Obama to Announce Easing in U.S.-Cuba Relations

A change in U.S.-Cuban relations is terribly overdue in my opinion, by atleast 30 years. The embargo may have been presented to the public as only being put in place to stop Soviet ICBM's from being installed on the island nation, but it really was designed to formulate dissent among the citizens who would have hopefully thrown Castro out and re-allowed American interests to operate in Cuba as like before the revolution.

But it never happened. For so long after the Soviets withdrew and promised never to redeploy, the embargo remained in place without question. Even after the collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of the (first) Cold War, the United States government continued to punish the citizens of Cuba with no thought of compromise or forgiveness - while still continuing to trade freely and maintain good relations with other overseas countries that openly oppose, jail, and murder their own citizens on scales that dwarf what may have occurred in Cuba.

It's been a blight on American international relations for decades, and one that needs to be fixed and healed for the betterment of both nations. Cuba may still be communist, but I sincerely believe that once American goods, materials and ideas start flowing into this island that it may very well inspire the people of Cuba to weight the benefits and drawbacks of their current political system.

You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.

They are announcing that Obama "may" announce they are going to ease relations? That doesn't mean anything. US "relations" with Cuba are sanctions, embargoes and general piss-ant, pay back for throwing out Batista (our guy in Havana ) and the Mob wayyy back when. Poor US business men and government bureaucrats didn't get their casino junkets and Cabana boys anymore. One of the reasons Kennedy was killed was because he let the Bay of Pigs invasion falter at the critical moment.

If anything, this "pre announcement announcement" is just a prelude to some other US control freak measures that will only make it worse for them now, too.

I don't expect the decades of abuse at the hands of the US government to change at all.

Except maybe in one area…

"Easing up" will let the drugs flow smoother.

I'm going on a vacation - to Cuba (or as Cubans say "Cooba"). That would be #1 on my list - I know you can get there without too much trouble even now - but I want a direct flight. I'd love to step off that plane and just soak up the culture as an appreciating and well-mannered guest in that country. It's ridiculous the embargo is still there in the first place honestly. reply to: AugustusMasonicus

How predictable .. to stop Russia from getting close to Cuba .. another move to try to isolate Russia ..taking away Russia's friends ..
They screw Cuba for decades .. then think they can just waltz in and pretend to be nice .. lol

a reply to: AugustusMasonicus

The political calculation is that there are now more Cuban-Americans born in the US who bear no bitter grudge against the "Marxist" government than there are refugees who are adamantly opposed to it. The younger voters will welcome the opportunity to visit their "homeland" for the first time, whereas the conservative older generation is literally dying out, swinging Florida back towards the Democratic party.

originally posted by: JohnnyCanuck

originally posted by: MOMof3
a reply to: ladyinwaiting

Me too. I would love to see Cuba. I hear it is a beautiful island. I think this is a good thing.

I love Cuba, it's a beautiful place, the people are great, and I'm returning for trip #6 in a couple of months. I think normalsiation with the US would be a good thing, though I think it would be better for the residents to phase in a social democracy like the Nordic countries rather than to just open the gates and put the country's resources up in a fire sale like they did in Russia.

Johnny, how much work does it take to get in there? I heard it was difficult! Or is it U.S. laws that make it hard to go in, and they welcome Canadians? Here, when I see an American there, it's typically a "celebrity", or someone who can pull some strings. Or is that over? I haven't checked into it in years.

Six visits! Please tell more!

a reply to: DJW001

An interesting ploy. I can only speak from anecdotal experience, but all the Cubans I know, and I know a decent amount having been involved in the cigar industry, I can say that even the younger ones are more on the conservative side and feel the Democratic party does not advocate for them.

originally posted by: AugustusMasonicus
a reply to: JohnnyCanuck

Either one is better than the end of the stick they have now.

Not when you consider the number of Russians that are pining for the 'good old days' because Russia is now a total kleptocracy/oligarchy.

originally posted by: ladyinwaiting

Johnny, how much work does it take to get in there? I heard it was difficult!

You just need to fly to Canada and take a connecting flight.

Not difficult, but technically also not legal.

a reply to: ladyinwaiting

Have a passport. That's about it. We Canadians have been enjoying Cuba as a vacation spot for quite a while. There is direct flights from my little local airport to Cuba.

a reply to: DJW001
They don't care about the younger voters .. as voters have never played a part in elections in the US .. it's always rigged .. they just want to isolate Russia .. thats all they want right now ..

The only Cuban I "know" is Ricky Ricardo. : (

a reply to: junglimogli

If it were all about Russia then I think Venezuela would also be on the table as their oil production would have much more economic impact then the tourist trade with Cuba.

originally posted by: AugustusMasonicus

originally posted by: ladyinwaiting

Johnny, how much work does it take to get in there? I heard it was difficult!

You just need to fly to Canada and take a connecting flight.

Not difficult, but technically also not legal.

Um. That's what I thought.

originally posted by: ladyinwaiting

The only Cuban I "know" is Ricky Ricardo. : (

Then you have some splainin' to do. Go out and make some Cuban friends, Miami is a good start.

originally posted by: ladyinwaiting

originally posted by: JohnnyCanuck

originally posted by: MOMof3
a reply to: ladyinwaiting

Me too. I would love to see Cuba. I hear it is a beautiful island. I think this is a good thing.

I love Cuba, it's a beautiful place, the people are great, and I'm returning for trip #6 in a couple of months. I think normalsiation with the US would be a good thing, though I think it would be better for the residents to phase in a social democracy like the Nordic countries rather than to just open the gates and put the country's resources up in a fire sale like they did in Russia.

Johnny, how much work does it take to get in there? I heard it was difficult! Or is it U.S. laws that make it hard to go in, and they welcome Canadians? Here, when I see an American there, it's typically a "celebrity", or someone who can pull some strings. Or is that over? I haven't checked into it in years.

Six visits! Please tell more!

I do believe it comes down to a US Treasury ban on spending money in Cuba, and that creates the illegality. We do see some Americans, as their passports are not stamped by Cuba, and they are welcomed. I usually see Canadians (lots of them, Quebecois), Brits, Krauts, and some Argentinians. This year we'll be renting one of those old classic cars and a driver/guide to go back to Havana. Yes, there is still poverty in the land...but each year I go things look improved.

O please don't let this thread deteriorate into a political debate, though!

scuza...double post...

originally posted by: JohnnyCanuck

O please don't let this thread deteriorate into a political debate, though!

It is kind of a political thread with the embargo being a political creation. I would prefer if it did not get contentious however as this is a rather interesting development worth discussing civilly.

originally posted by: AugustusMasonicus

originally posted by: JohnnyCanuck

O please don't let this thread deteriorate into a political debate, though!

It is kind of a political thread with the embargo being a political creation. I would prefer if it did not get contentious however as this is a rather interesting development worth discussing civilly.

I agree 100%!

a reply to: JohnnyCanuck

Thanks! Just wondering.... is it expensive for hotels, meals? Is there shopping? I would love walking tours around in Havana with a camera. What foods do they serve in restaurants? Is it more like Mexican? (which Americans are fools for Mexican food).

But still, I can't go if it's illegal. Plus, I'm much closer to Cuba geographically than Canada, so going to Canada first would make it quite a long and expensive journey for me.