| Since the Cuban revolution took place on New Year's | | | | perhaps some want to keep us in the dark about. |
| eve of 1959 the United States has had 10 Presidents | | | | First; Castro did win the elections in Cuba several |
| who have had many of the same ideas while | | | | years before the revolution which the Batista |
| differing on many of which but if there be one | | | | government chose not to honor so with regards to |
| consistent it was and still is their repetition of the | | | | Castro taking power; this in reality one could say was |
| now ridiculous expression "Castro will soon fall!". Yes, | | | | done with the support of the people of Cuba. At |
| this will eventually happen after all who has not been | | | | least back then now weather he still rules with it is |
| born who will or has not already died so technically | | | | another issue though in Cuba there is no sign of |
| speaking Castro will some day fall but it will not be | | | | revolt against him. Second; I speak not in favor of |
| because of an American embargo which in its 48 | | | | communism as I have seen the damage it can do |
| years has not produced any positive results in either | | | | specially during my time in Poland and have read |
| bringing an end to Castro's reign or improving the | | | | about all the atrocities of Stalin and Mao but again let |
| lives in any way shape or form of the people of | | | | us recall that Batista's Cuba was also a dictatorship |
| Cuba. I would even say along with many others that | | | | with the basic difference being that the American |
| this policy has done the complete opposite which is | | | | mafia could benefit from it. |
| to strengthen the position of Fidel Castro's regime as | | | | Â |
| the average Cuban citizen has no other choice but to | | | | Castro on the other hand for all his shortcomings in |
| depend on it for everything he or she needs to | | | | human rights has lead a country which has eliminated |
| survive. Furthermore I can add that it would be an | | | | illiteracy, has a medical system which is amongst the |
| act of obstinacy rather then anything else that would | | | | world's best and this despite of the American |
| lead any to continue this failed foreign policy as it | | | | embargo and having had Soviet founding cut over 15 |
| does not require much astuteness on anybody's part | | | | years ago. As for change; Cuba is moving slowly |
| to see that if this strategy were going to work it | | | | toward a free market by allowing small private |
| would have done so already and if it has not done so | | | | businesses to emerge much like China. I for my own |
| after 48 years then any man or woman who has | | | | can not help but think of all the further changes |
| even some use of common sense can see that it is | | | | toward a free market and society that would have |
| not going to. | | | | come about if the United States had seen Cuba in |
| Â | | | | the same light as they do China or even Vietnam; |
| Sometimes or rather quit often the truth as to why | | | | which in not only my opinion but that of many others |
| things are done or not is what we need to look for | | | | are clear examples of what transformations may |
| ourselves specially with regards to politics were it is | | | | occur when embargoes are not applied. |
| not always convenient for those in power to reveal it | | | | Â |
| to us. Let us look at Cuba, yes it is true they are not | | | | In all this it is fortunate for the people of Cuba that |
| a democratic society and do not even pretend to be | | | | the European Union does not have to pamper to the |
| one and we are told this is the reason the United | | | | wishes of a select few as they are taking the steps |
| States has resorted to an embargo. Of course one | | | | which they should have done so a long time ago by |
| could seriously argue weather an embargo has ever | | | | lifting their embargo of the island. Naturally this lifting |
| or will ever produce changes anywhere of any kind | | | | of sanctions brings along strings that come in the |
| other then negative ones for the people of the | | | | form of requiring the Cuban government to release |
| country given that those in power always manage to | | | | political prisoners, engage in dialogue with their political |
| get by more then nicely. With regards to Cuba's | | | | opposition and an overall improvement of human |
| democracy or lack of which to this I would say that | | | | rights that would include a freer press. I might go |
| it is not every government that can maintain the | | | | further with this line by claiming that as much as I am |
| principles of democracy as well as some of our other | | | | against the institution which is the Vatican; I would |
| trading partners such as China, Saudi Arabia, Chile | | | | have to admit though it pleases me not in the least |
| (under Pinochet), Vietnam and even the Soviet Union. | | | | to do so that the late Pope (John Paul II) brought |
| This last country being one whom we never had an | | | | about more democratic changes in Cuba with one |
| embargo (other then the grain embargo which was | | | | visit then the American embargo has in 48 years. |
| quickly drooped) against even during the worst | | | | This being the case with his visit which lead to some |
| tensions of the cold war. With regards to Vietnam, I | | | | political prisoners being released along with churches |
| can give the example of how an American Vietnam | | | | being allowed to open for the first time since the |
| Veteran asked if America does not have an embargo | | | | revolution. |
| against a country like Vietnam; whom we were once | | | | Â |
| at war with, why does it have one against a country | | | | According to polls taken in recent years and some |
| which technically speaking we were never at war | | | | even going back as far as the 1992 Presidential |
| with? I might even add it was us who tried to invade | | | | elections; most Americans are opposed to the |
| Cuba and not the other way around. Â | | | | American embargo on Cuba but it is not most |
