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USA vs Cuba - Page 4

So, I guess if sanctions don't work, don't admit it and move on, just make them tighter!!!

https://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4979303/

Cuba USA

If the sanctions have done nothing, then he wouldn't always be talking about the horrible US government. There would be no protest for there would be nothing to protest against. The fact is that these sanctions have done something. Of course the original goal was to topple the government - something visible for us to see. Have they crippled Castro to the point that his people uprise against him...no. However, his people flee the country in significant amounts yearly.

While it is unpleasant to have to say at this time in history, America wants only to see Castro go and a form of democracy installed in its place. America has tried to dispose of him on numerous occassions, but has given up on that cause. It is now a waiting game. They are waiting for his candle to burn out. However, in this time of waiting, the US wants to give NO hope of improvements that might lead to another communist/socialist regime in his absence.

If you have family there, you are allowed now to go to Cuba (application required). This was a direct result of "new" Cuban-Americans using the political system to overturn a bad law. This was a significant step a few years ago. America asks its citizens not to go there if you have no family there and I can live with that. America asks us not to buy Cuban products and I can live with that (would love to try a Cuban cigar someday) and I am even in Japan right now.

There are many "freedoms" that are restricted. I think I should be allowed to drive 80mph on the highway because I am a good driver. In times of war, the draft has been used. If my government asked for my support, should I be able to just say "I don't feel like supporting this initiative" and be allowed to stay in the country? Of course, just following orders is not acceptable, it is up to the person to weigh it.

The way I look at it is: My government has asked me to not buy Cuban goods or travel to Cuba. I do not find this a crime against humanity and enjoy being a American. If I felt strongly enough otherwise, I should rally support to overturn such a law/practice or I should think about other citizenships that are more in-line with my beliefs.

Is it childish that our American Presidents and Castro continue to play this game of "who blinks first"? Of course it is, but it takes 2 to play the game. However, we rotate presidents every 4 to 8 years and Castro is but one man. The day that he closes his eyes, you will see fairly quick removal of the embargos and restrictions. Until then, I will take holiday elsewhere and my cigars will be Nicaraguan.

Just a thought,

Vincenzo

USA vs Cuba History & Civil Business Politics

I am an American citizen and I think it is funny how most Americans take no responsibility for the Governments actions. Also I have no response to anyone who is not an american or atleast who has not lived here for an extended period of time. Only because these people have no idea what they are saying, how could they? They have never experienced it. Back to the point of responsibility, we as Americans do have choices of where we can go, it comes in the form of a vote and not just for president, your local school board and on up. We vote these people in to act on our behalf to make decisions in our sted. All elections count and the majority rules, now if you take this responsibility seriously and if all Americans took this seriously the world I believe would be a different place. Instead we like to sit around and complain about our rights being compromised when we voted for or maybe we didn't have time to vote that day for the official who is litterally making our decisions for us, but we are all to quick to point out when that person does something we do not llike or in the case of Cuba. If you think it is wrong call your congressman organize and fight for what you believe in, that is what America is about, your responsibility to do something because your one of the few countries who can speak up without the threat of reprisals. Lets stop blaming our officials and help them to lead this country and make decisions that are good for us as well as the world. My point, stop whining and do something about it, it is your rite or better yet responsibility.

Page 4 Cuba USA

brw1202, this thread is not a place for you to lecture US citizens on their civic duties. This thread is about whether or not you think it is o.k. for the US citizens to be prohibited from visiting Cuba. This is a discussion forum. That is what we do, discuss things. If you don't want to contribute to the discussion then remain silent. Otherwise, how about sharing your opinion on why or why not it is o.k. relative to Cuba. If you want to discuss changing laws or whining or how laws are made in the US that could be another thread, but not in this thread.

Also, this is an international forum. Therefore, anyone is free to share their opinions on any thread, whether or not they are US citizens. It is for discussion not lecture.

This right has been severely reduced recently. The number of visits allowed has been cut and who counts as family changed. No more cousins or aunts and uncles for example.

