. dictation. I just don't get why we don't allow them here. As much as people say immigrants take away American jobs, I say that immigrants are in fact creating more jobs for other immigrants and boosting the economy. Where I come from 95% of landscaping companies are operated by hispanics and most of the low paying "crappy jobs" are held by uneducated peoples........mostly minorities. Many Americans are now getting college educations and will not accept minimum wage jobs. These immigrants are filling needed spots in our society and are necessary for the proper growth of this country.

 

[2157]

I agree with you Leve, you absolutely have to admire people who are willing to risk all for the chance to live the dream we call freedom.
At the risk of opening a big can of worms, let me say that
the folks who are worried about immigrants coming to the USA better take a second and look at their own family tree. There is no such thing as a truly native american. We all had to immigrate here sometime. Granted, some arrived sooner than others. The bottom line is that we all came here from somewhere. Some of our families came here in chains of bondage, others came to break the chains of economic, political, or religious bondage somewhere else.
The greatness of America comes from the contributions of all its citizens regardless of when they arrived here. Let Freedom Ring.Lady liberty keep that torch of Hope and Freedom Burning Bright for all the world to see.