| Â | | | | Americans that are deciding American policy toward |
| This last point brings me to a conclusion which I feel | | | | Cuba but a small group of Cuban Americans (some of |
| can not be totally wrong and it being that if we look | | | | which have not as much as set foot in Cuba) living |
| at what Cuba has. The answer would be nothing of | | | | mostly in Florida who have been given the |
| any real value to offer the US as what it has is sugar | | | | undeserved right to dictate American policy toward |
| which we can produce ourselves or buy somewhere | | | | Cuba simply because they come from this country. I |
| else very cheaply. For instance The Dominican | | | | say undeserved because if we look at history did |
| Republican which was even known to use child labor | | | | any other ethnic group ever get to decide American |
| to in its production of the same commodity. Cuba | | | | foreign policy toward the nation they came from? |
| has beautiful beaches which I hope to visit one day | | | | Did German Americans get to decide American policy |
| even if my country (much to what should be the | | | | toward Germany during W.W. I or W.W. II or did |
| shame of Americans) does not lift its embargo but | | | | Russian Americans get the same privilege with |
| then again it is not like Americans do not have | | | | regards to the Soviet Union or did Vietnamese |
| beaches in the US or other nearby Caribbean | | | | Americans or those who came from Vietnam get to |
| countries. Cigars is another thing Cuba has to offer; | | | | do likewise with regards to American policy toward |
| which based upon my knowledge though not | | | | the country they had left? They did not and theirs |
| experience are reported to be the best in world but | | | | was an opinion that was not even requested so I |
| again as is the case with sugar; it is not that this a | | | | enquire why should Cuban Americans get to decide |
| product which is all that vital to our economy and | | | | the policy of our nation as a whole toward their |
| which we could not get in another country (though | | | | country of origin when other ethnic groups did not |
| perhaps not of the same quality) like Jamaica. | | | | receive the same privilege. Also taking in to account |
| Â | | | | that American foreign policy toward Cuba does not |
| Once we eliminate these three items Cuba has little | | | | only effect Cuban Americans but all Americans. |
| to offer the American economy however I ask if | | | | Â |
| they had oil as does Saudi Arabia or a huge | | | | This boils down to the real issue as to the reality of |
| population with costs of labor being dirt cheap as | | | | this absurd embargo's raison d'être which is to |
| they are in China; would we then be overlooking their | | | | obtain the votes of those Cuban Americans living in |
| human rights record or lack of democracy as we | | | | Florida that are crucial to any candidate wishing to |
| conveniently do so with the above mentioned | | | | win this vital state. I for my part claim to be of the |
| countries? This is a question which at best can be | | | | notion that if not for a voting system (Electoral |
| retorted with an educated guess which would come | | | | College) which is even more antiquated and senseless |
| in the affirmative. | | | | then the embargo I argue against; the issue would be |
| Â | | | | decided by our nation as a whole who would be |
| Some would say another reason for the embargo is | | | | allowed to debate the matter. Instead of a handful |
| the "Cuban Missile Crisis" but this lacks as much sense | | | | of Cuban Americans who from my point of view |
| as the embargo does because if we look at the | | | | seem more concerned with being vengeful against |
| events that lead up to this crisis it was the Soviet | | | | their country of origin then in bringing about real |
| Union putting missiles in Cuba that created it. Cuba | | | | change. I however do not deny that there might be |
| merely allowed its territory to be used for this | | | | some Cuban Americans who wish well for their |
| purpose. A decision which perhaps might have even | | | | country. Therefore it is to those who truly want |
| been forced on Castro as the Soviets were not ones | | | | democracy in Cuba as opposed to those who simply |
| to give their satellites much in the way of options as | | | | want a regime change so they might get their hands |
| was the case with countries like Poland, | | | | on some cheap land before the price goes up that I |
| Czechoslovakia, Hungary, the DDR, Romania and | | | | say that history has made it clear that the way to |
| Bulgaria. We may speculate weather or not Castro | | | | bring about change is not embargoes or sanctions but |
| willingly went along with Khrushchev on that one but | | | | negotiations which should not be confused with |
| let us claim that for all intensive purposes, since we | | | | appeasement. |
| have not concrete proof otherwise that he did so on | | | | Â |
| his own free will. If this was the case then why place | | | | In conclusion I will say that if one thing I share with |
| an embargo on only the country that allowed missiles | | | | those who desire to prolong America's embargo on |
| to be put on their territory aimed at us and not the | | | | Cuba; it is that I like they wish to see the end of |
| country that actually put those missiles there in first | | | | Castro's communist dictatorship but unlike them I feel |
| place. Of coarse always bearing in mind that we too | | | | the way to go about it is another. Dialog instead of |
| had missiles of our own aimed at the Soviet Union, | | | | sanctions or embargoes is what not only I but millions |
| also from countries which were close to them such | | | | through out the United States are calling for and yet |
| as Turkey and West Germany. | | | | our voices are not being heard simply because we |
| Â | | | | contrary to those who wish to continue the embargo |
| As for the Castro's government many things can be | | | | can not vote in Florida. |
| said against it but let us not forget the facts which | | | | |