JUST SAYIN’-Wow! Did any of us from the ‘60s and ‘70s ever think we would live long enough to witness the sea changes in Cuban-American relations that President Obama announced last week?!
One of my ongoing concerns has been for the welfare of the Cuban people but also my wish (along with millions of others) to normalize our relationship with our neighbor in the Caribbean.
I have long wanted to visit this tiny nation hoping I could travel freely among the barrios to witness for myself how the people really live and what their thoughts and desires are.
Years ago, I visited Nicaragua under the auspices of Habit for Humanity. It was during the time of the Sandinista-led government. We had to travel there by a circuitous route since direct travel was then not allowed either. I learned a lot and gained much insight into what life was like before and during the Ortega-led administration.
Now a visit to Cuba is being made possible under a more open, more welcoming policy. Just think of the exchange system for students who can learn first-hand about each other’s countries! The policy will encourage a free flow of ideas. Relatives will be able more easily to visit each other. Ex-Patriot Cuban-Americans can consider returning to their motherland. Enhanced import-export trade can contribute to healthier economies there and here. There are so many more possibilities.
It is meaningful that Alan Gross was returned to America on the first day of Chanukah—a holiday that commemorates freedom and miracles, both of which happened on that long-awaited day. It is also significant that other political prisoners were “traded” for each other, in many cases releasing incarcerated persons who had been held for years, almost without hope—kind of an echo from the new movie, Unbroken—“If you can dream it, you can do it.” Gross has admitted he was ready to give up, even to commit suicide, but he held on and his dreams have been realized.
I have worked with WOLA (Washington Office on Latin America). I still wear its Free Cuban Travel t-shirt. I remember how hesitant many Congressional members have been over liberalizing our policies. WOLA and its representatives were often discouraged by those attitudes but, obviously, never gave up, and now I can only imagine how ecstatic everyone is at the WOLA headquarters!.
Karen Bass, our local Congressmember, has pointed out that many of our American students are currently studying in Cuba to learn its advanced medical practices (and will return here without debt to serve for a length of time in the most needy communities—a Nicaraguan concept under the Sandinistas when education was free from the beginning through college as long as the student would dedicate a certain amount of post-graduate time to serve the needs of the most underserved).
She also pointed out that Cuban researchers have discovered more advanced viable treatments for diabetes—a problem that has become a considerable health issue in our nation. If Americans can take advantage of these advances and share them with others, just think to what these patients can look forward.
We still have to overturn the 1995/96 law (the Helms-(Dan) Burton Act, otherwise known by its acronym, LIBERTAD—the Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity Act). It was signed by Clinton and codified the embargo against Cuba, reinforcing and bolstering America’s regressive policies toward that nation. We have seen fit to normalize relations with Communist countries like China (with all of its human rights abuses) yet at the same time have felt comfortable pandering to a small group of Anti-Castro Floridian Republican Cuban-American activists—dragging our feet about moderating our policies (something which could have promoted “modernizing” values within that tiny nation).
Even now, we readily interact with repressive regimes [if it suits our needs (oil, anyone?)]-- places like Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. Why should Cuba be precluded from what would most likely produce mutually beneficial results?
How many more times do we have to overturn the damage that Clinton created when he signed a variety of laws that appeased certain camps of voters (think NAFTA; DOMA; Don’t ask, don’t tell)? It should be obvious that our idea of punishing Cuba to bring about change simply hasn’t worked. If we keep repeating the same thing and nothing changes (as Obama just pointed out), then our outdated policies need to change and need to change now.
In a democracy, the majority view must prevail (so long as the Constitution can support its intentions). In the South, during the Civil Rights era, the majority there wanted to maintain a repugnant and unlawful set of values, but, despite that, we were able to exact changes, through the legal process—disregarding the prevailing views of so many in the South. Sometimes that has to be done.
