As we prepare for upcoming elections, it is crucial that we understand the candidates' intentions toward international diplomacy. Fidel Castro's announced retirement again draws attention to the United States' deteriorating influence abroad.
U.S. media coverage and the personal tales of many Cuban-Americans in our communities have created a story-line difficult to penetrate while those who report on Cuba's laudable achievements are often labeled revolutionary zealots. As a result, there has been a lack of critical reporting on Cuba that doesn't get pulled too closely to either side. This scenario influences public opinion which in turn affects policies our politicians are quick to embrace.
Since 2003, I have traveled to Cuba on five occasions. My visits there coupled with years of studying the island's history, have taught me that Cuba is a very complex country not easy to define. It is a land of contradictions with great failures and great achievements. As Castro himself has said, "Our enemies exaggerate our shortcoming while our friends exaggerate our greatness."
In private, many Cubans have complaints. Most of the island's 11 million residents were born with Castro in office. Their grandparents will lecture them of the crime, corruption and wrongs they saw under the Batista Regime, but young Cubans have no real context for it. Cuba's youth have grown up during difficult times though they have always had access to health-care, shelter, education and the arts. These achievements are no longer revolutionary to many Cubans who have no firsthand experience of life any other way.
This void in balanced information is especially apparent as Castro steps back after nearly 50 years as leader of Cuba. While he says he can no longer commit to the rigors of serving as head of state, it remains unclear what role he will continue to play from the sidelines. There is little doubt however that the long-anticipated transition has been occurring gradually for some time now; Castro has been out of the public eye since July of 2006 with younger-brother Raul assuming presidential responsibilities. Despite his lack of public presence Fidel Castro continues to write, consult with diplomats, and be an active force in Cuba's future. The time is even riper for the U.S. to re-engage with Cuba through diplomatic means.
Outside of the U.S., Cuba's pariah status is antiquated. Cuba has improved its relations with Canada and European nations. It has excellent relations with its neighbors in Latin America and continues to expand its influence as a leader in public health in developing nations. Cuba's medical diplomacy has earned respect around the world. Currently, Cuba has more medical professionals abroad than the World Health Organization and consistently sends emergency teams to disaster zones, as it did after the Tsunami in South Asia in 2004 and to Pakistani after their earthquake in 2005. Cuba even offered a team of 1,600 bi-lingual medics outfitted with 83 tons of medical equipment to the U.S. after the Katrina disaster-- the U.S. ignored the offer.
While some argue these moves are politically motivated, Cuba has consistently put its money where its mouth is. Today, over 10,000 students from developing countries are studying free of charge in Cuban medical schools. The government makes one requirement: that they return home and serve in high-need communities. Currently, there are more than 90 students from the United States receiving free training in Cuba.
With more than a million Cubans living in the U.S. and the potential for trade and normalizing relations to a country 90 miles away, our government needs to be proactive and re-establish relations after decades of posturing. Hillary Clinton's policy toward Cuba is very similar to George W. Bush's. The precious votes in the swing state of Florida still cause trepidation for U.S. politicians. Barack Obama has not proposed radical changes regarding policy; however he has expressed support for Cuban Americans' ability to visit the island and has said he would sit down with anyone.
Travel restrictions currently imposed on Americans and Cubans from the United States are counterproductive to developing healthy diplomatic exchanges between the two countries. The more than 40 year blockade has only served to sully the United States political face in many of the countries in the world, most especially, Latin America, Central America, and the Caribbean. It's well past time for Americans to demand that a new president prioritize substantive changes in United States policies towards Cuba.
JoJo Farrell is Global Exchange's Latin America Program Fellow which aims to expose U.S. Citizens to the realities of Latin America and the effects of U.S. Foreign Policy in the region. He can be reached at jojo@globalexchange.org
For nearly two decades, Global Exchange's Reality Tours to Cuba have played a leading role in the effort to normalize relations with our neighbor by introducing US citizens to Cuba, dispelling myths and allowing people to decide for themselves.
