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