On numerous occasions, people who choose to point out certain fallacies regarding Cuba's present day government are dismissed as supporters of the old Batista regime or as beneficieries of South Florida's "wealthy" Cuban American exile community.

Yours truly, not falling under either category, will attempt to share some light on the matter and to provide the experiences learned while living in Cuba throughout the 1960s and early 70s.

Though Cuban government officials continously acclaim the accomplishments of the Cuban revolution ( free education, free health system and equality of the races), nothing could be further from the truth.

Shortly after coming to power in 1959, not only did Fidel Castro seize all major U.S. corporate assets in the island of Cuba, but he subsequently seized every piece of land or small business operated by middle and lower clalss Cuban. The purpose of such acquisition was originally explained as an attempt by the new government to increase the growth of the Cuban economy and to create "equality" amongst all classes.

The truth of the matter is that hard-working Cuban citizens of every race and ethnicity were deprived of their means to provide for their families. Amongst them, my grandfather a white tobocco farmer from the Pinar del Rio province who had managed to purchase a small piece of land through hard work and sacrifice.

Another example (amongst countless others) was a deaf mute mulatto from my town of Pinar del Rio who was continously harassed by Cuban government law enforcement officials for refusing to close down a small shoe shine venture which was his only means of income.

Having attended Cuban schools through the six grade in those years, I was bombarded on a daily basis with the "accomplishments" of communism and the superiority of Marxism over the capitalist system. Throughout all that time, I was taught to hate "imperialist yankees" from up north and their corruptive system. While kids my age in the U.S. played around with G.I. Joe figures, I was taught to assemble and disassemble numerous types of Chinese and Soviet made rifles (while in the fourth grade) .

Today's realities in Cuba are astonishing. Yes, you can go to school for free, if however, you subscribe to the party line. Dissent is not permitted and a small disagreement can lead to dismissal from any university.

Yes, you can become a doctor, lawyer or even a cosmonaut; however, most of those professionals would not think twice of dropping their careers if allowed to work in DIPLO STORES or other tourist locations where they would have access to U.S. currency.

Yes, you can express yourself in Cuba, as long as your expression praises the "accomplishments" of the revolution. If not, read about the encarceration of Vladimiro Roca and a group of other dissidets who dared to publish a document titled THE MOTHERLAND BELOGS TO ALL (CUBANS).

Yes, the health system is free; however, you will not find an Aspirin at a local pharmacy because the government no longer provides those services. You will be able to purchase that and other items at the DIPLO STORE, but only if payment is made with U.S. currency.

Yes, the communist system has transformed Cuba into an island of equals. Only equality is reflected in the mysery shared by all Cuban citizens alike. Equality however, does not reach the Cuban government elite. Only one person of African dissent (RAMIRO VALDES) occupies a high rank in Cuba's government.

Yes, the U.S. embargo is "brutal", a phrase often heard from Cuban officials. However, Cuba is free to purchase any item it wishes from any other country and does not do so. Why? Due to its refusal to pay outstanding loans to other countries. It should also be mentioned that as a Soviet satellite, the Cuban government mismanaged billions of dollars which were invested in guerrila movements in Central America and other parts of the world. Such monies would have been better spent in improving the standard of living of all Cubans.

At last an admission. Yes, there was inequality in Cuba in the era preceding the Cuban revolution. However, that was back in the 1950s!. Imagine how far we, as Americans have come in race relations since that time!

If anything, we are left with a thought. Fidel Castro has now ruled Cuba for a period of forty years. Whereas Cuba's economy ranked second in Latin America in 1959, today the entire infrastructure is in shambles. If you are still not convinced ask any of the over one million Cubans in exile for political and economic reasons now living in the U.S. and abroad.

Oh, and remember, while Robin Hood (a term usually applied to a younger Castro) stole from the rich to give to the poor, Castro stole from rich and poor alike, made himself rich, and continues to rule a nation of equals: all poor alike and all sharing a very uncertain future!