In the world of diplomacy, successful negotiations and engagement require a concept of mutuality between the parties, founded upon mutual respect, even in light of broad disagreements. The only exception to this dynamic is war, when there is a victor and the terms of surrender are dictated to the loser. Diplomacy with Cuba has not been very effective because of our lack of mutuality with it.">In the world of diplomacy, successful negotiations and engagement require a concept of mutuality between the parties, founded upon mutual respect, even in light of broad disagreements. The only exception to this dynamic is war, when there is a victor and the terms of surrender are dictated to the loser. Diplomacy with Cuba has not been very effective because of our lack of mutuality with it.">

Cuba Headlines

Cuba News, Breaking News, Articles and Daily Information



In the world of diplomacy, successful negotiations and engagement require a concept of mutuality between the parties, founded upon mutual respect, even in light of broad disagreements. The only exception to this dynamic is war, when there is a victor and the terms of surrender are dictated to the loser. Diplomacy with Cuba has not been very effective because of our lack of mutuality with it.

Now, our politics with Cuba are driven in part by individuals driven by revenge and retribution whose pipe dream would be a U.S. military intervention in Cuba and overthrow of its government. This is what has driven the violence and warped sense of values that is reflected by those hardliners in the Cuban American community where it is acceptable for example, that homage and protection be given to men who bomb an airplane and kill innocent people and our government look the other way because these actions were taken against the Cuban government.

Since we will not militarily invade Cuba, the politics have been to have a policy in place that is another form of war, the economic embargo and with it,the insane travel regulations that bar the free movement of Americans to Cuba. This is a position that remains only because it is bought politically, but without any logical or rational foundation that may have existed in the 1960's,or even effectiveness.

Based upon results the embargo has been mutually destructive to the United States and Cuba in so many ways. If the Cuban American community wanted to have a real positive influence on Cuba then it would bring its sizable economic influence to bear on the island of its ancestors. Instead it chooses to politically use the U.S. government and the taxpayer as its proxy to fight the Cuban Revolution over and over again with the Cubans on the island. The U.S. and Cuba are both losers in this game.

We hammer Cuba for its human rights record, yet we look the other way for other countries who are equally or worse than Cuba, not to mention doing our own self-examination on human rights. The problem for our political leadership is the perception that somehow this hardline Cuban American money and small voting bloc is worth far more than the honor and reputation of our nation within the community of nations, and trashing American constitutional principles of freedom of travel for our citizens.

President Obama as then Senator Obama, was a leader who understood this and opposed the Cuban embargo and travel restrictions. But then this constituency flashed the cash and its votes and everything changed in 2008. Next week, the elections will remind us of the consequences of selling out our principles and the urgent need to take a stand, whatever the position is in the sea of political mediocrity that is Washington DC.

President Obama must return to the core values of what we understood him to be as a leader, not as he has performed in the last two years as President. For example, he talked about a new relationship with our neighbors in Latin America where our imperative should be to lead our neighbors by our example and not by the imposition of our values or views upon them. Latin America wants partnership with the United States, not marching orders from it. The opportunity for President Obama will still be there. It is now up to the silent majority to finally organize politically and reach him, just as the opposition did.

In light of my own views, I recognize that Cuba is an independent, sovereign nation with a right to make its own mistakes and to decide its own destiny, just as I believe is the same for the United States.

If you ask a Cuban living on the island what kind of system they would like,most will tell you they want change in their system of government with pluralism and civil liberties, but they do not want to become another United States. At their core, the Cuban people love the American people but they do not want to be just like us. They want to be well uniquely, Cuban.

The Cuban people culturally, are among the proudest and most stubborn of the Latin American peoples. We have not been successful in humiliating Cuba to change. Our only hope and possibility is to positively influence them to change. There is a Cuban wisdom that says, "Todo se consigue por la buena" - "Everything is possible [with me] by the path of goodness [with sincerity]"

It is time to put this wisdom to the test. It begins with mutuality...

By: Tony Martinez

The Language of Concessions
La Alborada - October 28 [nuevas@...]


Source: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CubaNews/message/118689


Related News


Comments