ASHLAND, Ore. -- (AP) -- Twenty-seven Oregon teenagers headed to Cuba next
 week expect to disagree with their hosts. They also hope that from their discord
 will come understanding, empowerment, respect and genuine friendships.

 Fulfilling a dream of Ashland High School debate coach John Tredway, 17 teens
 from Ashland High and 10 others from around Oregon plan to fly to Cuba on
 Tuesday with nine adult chaperons for a week of debates.

 The Clinton administration adopted a policy last January promoting
 people-to-people contact with Cuba, while maintaining the economic embargo
 imposed in the early 1960s.

 ``Governments are too caught up in what they think their obligations are to the
 people they represent to actually make contact,'' said Poppy Alexander, a
 17-year-old Ashland senior. ``We are not looking in terms of politics. We are
 looking in terms of humanity.''

 The debate is ``not about competition,'' Tredway said. ``It is more about promoting
 peace, friendship and communication.''

 To that end, the U.S. team is taking donated medical equipment and supplies,
 which are scarce in Cuba, and will give their counterparts T-shirts and baseball
 caps commemorating the visit.
 

                     Copyright 2000 Miami Herald