Barack Obama should and probably will relax Cuba travel restrictions
News item: A Brookings Institution report advocates lifting travel restrictions on Americans wishing to visit Cuba. It further suggests removing Cuba from the State Department’s list of countries that sponsor terrorism.
This should happen, and my guess is it will happen, during the Barack Obama presidency.
The president-elect, on his website, states that his administration will "empower our best ambassadors of freedom by allowing unlimited Cuban American family travel and remittances to the island."
Obama appears hopeful that the post-Fidel Castro government will be less oppressive and that relations will improve. If Cuban Americans are allowed unrestricted travel, ordinary Americans, seemingly, would soon thereafter enjoy the same privilege.
Reaction: Hooray for freedom to openly visit, for the first time in 50 years, a Caribbean island nation that boasts stunningly beautiful beaches; some of the world’s best fishing for tarpon, permit and bonefish; spectacular scuba diving; rollicking surf breaks; a vibrant night life, and, of course, savory cigars.
Christopher Columbus described Cuba as "the most beautiful land seen by human eyes," and I’d like to see for myself, legally, while I’m fit and active.
Canadians and Europeans should not be the only tourists to enjoy unfettered access to a scenic outdoors paradise that is essentially in our backyard.
Punitive sanctions imposed on the Cuban government have helped no one.
The country, though its people probably would benefit from a democratic system of government, poses no threat.
Lifting the trade embargo would be viewed by some as a sign of weakness, but in reality it would make the U.S. appear less arrogant and become a step toward improving ties between the U.S. and all of Latin America.
Obama has more pressing matters, sure. But this would be almost as easy as flipping a switch. Stay tuned, and start conducting your travel research.
--Pete Thomas
Top photo: Cuba's National Hotel, founded more than 75 years ago, has been visited by celebrities such as Johnny Weissmuller, Frank Sinatra, Robert Redford, Steven Spielberg and Jack Nicholson. Credit: Alejandro Ernesto / European Pressphoto Agency. Lower photo: Fishermen enjoy Havana's Malecon. Credit: Gail Fisher / Los Angeles Times
The USA as a beacon of democracy must not and should not restricts its citizens.
Freedom of trade and movement are hallmarks of our democracy. Let's not fall for false excuses in the abridgments of our freedoms.
I trust the change promised by Mr. Obama reaches the failed policies of the USA with respect to Cuba.
Posted by: Milton Sanchez-Parodi, MD | January 05, 2009 at 11:19 AM
Pete hits the nail on the head when he talks about reducing US arrogance in Latin America as the way to improve relations with the continent. Beginning a dialogue based on mutual respect with Cuba will go a long ways in that direction, especially if the result is an end to a half century policy that has only brought hardship on Cubans and failed in its political objectives. For a balanced and diverse look at Cuba today please check out my site at www.havanatimes.org
Posted by: Circles Robinson | January 06, 2009 at 06:50 AM
Lifting the travel Embargo would show the world that Obama is a different kind of US President and this move would be popular with the UN, foreign countries and most Cuban Americans.
It's clearly a win/win/win.
Then onto lifting the travel Embargo for all Americans.
Posted by: Havana Journal | January 06, 2009 at 07:27 AM
Kudos to you, Mr. Thomas, you make some great points. So what if Cuba is the most repressive and murderous dictatorship in the Western Hemisphere, we Americans should still be able to enjoy the island's beaches, fishing, vistas, and let's not forget that vibrant night-life! Sure, the Cuban people are enslaved by a criminal thugocracy, but that only means we would have plenty of Cuban slaves ready to wait on us hand and foot.
Your argument effectively neutralizes any argument embargo proponents may have because you have eliminated the future of the Cuban people from the equation. If we don't have to think about how our dollars would go to a dictatorship that keeps its people as slaves and murders any of them that dares to step out of line, what point then would there be in continuing the embargo?
Perhaps in one of your future posts you can tell us about the vacation opportunities in Darfur. Sure, there have been a few hundred-thousand people murdered there, but none of them seemed to be American, so who cares? We should be able to enjoy the natural beauty of the area as long as the people being killed and tortured are not us.
Posted by: Alberto de la Cruz | January 06, 2009 at 09:15 AM
"For a balanced and diverse look at Cuba today"
Circles Robinson works for the Cuban government so don't expect much "balance" at HavanaTimes.org.
