Obama in Cuba: New era gains momentum
The new thaw in U.S. relations with Cuba took a major leap forward on Monday. President Barack Obama shared a stage with Cuba’s President Raul Castro at the Palace of the Revolution. There was a bit of a humor, some frank words issued by Obama and an awkward moment or two when Castro was confronted with questions about human rights.
“Give me a list of political prisoners and I will release them,” he said. So far, a countless number of suppressed dissidents remain behind bars.
Voices of protest continue to be raised in Cuba, and many in the poverty-stricken island nation view the new era with a combination of skepticism, hope and even escape.
“We continue to have very serious differences,” Obama said, with Castro at his side, “including on democracy and human rights.”
Obama spoke of “the beauty of Cuba and its people” and he was optimistic of the prospect of Americans helping Cubans to gain better access to the internet and to a life of economic opportunity and political freedom.
Obama repeated the observation he has been making since first announcing his intention to end the cold war with Cuba and do what he can to end a trade embargo that’s been in place since the early 1960s.
“What we did for 50 years did not serve our interests or the interests of the Cuban people,” he said.
But Obama can only do so much. To lift most of the trade embargo and turn back other restrictions he needs the actions of Congress at a time when GOP leaders are not so inclined to go along.
Obama mentioned that “nearly 40 members of Congress,” including some Republicans, had joined him on this historic journey to Havana. Enlightened Republicans genuinely see the benefit in expanding trade opportunities and restoring connections among these long separated people. But too many hard-liners, led by embittered Cuban-Americans, such as Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, are standing in the way of progress.
They believe that Obama gives and gets nothing in return. They are wrong.
A young generation of Cuban-Americans and more than one generation of Cubans are coming to the conclusion that open relations will help lead to better times ahead, for both countries.
After Obama, the subject turns to baseball, as the Tampa Bay Rays take on the Cuban national team on Tuesday.
And then on Friday in Havana, bring on the Rolling Stones. The British band that helped lead a rock and roll invasion of the U.S. a half century ago surely can contribute to the momentum towards a new way of life for our Cuban friends.
This story was originally published March 21, 2016 at 6:40 PM with the headline "Obama in Cuba: New era gains momentum."