Bienvenidos a Cuba … It’s About Time!

That probably gives me more firsthand knowledge than some of our politicians who are trying to get brownie points for future elections. 

Compared to some of the countries with whom we have diplomatic relations, Cuba is relatively benign.  They are the first to send medicine and supplies to disaster areas in the world and worked alongside U. S. and international volunteers in the recent Ebola crisis.  Their medical system includes everyone and all children are required to go to school. 

I looked up Forbes Magazine’s “Ten Top Worst Dictators” and it is a little dated but Fidel Castro was towards the bottom of the list.  Haven’t we learned that we cannot make every country into a mirror image of the U.S.?  There are some cultures where our brand of government just doesn’t work.  We hear from the opposition that Cuba needs to have free and fair elections.  How many countries including our own have “free and fair” elections?  We need to clean up our own act. 

As much as they wanted to, even the anti-Cuban War hawks couldn’t tie the country to 9/11.  People who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.  Yes we had five Cuban nationals who were convicted of spying.  At the same time one of the U.S. prisoners who returned with Alan Gross was convicted of spying for the U.S and has served more than 20 years in a Cuban jail. So, it is OK for the U.S. to spy on Cuba but if they also do it, Uncle Sam cripples their economy therefore punishing eleven million people. 

We have relations with Viet Nam, China, Egypt, Saudi Arabia etc.  None of whom can be described as democracies or as upholders of human rights.  What is the difference?  Economics and power.  Those countries are strategically important to the U.S.  Isn’t it hypocritical to have one standard for countries that are good for business or military support and another for an Island 90 miles from the U.S. mainland.   How many Cubans in the last fifty years have blown up our buildings or crashed our computer systems? 

From a historical perspective, the fact that Cuba became almost a satellite of the Soviet Union is the fault of the U.S., and the Kennedy Administration.  One of my good friends in the U.S. military was at the Bay of Pigs Invasion on the Cuban beach waiting for U.S. Air Force planes which never came.   What would have happened if Kennedy had followed the original plan and we had invaded Cuba? 

{module [862]}
{module [662]}

Would it  have become a “territory” like Puerto Rico?  Would we have pushed the Soviet Union into World War III as Castro had wanted?  We don’t know—it is what it is. 

President Obama stated, when he was running for President the first time, that he wanted relations with other countries and Cuba was on his “bucket list.”  This was perfect timing! 

I haven’t seen gasoline prices under three dollars a gallon in ages.  While we enjoy the lower prices, it has played havoc with some of the countries in the world.  Russia has thrown its weight around because Putin could control the price and distribution of oil.  Today the ruble has lost more than 60% compared to the dollar and oil prices are down to $60 odd dollars per barrel.  Russia can hardly support itself and its economy is in a free fall.  

Cuba has always counted on the former Soviet Union and now Russia to support its economy.  Venezuela has the same issue because of the price drop in oil.  They were supplying Cuba with something like 1000 barrels of oil a day and instead of cash they were exchanging goods and services.  That will probably not continue.  

The Castro Brothers have not remained in power all this time because they were stupid.  President Raul Castro has allowed some significant openings in the economy and similar to East Germany before the fall of the “iron curtain”, allows some Cubans to operate private businesses, especially in the service industries.  They are also now allowed to sell real estate and buy cars. 

The U.S. dollar is the currency of choice in everything from taxis to restaurants.  Even the large ice cream emporium has one entrance for Cubans who pay in Cuban pesos and one entrance for foreigners who pay in hard currency. 

So, two of Cuba’s benefactors are immersed in their own problems.  Getting Alan Gross back, obtaining the release of 54 political prisoners and talking to each other is a small price to pay.  We have so many problems and issues with other areas of the world—if we can alleviate this situation on our doorstep, we are better off. 

We have had covert relations with Cuba for years.  Even though we have no official Embassy or Consular offices we maintain an “interest team in the Swiss Embassy, and  Guantanamo comes to mind.  When it comes to the moral high road the U. S. has a problem.  Jeb Bush described the Castro Brothers as “heinous.”  If I remember my history, their predecessor  Batista was no paragon of virtue and there was plenty of U.S. investment in that era. 

I don’t understand  Senator Marco Rubio and outgoing Foreign Relations Chairman Robert Melendez. They are crying the sky is falling and that the President is doing the million and a half Cuban Americans a great disservice by opening diplomatic relations.  Other than those who can get permission to visit their families infrequently and send limited amounts of money, the rest of  the Cuban community has no communication with their families in Cuba. 

Both the President and Raul Castro thanked Pope Francis for helping to open the dialogue.  In “Communist” Cuba…one out of every four people identify themselves as Catholic.  Isn’t that a bit of an oxymoron…religion in a communist country?  There has been relaxation of some of the most stringent barriers.  Cubans no longer needs exit visas and even dissidents can leave and return.  Raul Castro has said he is giving up the presidency in 2018.  That gives us two years to make a difference and maybe nurture new leadership. 

Because of the embargo, things like toilet paper, diapers toothpaste are precious commodities.   When I was in Cuba I was amazed at the amount of construction in Hotels, resorts etc., with German Spanish and Asian investment.  Just imagine the bonanza for car manufacturers.   The U.S. agricultural industry has been lobbying to open relations for years.   In fact both the Farm Bureau and the U. S. Chamber of Commerce issued strong letters this week, in favor of restoring trade.  They hardly ever agree with President Obama.  You think the Koch Brothers see a new market? 

Under the new guidelines travel to Cuba for certain occupations will be easier.  Also for those of you who have been salivating for a Cuban cigar or have sneaked them in, will be able to bring $100.00 worth of tobacco products and $400.00 of other things. 

The rest of Latin America does business and has relatively unfettered travel to Cuba.  Some of those countries have not been paragons of virtue the last half century… but we still have trade and diplomatic relations with them.  Does anyone recall the name “Pinochet” or Peron?  There are only four countries in the world that the U. S. does not have relations…Iran, Bhutan, North Korea and Cuba.  We did close our Embassy in Syria. 

Recent polls have shown that the majority of American people are ready to improve relations with Cuba.  Even in South Miami, the second and third generation Cubans are not that upset.  It is the original Cuban referees who came to our shores and were able to prosper, who are kicking up the fuss.  They obviously don’t want their prior countrymen to have some of the same opportunities that they had. 

Yes … people were imprisoned unjustly;  Yes … Cuba tried to incite revolution in other Latin countries; yes … Cuba shot down two small planes carrying supplies to all the people trying to escape to the U.S. during the “rafters campaign.”  Many other countries have done the same or worse but we still talk to them and have trade and diplomatic relations. 

Ideology over humanity never won the hearts and minds of people who are oppressed.  It is time that this obsession with punishing Cuba is over.  We have more important concerns. 

Comments welcome. 

(Denyse Selesnick is a featured CityWatch columnist.  She is a former Publisher/journalist/international event organizer. Denyse can be reached at: [email protected])  

-cw

CityWatch

Vol 12 Issue 102

Pub: Dec 19, 2014