To all who have lived in Miami or South Florida for several years is known to the economic and political importance of Cuban exiles and their families. This town was put into exile by the actions of a brutal dictator, an achievement with great effort, hard work and determination, build a prosperous and influential community in South Florida that merits recognition, not only the local communities but also the rest of Americans.
For many years, perhaps since the beginning of Castro's revolution, that's 40 years in power, the leaders of the Cuban diaspora decided to influence the U.S. government that will impose an economic embargo on Cuba and trade. It is clear that the disparity in the size of economies and the proximity of the territories, a U.S. blockade of Cuba would be disastrous for this nation and therefore should have brought the overthrow of the dictator. But this did not happen and it appears that will not happen.
The embargo policy has been consistent over time, independent of the President. For an analyst it is evident that this line of conduct has been designed and directed by Cuban exiles and not by governments. It is so powerful economic and political clout of Cubans in Florida, that no president and no candidate is less able to take a different path indicated by the most visceral enemies of the Castro government. The Florida vote can be decisive for the election of the President, we saw in the first election of President Bush, and Cubans are the most weigh in the final results in Florida.
Economic embargoes have not worked. Have a similar effect on the people, who were the sites of cities in medieval and other periods of human history, what they do is to unite a people around their leader to fight the aggressor. In modern times these economic blockades have not worked. Did not work in Iraq, Hussein had to be deposed by invasion. Not work against Gadaffi in Libya, have not worked in North Korea and even in Cuba.
Is not then the strategy of the Cuban exile terribly wrong?
An economic and trade openness accompanied by the release of the family trips to the island and also because tourists and business Americans could bring development, wealth, job opportunities, new technologies, communications, and most importantly the Cuban people would receive a greater influence of other cultures and have more access to other schools of thought. This could give even under the control of the dictatorship and the obvious example of this is possible, is what happens in China, which is progressing rapidly economically but politically it has become an absolutist and undemocratic regime.
If the overthrow of the Castro regime and was no longer going to be through economic, because they test a new way? Why continue sacrificing the Cuban people with ineffective measures, dictated by exile, but born of hatred and resentment, and do not respond to a pragmatic and constructive policy that can bring benefits to ordinary people? How many Cubans now desperate economic situation, which are released into the ocean as boat people seriously endangering their lives, they would stop if they had jobs and a better chance of being in their own country?
The lifting of the embargo and opening up the island does not guarantee by itself the change in attitude and policy of the Castro regime, but the new leader of the Cuban revolution, Mr. Raul Castro, Shy has shown signs of change and has requested the removal of the embargo. Signs will remain timid while his brother Fidel alive.
This is a great opportunity for the Cuban exile community and U.S. government change its policy toward the island and thus give a respite to the people that need it and deserve it. This no doubt accelerate the non-violent change in Cuba and would be far more effective than the permanence of the economic embargo.
The word belongs to the Cuban exile community in Florida. Jorge Pineda
Miami, FL 3/25/08
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