Cuba can’t pressure the US into a trade deal
This past week, United States relations with Cuba were back in the spotlight. The Trump administration announced new restrictions on travel and trade with Cuba. The rollback of Obama’s measures towards the island’s government is a promise President Trump had made some months ago.
The steps are reasonable, since Obama’s agreement with Cuba was insufficient and inequitable. The U.S. gave much and received little in return.
It has been more than a year since the normalization of relations. Clearly, Cuba has been unwilling to change rapidly, and past treaties were insufficiently in achieving a new robust track.
One example is the continued discriminatory practices against Americans in the island. On a recently booked trip I had to Cuba, for example, it turned out that hotel rates were unjustifiably much higher for Americans than for Europeans, so I cancelled my plans.
The intention of the hotel was to give a silent retaliation for the years of economic embargo. The focus was on individuals that had no say on the matter and also no ability to change or improve American relations with Havana.
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In addition, it is important to note that seeking improved relations with Havana does not mean forgetting the violations against human and civil rights during the Castro government. The population’s welfare is equally relevant as economic aspects in diplomatic relations, and actions such as expropriations and unjustified prison sentences should still be remembered and repaired. Curative marketing evaluates, carries physical accosting, debt and destruction until true restitution is made.
Much remains to be done by Cuba, particularly since the United States has already long ago initiated important steps to reflect its own atonement. Cuban pressure to repay for earlier inequities will not work. Only if both parties commit to a fair relationship, will we see commerce between the countries grow and bring benefits and economic growth.
Read the entire Op-Ed HERE.
It’s really astonishing that more foreigners don’t see vacationing in Castrogonia for what it is: exactly the same as vacationing in a Nazi-run resort. I know there’s massive and entrenched PC hypocrisy everywhere, so that would-be tourists are essentially told that it’s not only OK to “do Cuba” but that it may even “help” the native noble savages. Still, how difficult is it to figure out the truth? I mean for the non-retarded. Sheesh.