4


Karen McCarley and Ace Collins discuss WME’s recent visit to Cuba.


Ace: This was your first trip to Cuba. What was the motivation for WME for looking to get involved in this area of the world?


Karen: WME HAS MANY SPONSORS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN ASSISTING SPANISH-SPEAKING CULTURES. AND WHEN WE WERE GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT CUBA, WE COULDN’T TURN IT DOWN. LET’S JUST SAY WE WERE ANXIOUS TO GO AND SEE FIRST HAND WHAT THE NEEDS ARE AND IFWME WOULD BE ABLE TO HELP.


Ace: What makes Cuba stand out from the rest of the world?


Karen: CUBA IS COMPLETELY OPERATED BY THE GOVERNMENT. CITIZENS DO NOT OWN THEIR HOMES, AND ANY GOOD BUSINESSES ARE TAKEN OVER BY THE GOVERNMENT. THUS, THEY HAVE NO REAL INCENTIVE TO WORK HARD TO BETTER THEMSELVES. THE CITIZENS LIVE IN VERY SMALL HOMES WITHOUT AIR CONDITIONING, SOME WITHOUT FANS OR INDOOR BATHROOM FACILITIES. CITIZENS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO EAT BEEF BECAUSE IT IS EXPRESSLY DEDICATED TO OFFICIALS AND TO TOURISTS. MOST PERSONAL TRANSPORTATION IS BY HORSE AND CARRIAGE, RICKSHAWS OR BICYCLES. THOSE THAT ARE LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE VEHICLES DRIVE AMERICAN CARS FROM THE 1950'S OR RUSSIAN IMPORTS FROM THE COLDWAR ERA. THESE 60-70 YEAR OLD CARS HAVE BEEN REBUILT WITH PARTS FROM OTHER TYPES OF VEHICLES INCLUDING TRACTORS.


ACE: Obviously, Cuba is a communist country. Does the government allow Christianity, and if so, how is the Christian faith viewed in the country as a whole?


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