Is Cuba as bad as Americans potray it? Even JayZ and Beyonce went?

As I was watching a video where Beyonce and JayZ went to Cuba, I couldnt help but notice that as the couple walked through the streets of Cuba, many Cuban people and teenagers had cell phones and iphones and were taking pictures of the couple as they passed by. I thought they were communist and werent allowed such luxuries, or are we not told the complete story?

Jay Z made a new song recently, rapping about the lies that the American politicians have been feeding us all this time and shaming them and calling them out on their BS.

Added (1). @Randy: I agree with you but I think the problem doesn't lie with all Americans but mainly Cuban Americans. Cuban Americans keep that embargo alive for reasons like "My grandmother was killed by Castro" or "My property was confiscated by Castro" etc… And Cuban Americans are a powerful lobby group in the State of Florida and Florida being a swing state makes politicians say things like "Viva Cuba Libre"-George W. Bush. Cuban Americans is the reason why this embargo hasn't been lifted yet.

No, of course not. Cuba is better than some countries that we call our friends. That doesn't mean they're great, their government is undoubtedly repressive, but we support or at least have normal trading relations with countries that are much more oppressive than Cuba, just look at Saudi Arabia, one of the most oppressive countries in the world today and an important US ally.

I mean its fine

Personally I would open Cuba up to the United States. It would be good for both countries. They could sell us their cigars and we could sell them parts for 1957 Chevys. Castro is dead and the US recognizes other Communist countries so I see no need to keep it closed to Americans. Cuban Americans who wield much political power keep it closed but their hatred in probably more at Castro than Cuba as a nation.

Lots of people from other countries like Canada travel there for beach vacations.

Visitors often fill their suitcases before traveling with gifts for the staff at resorts and report that Cubans are desperate for every kind of consumer goods. Common things like shampoo, clothes, and ordinary e eryday items are in short supply.

It is a very poor country.

I've been there 5 times now (I'm Canadian and we don't have the same dumb laws you guys do) and there's nothing wrong with Cuba. Its a great vacation spot that happens to have a communist government.

Your governments attitude is just an outdated hold over from the cold war. It spent so much time vilifying Castro that it can't now say anything different. Once he dies though I give it months, if not less, before your government policy starts to change and Cuba is no longer viewed as evil.

Many Americans go to Cuba.