Michael Moore: Stupid White Man

An elderly and very left wing friend told me a couple of years ago that he was delighted to be visiting Cuba for the first time. “Be careful,” I said, “remember this is a country without political or economic freedom, where the desperate population tries everything from drug selling to prostitution to stay alive. Don’t talk to anyone about politics. They might think you’re a police stooge.”

“Really Nick,” my friend replied, “you are getting so right wing. Cuba has universal literacy and the best health service in Latin America.”

I remember thinking at the time that literacy was no use to Cubans when the state told them what they could and could not read. As for the marvellous health service, alas my friend contracted severe food poisoning. Cuban doctors could do nothing to stop the vomiting and diarrhoea, which knocked him out for a fortnight. In the end, he had to heave his way back to England, and rely on the NHS to calm his swirling guts.