Most other countries that went communist changed their flag, and Cuba's flag looks like a state flag of the USA, was there ever any talk of changing it?
Cuban here -- My family fought in the Independence War - which you may know as the Spanish-American war. My great grandmother and great grand aunts used to embroider these flags. They are not based on US state flags. Here's the [origin story of the flag] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Cuba). It was inspired by the French revolution and some poetic license.
The flag symbolizes the independence and sovereignty of the Cuban people. Moreover, during the time the US occupied Cuba, the Stars and Stripes flew over the island. After Cuba was granted independence, the old Independence flag was flown. See above article.
Although Castro created a Communist flag, it is only a party flag. Castro sees (sells) himself as a Cuban patriot and nationalist; the rightful heir to Jose Marti the 19th century Cuban revolutionary and martyr. More important, he positions himself against the US. To remove a flag that symbolized Independence from Spain and the US was against the stated goals of the Cuban revolution. He left it alone.
Also, please see Chile's flag does this remind you of [Texas' flag] (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f7/Flag_of_Texas.svg/2000px-Flag_of_Texas.svg.png)
The Chilean flag predates the one from Texas (1817 vs 1838).
The US does not have some sort of copyright on flag designs.
