One result of the GOP primary election -- the total defeat of Florida U.S. Senator Marco Rubio by state GOP primary voters -- is to clear the way for state party leaders to walk away from the steadfast opposition to the Cuba embargo that anchored GOP politics for nearly sixty years.
Florida voters spoke last Tuesday, and the message they delivered on a host of GOP talking points -- from Cuba to global warming -- is clear: it is time for change.
President Obama has done as much as any president could do, within the power of the executive branch, to normalize relations with Cuba. Turning the tide means that U.S. voters will have to return a filibuster proof majority to Democrats this November, or, a GOP controlled Congress will have to make peace and accept that the embargo and related obstacles need to come down.
There are logical reasons for the GOP to address the Cuba obstructionism now, but the party is in too much disarray over nominating a presidential candidate. Republican leaders seem incapable of doing anything, now, except to ensure the GOP lives to fight another day.
The regime controlling Cuba has the same problem. Financial reparations to U.S. citizens, who were born in Cuba or once owned property there -- require a considerable adjustment of expectations by the Cuban government. Its leaders are also preoccupied with living to fight another day.
Presidents don't go to foreign places for photo ops without reason. His trip to Cuba is perhaps the best example from his presidency; every symbolic gesture will demand some sign of concrete achievement.
Cuba is a nation of vast human potential. It is also a tragic place with wasted lives, opportunity, and a history of oppression. On that score: we shouldn't moralize. While the opening of Cuba to American visitors and a tourism-economy is exposing the inadequacy of infrastructure and the persistence of state-sponsored inefficiencies, one hopes that the Cuban government itself is energized by the first visit of a U.S. president since Calvin Coolidge.
To elevate this moment to a grander place than symbolism will require real and substantive change by the Cuban government. The best way to live to fight another day is to adapt and to evolve; not towards power and greed, but to grace.
Florida voters spoke last Tuesday, and the message they delivered on a host of GOP talking points -- from Cuba to global warming -- is clear: it is time for change.
President Obama has done as much as any president could do, within the power of the executive branch, to normalize relations with Cuba. Turning the tide means that U.S. voters will have to return a filibuster proof majority to Democrats this November, or, a GOP controlled Congress will have to make peace and accept that the embargo and related obstacles need to come down.
There are logical reasons for the GOP to address the Cuba obstructionism now, but the party is in too much disarray over nominating a presidential candidate. Republican leaders seem incapable of doing anything, now, except to ensure the GOP lives to fight another day.
The regime controlling Cuba has the same problem. Financial reparations to U.S. citizens, who were born in Cuba or once owned property there -- require a considerable adjustment of expectations by the Cuban government. Its leaders are also preoccupied with living to fight another day.
Presidents don't go to foreign places for photo ops without reason. His trip to Cuba is perhaps the best example from his presidency; every symbolic gesture will demand some sign of concrete achievement.
Cuba is a nation of vast human potential. It is also a tragic place with wasted lives, opportunity, and a history of oppression. On that score: we shouldn't moralize. While the opening of Cuba to American visitors and a tourism-economy is exposing the inadequacy of infrastructure and the persistence of state-sponsored inefficiencies, one hopes that the Cuban government itself is energized by the first visit of a U.S. president since Calvin Coolidge.
To elevate this moment to a grander place than symbolism will require real and substantive change by the Cuban government. The best way to live to fight another day is to adapt and to evolve; not towards power and greed, but to grace.
12 comments:
Sad really. How little you understand the Cuban situation.
I see Cuba a bit different.
The country basically got thrown under the bus for trying to stand up against the US system. Couldn't let that happen right offshore, right.
Remember how Haiti got treated by US after kicking French ass.
Since meddling worked so well in central and south America, Cuba appeared like piece of cake.
But the US did not appreciate the stamina of a 6 to 8 Hours speaking revolutionary with a wagging finger.
At this point it's a stale mate. And who knows if the leadership will give in to capitalist enrichment's like so many other country's have succumbed, like China.
Notice how Raul Castro did not greet Obama at the airport as he's done with other dignitaries?
Very visible sign of continued disdain towards Obama and the US.
Hundreds of dissidents arrested in Havana today. Ladies in White beaten and incarcerated as they left Palm Sunday mass.
Obama's meeting in the US Embassy changed location because of arrests in the street.
How embarrassing for our POTUS.
This POTUS perpetually attracts continuing embarrassments like a magnet !!! DMD
Friend:
What's your take on Obama going to Cuba? Mine is -- I'm not for it at all. Like to hear your perspective.
Me:
What a sad day today is for Cuban Americans. The President of our country is visiting our former homeland to meet with the bloody criminal who uprooted our families and stole our childhood and our homes.
Our parents sent us away via the Catholic Church to sponsors in the US to avoid being taken by the government and sent to the Soviet Union to become good Communists. That was the Peter Pan program begun in 1961-1962. Those bastards broke up families and some of us never saw our parents again and grew up as foster children in the US. It's a long story but you can look it up on line.
In my case, I didn't see my mom for several years because after I claimed her from the US, the Russians were discovered to have nuclear missiles in Cuba in October of 1962 and WWIII was almost upon us and Castro was advocating a nuclear holocaust urging Nikita Kruschev to fire their nukes to the US. Castro is a demented murdering pig as is his brother Raul and Che Guevara, their chief executioner. As for my father, I didn't see him for 17 years. I was already the father of my three children before he could leave the island.
He imprisoned family members and tortured them merely for writing against the revolution. My uncle was a writer and his only crime was to disagree. He was marched many times to the famous wall blindfolded and put before a firing squad only to fire around him to break his spirit, but all that happened was that he became desensitized and actually didn't really care anymore if they shot him or not. This happened to many political prisoners and it is still happening now. Obama thinks water boarding is bad? He's a rookie. My generation of Cuban Americans knows more about the Castro regime and about the evils of Communism than he will ever know This is the story of the generation who fled Cuba in the early years of the revolution.
You need to ask me my take on it? Now you know.
Friend:
WOW. I Just read your response and Laura and were both in agreement with you. Obama is either a total idiot or mis informed , or most probably both. We pretty much figured your opinion, but really appreciated the way you expressed it. I'd like to send it to the Dallas Morning News " letters to the editors " department.
Cuba moves on. It a great day for the people who live in Cuba. With a population that is 80 percent Black, it is great that our first
Black President would move to address a situation that has not worked in 50 years. The former residents of Cuba who now are American citizens and enjoy all the comforts of 21st century America, need to stand back and support the progress of this neighboring country as we bring this population into the 21st century too.
Cuba's totalitarian regime is one of the most racist in the world. How many in the ruling cupola are black?
Only one.
Change is afoot. The people there will determine their destiny.
A mission to China will be held in April to promote business development, trade and tourism in Miami-Dade County.The April 11-23 mission will be led by Jose “Pepe” Diaz, Miami-Dade County commissioner and chairman of the International Trade Consortium Board. Why don't people protest this county taxpayer funded travel to a brutally repressive Communist regime even worse than Cuba?
It is simple. We owe them tons of money. When they talk about the debt, these are some of the people who loan us the money.
Batista is live and well and last seen in Little Havana
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