Therefore, even though there are a number of people who are already outraged by the President’s plan, he must hold his ground and stand on his principles and carry out promises that he had made during that heady period of Hope. Yet, he can only do so much on his own. It is left to Congress to overturn Helms-Burton. To do so, it must not allow itself to be influenced by status quo constituencies.
President Obama stated in a Wednesday speech, Todos somos americanos—We are all Americans (we are, in fact, because the entire Western Hemisphere is otherwise known as the Americas—sometimes we forget that). Raúl Castro (more eagerly than his older brother might have) responded as a future and willing partner. It is true that both brothers are Marxist-Leninists who overthrew the horrific practices of their predecessor, Fulgencio Batista (remember how we once despised him when at the same time many Americans enjoyed the excesses of Havanan life under his despotic regime?).
The Castro concept of bringing social and economic equality to Cuba never really happened, disappointing so many of the hopeful flower generation. Perhaps now Cuba can begin to implement the progressive policies it had promised after Batista’s fall. Remember, it took America a long time to get to where we are today. Have we forgotten the torturous, circuitous route of our own history—struggling with slavery since before the beginning, keeping women to a second-class status, promoting business interests over those of the working class? Cuba will be no different, but I sincerely believe Cuban equanimity will arrive sooner than later.
The ban has cost our country millions, if not billions of dollars in lost capital. Perhaps, more importantly, the effect has also helped create a humanitarian crisis for the people in Cuba (over and above how Cuban policies have impacted their own people). Lifting the embargo can unquestionably produce a positive outcome. An American embassy will soon be established in Havana, and Cuba will be building its legation in D.C. (a significant move forward for both), thus restoring diplomatic relations between the two nations.
Because of its expansive Cuban community, Florida has had significant leverage during Presidential primaries and for the eventual quadrennial election. No state should ever be given so much power that it can negatively influence decisions that affect not only our entire nation but international relations as well. In actuality, what has been a rather red state is becoming not just purple but surely, one day, will be blue [2016 might just bear this out (2020 for sure)]. In fact, Barack Obama won Florida’s electoral vote count each time he ran for President and even garnered a majority of Cuban-American votes there. Yes, things are changing—in favor of a more cosmopolitan way of thinking—and that’s a good thing.
One of the reasons why so many Cuban aristocrats fled the country to reside in large part in Florida was driven by the land redistribution policy which divested them of their gargantuan landholdings (punitive actions for their greedy, selfish, and venal work protocols which deprived the campesinos of a decent standard of living)]. The impact of the five decade-old embargo might, in part, be responsible for the failure of their communist strategies which cut Cuba off from educational and trade exchanges and a whole list of other deprivations. Conceivably, by lifting the embargo, many of those productive visions can be realized.
It is true that President Obama, a Nobel Peace Prize Winner, has advanced an incomplete, somewhat imperfect plan for our contemplation, but his is surely an impressive first step. He is certainly earning his worthiness of that title. Furthermore, working closely with this president (and perhaps behind the scenes as well), we must not forget the role Pope Francis played in being an integral part in the process to bring about these results.
Most other nations have already seen fit to open relations with Cuba. It is time for us to do the same. We have every reason to do so. Many benefits will accrue as a result. The newly freed Gross said upon his release that he hopes that his five-year ordeal will lead to something positive. He said he loves the cubanos who display, as part of their nature, their many kindnesses and goodness. It is time to learn more about them, exchange ideas and values, and be open to new and mutually beneficial partnerships.
Just sayin’.
(Rosemary Jenkins is a Democratic activist and chair of the Northeast Valley Green Alliance. Jenkins has written A Quick-and=Easy Reference to Correct Grammar and Composition, Leticia in Her Wedding Dress and Other Poems, and Vignettes for Understanding Literary and Related Concepts. She also writes for CityWatch. This piece is part of an ongoing CityWatch series … Who Are The Real Angelinos … exploring the myriad peoples and cultures that define Los Angeles.)
-cw
CityWatch
Vol 12 Issue 103
Pub: Dec 23, 2014
