Earlier this year the fam and I took a cruise to Cozumel from Florida. The cab driver was a native of Cuba and as I tend to do, struck up a conversation to learn a little about his world. He urged me to visit Cuba, offering tips on getting there while avoiding US state department monitoring, assuring me the Cuban government cooperates with American visitors and will not stamp our passports, etc. Odd, because I thought Cuban immigrants were strong advocates for the embargo and this guy was very supportive of wanting me to break it, beaming about how great their tourism industry is and that although a dictatorship "is nothing like North Korea." In case you're wondering, I'm not going to break US law and go there but it was interesting to hear his sales pitch.
On the cruise, we got really close to Cuba. The captain got on the PA system and encouraged us to enjoy the view the island's northern coast.
Recently the UN passed its 23rd resolution urging the US to end the embargo.
Should JFK's embargo on Cuba be ended? Is a dictatorship 90 miles from the US unacceptable and therefore the embargo should be continued? If you think it should be, do you think the labeling of the Predident as "a Marxist" by some in his opposition has created too much of a political liability for the president to end it? Should we base our Cuban policy on the will of Cuban immigrants and their offspring in America as they are most affected? International politics aside, do you think lifting the embargo would adversely affect the US economy? Should we consider tourism dollars in Florida, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands being lost to Cuba? Should we consider more manufacturing jobs leaving America and relocating to Cuba and American agriculture suffering due to new citrus, potato, poultry, cattle and other imports especially in the present economy? Would lifting the Cuban embargo encourage and make easier more immigration from a Latin American country and if so is that a problem? Do embargoes hurt the wrong people; the innocent people living under an oppressive government while the power-holders continue live a life of luxury regardless? Anyhow, those are my thoughts. I'm undecided but curious about how others felt.
For 23rd time, U.N. nations urge end to U.S. embargo on Cuba | Reuters