Your government has not asked you anything. They have commanded it. How is this any different than a communist country refusing their citizens permission to travel to another country. We look at these communist countries of the past and say the fact they wouldn't let their citizens travel to certain countries is an example of the fact that their society, as it was, didn't work. We believe it to be because they were afraid of losing their important citizens. This may be true, but for them it was a matter of saying, these people are important to the well being of our government. Just as the US is saying, embargo of Cuba is important to the well being of US government. I see little difference.

Edited: tenaheff on 6th Feb, 2005 - 12:15pm

Cuba USA

This is an interesting thread..I really would like to hear Nighthawk opinion on this..

The true is that any restriction of this kind is against the freedom of travel. I understand "strong suggestions not to" , but interdiction is not something I can agree on.

USA vs Cuba

Darn, I thought I had commented in this topic. (But it is nice to see that someone wants to read what I have to write about a subject )

Actually, I don't have a very strong opinion about this. I understand the reasons for the embargo quite well. Cuba was a huge threat to us in the 1960s, even into the 1970s. Granted that the threat is pretty much eliminated, Cuba does still export a lot of communist idealogy into Latin America.

I don't know whether or not the embargo is really effective. There are a lot of countries around the world that trade with Cuba, perfectly well. I know that Cuban products are readily available throughout Europe, Canada, and Latin America. So, is lack of US trade really affecting the situation? I don't know.

Now, to the more personal aspects. That certainly is a difficult subject. I don't like the fact that US citizens and residents are forbidden to travel to Cuba. From a libertarian point of view, this seems very wrong. However, the embargo really wouldn't be worth anything at all if a lot of Americans were travelling to Cuba and spending their tourism dollars there.

So, I don't have a good answer. Sorry about that. Life, especially when national security policies are applied, is complex and not always fair.

Offtopic but, Yes, I did use the dreaded "American" word. Everyone else in the Americas have other names that can easily be used to reference who they are and where they come from. Trinis, Canadians, Mexicans, Argentinians, Cubans, and Costa Ricans may dislike it, but is certainly easier to say "American" than it is to always say or write "citizen or resident of the United States of America". Right?

USA Cuba - Page 4

My use of the word "ask" was a bit on the lite side. Commands or requires was probably more suitable. However, the US government has authored volumes of books that command or require me "to do" or "not to do" many things that taper my freedoms. In a democracy, we are not free to do as we please. We enjoy a great deal of freedoms, but there are limitations and the government has decided to make this restriction.

I have tried to find this change to the family visitation, but have not been able to. I would be more interested on the reason of this change. However, my point of mentioning this was to show that there are "some" that are able to go to Cuba. It would be interesting to know if this change followed the "Patriot Act". The only thing I would guess is that it may be more difficult of a job to verify aunts, uncles and cousins as being "genuine".

To say it a different way: I would love to visit the beaches of Cuba, tastes the rum, try a cigar and enjoy the cuisine - of course! However, my government has required me not do do this and I am OK with it. Should I be able to visit Cuba? It is definitely on my list as soon as the US government allows me to go.

Offtopic but, When I was a young adult living at home, my parents did not particularly like one of the people that I was hanging around (I was 18 - and it turns out they were probably right in doing so) and told me that if I continued hanging around with this person that I would have to move out of the house. I liked living in that house and made a decision and stayed until I was 20. Should I have had the freedom to befriend who I wanted to? Of course, it is the USA and I was a adult.

USA Cuba Politics Business Civil & History - Page 4

As those of you who are regulars to the forum know, I am first and foremost for freedom in the lives of all United States citizens. I feel that forbidding us to go to Cuba is wrong and takes part of our freedom away. All people should be free to travel where they will as long as the other country is willing to take them.

That being said, I didn't grow up in the same era as my parents when the communist threat from Cuba was real. Its easy to say lift the ban since Cuba has been a pussy cat since I can remember. My Parents grew up in a time when they had to have nuclear attack drills in school. It must be difficult to accept the ban on travel to Cuba being lifted when you remember how threatening they where and how close you came to a nuclear attack. I understand why my parents are against lifting it.

I have never seen a reason to not allow travel to Cuba. I also haven't lived in fear like my parents did. So I will defer to the governments choice to continue the trend. I don't necessarily agree with it, but I think there is a precedent for it and a history most cant ignore.