Could You Spare a Day to See the Gulags?

Another outrage from The People's Republic of California and the AP. A particular howler:

The UC Davis students, who arrived Jan. 2, had to pay $10,000 each for their 10-week program.

They say the elongated period is letting them move beyond tourism and Cuban government propaganda to get a true sense of life on the island. But, they add, the lengthier stay also gives them more time to discern contradictions in U.S. policy toward Cuba and witness harmful effects of the trade embargo on the Cuban people.

"On paper, this place looks good," said Gabe Feinberg, 25, a political science student. "But seeing that all the money and the tourism has created an upper class and the rest of the people are still pretty much at poverty level - it was a bit disillusioning."

If you're a political science student who believes Cuba looks good, even "on paper", your professors are doing you a grave disservice.

Here's an idea: how about using some of the 10 weeks of Bolshevik beach time to slip your minders and visit the political prisoners in the stinking, festering holes Fidel Castro shoved them in. They'll get a kick out of your Sweet Baby Che t-shirts, I'm sure.

That money and time would have been much better spent interviewing the Cuban refugees in Miami and providing a comprehensive account of their experiences under Castro and their flight from that island hell.

Nah, that would have involved actual learning.