Rapprochement with Cuba Conference

This conference in Ybor City considered ways in which a return to common sense might come about.

“It has been obvious to any objective observer for a very long time that isolation has not worked,” said the Vermont Senator [Bernie Sanders] in a statement, “and it is demeaning for a great and powerful nation like ours, for instance, to forbid U.S. citizens from traveling where they want to travel.  It is in our national interest to take a fresh look at how to effectively address our differences with the Cuban government, such as the imprisonment of Alan Gross and many other matters.”

Senator Rubio slams Cuba travel: “Cuba is not a zoo”; Senator Leahy fires back

L.A. Times Editorial

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/editorials/la-ed-cuba-terrorist-list-20130313,0,4943989.story

Cross Cuba off the blacklist

The nation has long since changed the behavior that earned it a U.S. designation as a sponsor of terrorism.

Marco Rubio puts foot in mouth

Florida Senator Marco Rubio says: 

"Cuba’s not a zoo, where you pay an admission to go in and you get to watch people living in cages, to see how they’re suffering. Cuba’s not a field trip. I don’t take that stuff lightly. You just went to Cuba and to fulfill your curiosity, which I could have told you about if you’d have come seen me for five minutes, you’ve left thousands of dollars in the hands of a government that uses that money to control these people that you feel sorry for."

Rubio has never even been to the real Cuba, only Guantanamo.

We are the 93%.  Let our people go.

Another view from afar

A lighter and more subjective view of Cuba in this article from the Jerusalem Post and from the viewpoint of a Jewish person.  It broadens the insights I'm gathering in preparation of my own visit there -- whenever that happens.

This Year in Cuba

John Kerry on Cuba

Here's another editorial (from the Tampa Bay Times) remembering what Senator John Kerry had to say back in 2009 about the U.S. and Cuba.

Now Kerry is Secretary of State and in position to actually do something about it.

You think he will?

Here's another good piece on the state of relations between the U.S. and Cuba, from Bloomberg News.

It contains this paragraph:

"The Obama administration also has a more immediate problem: Cuba’s decision to relax its emigration policy means that the U.S., which has long granted preferential treatment to Cuban refugees, may face a spike in new arrivals. Any effort at comprehensive immigration reform needs to take those changed circumstances into account."

That makes sense.

This Year in Cuba

Havana Times reprints this article from Progreso.  There's a strong upbeat of news coming from and about Cuba.

I take that as an encouraging sign that we'll be able to (legally) visit this year when, where and how we choose.

June? Anywhere? By boat?

I talked with Antonio about this on Saturday at the SWB Art Fair.  He's Cuban-born but has lived in the U.S. for over 30 years.  Need 8-10 like-minded Key Westers to join a budget-conscious odyssey.

email me: kwshoes@gmail.com