American Hotel facing international boycott and racism

How can we be more stupid and immature? How much lower can we go? We have succeeded, in the last few years, in creating more enemies and developing more anti-American feelings.

Last week, in Oslo, Norway, Hilton Hotel Corp. via their Oslo operation (Scandic Edderkoppen Hotel), has refused to book rooms for a Cuban delegation, attending a travel fair, later this month.

The Norwegian Union of Municipal and General Employees (300,000 members) has announced that it was boycotting all Scandic Hotels in Norway, following a wave of protests, that might cover most European countries, and even Canada.

According to the union's representative, Anne Grethe Skaardal, it becomes unacceptable for the U.S. to dictate to the whole world.

Within a few days, the Norwegian Anti Racism Center has reported the Scandic Hotel chain to the police. They have filed a complaint based on the law which says that no one can be turned away, because of their citizenship or ethnicity.

According Henrik Lundle, director of Anti Racism Center, foreign companies establishing themselves in Norway, must follow Norwegian laws and rules.

In addition, the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions has demanded that the Government shall no longer deal with the Scandic chain.

The only comment from Hilton Corp. has been a statement by a spokeswoman, Christina Karlegran, stating that Hilton is an American company and is bound by the Cuba embargo. "We have to follow the American law" she said.

The Foreign Ministry has a different view: "Companies operating in Norway have to obey Norwegian law, regardless of their home base.

Another representative of Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions is going a step further by asking the Government to take steps to bar Hilton Hotel Corp. from doing business in Norway.

Furthermore, Equality and Anti-Discrimination Ombud, will decide whether to open a case against Scandic chain.

We do remember (or we should), that the Government of Mexico has ordered the Sheraton Maria Isable Hotel in Mexico City to pay a $112,000. US fine for expelling last year 16 Cubans.

It is strange that the Toronto Hilton had no issues taking money from IRA founders, last October. They must be good terrorists.

The readers of the largest Canadian newspaper have, in the last few days, suggested a complete worldwide boycott by Canadians to all International Hilton Hotels.

That's the way to create more enemies, more anti-American feelings. The world is laughing at us, and we continue to reach lower and lower level of sanity, and decency.

Let's hope that Congress 110, stops, in the very near immediate future, our nonsense and phobia about Cuba. If not, we should also fine our Fast Food Chains to sell hamburgers to Cubans, as well as Pepsi Cola and Coca Cola to sell a refreshment to any Cuban delegation. Why not? Let's stay the course.

By the way, did you read the said story in our so-called free press? Or, perhaps, the editors were too ashamed to publish it....

We forecast that more American companies will eventually be boycotted, which will seriously deteriorate our future export trades. The positive effect: we will solve our outsourcing problem.

Next time we are in Washington, we will register a lobbyist firm whose aims will be promoting the End of the Embargo. We are not working for the Cuban Authorities, but for the American people. We promise a box of cigars (Esplendido or Cohiba) to all Senators and Congress Members who will vote for the said resolution.

Contrary to meals, trips or free weekends, cigars are not on the list of the new rules. If we succeed, we will give to the White House staff a lower grade cigars (non-explosive) because they did not learn anything, and did not listen to "We, the people".

The Facilitator.

P.S. Our Government claims jurisdiction over foreign subsidiaries of American companies. The European Union, Canada and Mexico do not agree with our arrogance, and have issued their own decree, prohibiting any company or association to comply with the US Measures. The International Community recognizes the requirement for American companies to respect the rules and laws of the country in which they operate. Several US companies have, directly or indirectly, traded with Cuba, via their subsidiaries. So far, no US courts have made decisions to apply the ruling of our Government.

Another example of our success to alienate foreigners.