David Taintor

It’s been 47 years since the embargo against Cuba was set.

According to an April 13 CNN article, President Obama has lifted restrictions on Cuba, which would allow people to visit their relatives in Cuba and also send them remittances.

I do think this a good idea because it would help expand services for the United States, which could also bring more money into the country. Even though it wouldn’t open the lines of trade between both countries, it’s a start.

What the U.S. needs right now is open markets, and if the market with Cuba has been closed for such a long time, then it’s a good idea to start something that can lead to an open market in the future.

According to the Cuban Democracy Act of 1992, the act had to be kept as long as the Fidel Castro regime refused to move towards democratization and showed greater respect for human rights.

It’s about time this was done. How many Cubans are there in the United States working for this country, paying their taxes like everybody else, but who can’t send payments to help their families or visit them?

This will help the economy. It will get money moving from people who maybe didn’t spend before.

According to the article, Robert Gibbs, the White House Press Secretary, said Obama is directing a “series of steps to reach out to the Cuban people to support their desire to enjoy basic human rights and to freely determine their country’s future.”

I think that it was sort of ironic that the U.S. was promoting human rights when they didn’t allow their people to visit their families.

The article stated Obama is also looking to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian items directly to Cubans.

The U.S. started the embargo because they were against the negative treatment of the Cuban people, so why would they also restrict their own citizens from traveling or even spending money there?

I think that it is about time someone took the first step into opening relations with Cuba.

I’m not a big fan of Cuba’s politics, but I still believe people have the right to choose. Just like I choose not to like Cuban politics, people can choose to like Cuba’s politics and go there. After all, it’s their money they are spending there, which could also help Cubans as well.

What the U.S. needs to do now that this has opened that small window with Cuba, is look for ways to open the door. Create jobs that cannot only help the U.S. economy, but also help its citizens.

If the U.S. wants to help the Cuban people, it can make an effort to create ways to give them work as well.

According to the article, the things that will be kept in the embargo will be that Americans are still banned from sending gifts or other items to high-ranking Cuban government officials and Communist Party members.

I agree with this because those people have money, they are not poor and they don’t have the need to have those gifts.

The article stated Americans that are not of Cuban descent will still be restricted from traveling to Cuba.

I think this is a half-step back from what Obama wants to do. If he wants to help not only the U.S. economy, but also Cubans, I think in the long run someone will have to lift this ban as well. Because this is not giving the American population the freedom they preach about.

This can easily create jobs for Americans. Have a cruise ship go to Cuba; get airlines to travel there. In the end it should all come down to giving jobs to those in need.

As I said, I don’t agree with Cuban policies, but just because I don’t agree with what Evo Morales, the president of my country Bolivia, does, it doesn’t mean I wouldn’t like for people to invest in my country or to visit its beautiful sights.

According to the article, Republican Representative from Florida, Connie Mack, said the “U.S. economic embargo must remain in place until tyranny gives way to freedom and democracy.”

Isn’t the right to choose part of democracy?

Whatever happens with the Pandora’s Box Obama has opened, I just hope that things turn out well for both countries, whether you agree with the country’s policy or not.

At least that’s what I would like to happen to my country.

Claudia Lozano is a senior print journalism major and
editorial editor of The Spectator. “Breaking Boundaries” appears every Thursday.