He constantly hides the fact that he is a Cuban government propagandist.
See http://HavanaTimes.COM for proof.
Posted by: Havana Journal | January 06, 2009 at 09:15 AM
Mr. Thomas seems to have forgotten that Cuba is run by a one-man dictatorship for the last 50 years, a regime that has done away with any and all freedoms in the island. Its beautiful beaches are stained with the blood of those killed by the Castro tyranny, including many who have perished trying the leave the wonderful paraise Mr. Thomas is so anxious to visit. Can he be any more naive? Shame on those Canadians and Europeans who go to Cuba and mostly use it for cheap sex, frequently of the underage kind.
Posted by: Alex Torres | January 06, 2009 at 09:33 AM
You pro-embargo people seem to forget that we deal with far FAR worse countries than Cuba. Look at China and Saudi Arabia to name a few. Hell, we can even travel to NORTH KOREA easier than we can Cuba. We can travel to any country but CUBA? That is not freedom my friends. I want this embargo dropped tomorrow. I hate my freedoms being beholden to a special interests group. At least Obama is going in the right direction. Drop the embargo NOW. Spare me your "Castro is a terrorist" schtick... it isn't true. He's not a nice guy, but he isn't the worst dictator in the world by far.
Posted by: Fred | January 20, 2009 at 09:03 PM
Unfortunately those who are anti-Castro do not know history. Castro replaced Batista who ran a real mafia-infested, murderous state. There was no concern about the people -- only for sex and exploitation. Castro reversed all that, giving social programs such as free education and medical needs. Unfortunately he had to act like a police-state dictator to avoid the plots by the CIA which constantly tried to assassinate him and his followers, while attempting to destroy the economy by disease to animals and crops. The embargo is illegal and criminal but only exists because of the military power of the US. The last UN vote was 183 to 3 indicating that only US lackeys go along with this criminal act. Where would the US be if everybody boycotted or embargoed the US? The US will soon get a taste of what happens when its currency is devalued and nobody wants it.
JJR
Posted by: John Rosso | February 03, 2009 at 05:38 PM
Facebook censors Cuban activist Luis Moro from speaking out against the embargo by deleting his account.
Press Release– Feb 10, 2009 – We believe that filmmaker-activist Luis Moro, administrator for End the US Trade Embargo on Cuba group was censored by Facebook for giving information out, or supplying information in detail about how people can help to pass the bill to allow travel between the United States and Cuba by deleting his account without warning.
Los Angeles, Feb 10 / Moro Films LLC has released a statement to the press about what Luis Moro believes is a direct infringement in his right to free speech and censorship by Facebook. Luis Moro was networking and socializing on Facebook, abiding by all of their Terms and Conditions. On Feb 09, 2009 at 9:30 pm Luis Moro was on Facebook speaking about the Travel bill, when his account was abruptly deleted with no notice or warning. He was one of the administrators of ‘End the US Trade Embargo on Cuba’ group on Facebook with over 2,800 members.
Luis and his wife, Bobbi Miller-Moro immediately wrote to Facebook at info@Facebook.com and requested an explanation and to return Luis’ page immediately. Not only was he using Facebook to network, but to socialize with hundreds of his friends. He had more than 700 ‘friends’ and growing, from fans of his films, and his ex-Rutgers footballer friends and childhood friends. If he ever met his quota in adding friends in a day, Facebook would send a warning to stop, and he would. Other than that, there was no illegal activity or scandalous behavior that would warrant such actions from Facebook.
Cuban born Luis Moro made a film in Cuba and since then has been a visible outspoken voice against the Embargo on Cuba and has provided detailed information and request a call to action from pro-‘free Cuba’ supporters in his site www.EverythingCuba.com. Moro is accustomed to this controversy being that his stand against the embargo has been a heated topic for many pro-embargo hardliners.
Facebook has deleted many accounts with no explanation as to why. They monitor how many friends you have and whether they are ‘real’ or not. They left an anti-Islam site up after hundreds of thousands of protests from Facebook users. Afro Cuban Luis Moro never once said a hateful remark, but only promotes peace.
“There is no freedom of speech on the Internet so long as the platforms for speech are provided by private companies dancing to the demands of the largest market.” –Jason Lee Miller WebProNews
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Posted by: Women Without Borders | February 10, 2009 at 03:11 PM