BY MICHAEL PENNOCK

MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota - "I learned that Cubans have much to teach the world," said Doug Nelson. He was one of 29 youth from the Minneapolis/St. Paul area who went to Cuba this past summer as part of the U.S.-Cuba Youth Exchange. A dozen spoke of their experiences to 55 people at a report-back meeting here September 7.

"To create a new society in Cuba," Nelson said, "workers and farmers had to take state power. This is their message to the world. And their new society educates and cares for its people, houses them, and nurtures all the children. All in an underdeveloped country in the middle of harsh economic conditions."

Eli Johnson was the youngest member of the exchange. He is a 15-year-old high school student. In his talk he conveyed a sense of the excitement "we all felt in Cuba. For me, it was when I sat down to write an article on my trip for the newspaper I was interning at this summer. I was supposed to write 1,250 words," he said, "but I turned in over 4,000."

Damon Tinnon, one of the organizers of the delegation from this city, said, "What impressed me most was that there is a real, live fight over ideas in Cuba. There are those who want more foreign capitalist investment. But there are more people who want to defend their dignity and defend the socialist character of their revolution."

Paul Pederson also spoke about human dignity and the different values generated in a society run by the working class. "I'm a music student at the University of Minnesota," Pederson explained. "My teachers are trying to get across to us the idea of the `starving artist' in this country." He said there are only a few ways for musicians to make a living with their art in the United States.

"But one teacher had a solution for us," he said. "He encouraged us to join the U.S. Army and play in their bands. He said it's a good wage, plus you get medical benefits.

"Cuba showed me a different road. I met people there who could be both musicians and revolutionaries. I thought Íd like to live in Cuba."

After returning to this country, Pederson said he's come to a different conclusion. "I found out there's work to be done here, defending Cuba in the United States. And more importantly, making our own revolution and taking power.

"Before I can be a musician in this country, I also have to be a revolutionary."

Youth Exchange participants at the meeting signed up other young people in the audience for a trip to Cuba next summer to attend the 14th World Festival of Students and Youth. The international event will take place in the Caribbean country July 28-August 5, 1997.  
 
 
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