By ~Inobe
1. After researching
a few articles on Cuba and the US relationship, I found articles breaking down
many events, which led to major issues between the two nations.
a.
The rise of Fidel,
overthrowing President Fulgencio Batista, establishing a socialist state.
b.
Cuban
nationalizing US owned properties and the relationship it built with the Soviet
Union.
c.
President
Eisenhower’s authorized the CIA to train Cuban refugees to over throw Castro,
which were not successful. Also, the CIA planned many attempts on Castro’s
life.
d.
The USA stops all
exports to Cuba and stops diplomatic relations with Cuba by closing its embassy
in Havana.
e.
Cuban missile
crisis were a huge issue and solidified the distrust in the relationship
between Cuba and the US known as the cold war.
f.
In 1963 President
Kennedy prohibits US citizens from traveling to or making financial
transactions with Cuba. The embargo devastates the Cuban economy over the
course of the next 50 years.
g.
In 1996 The US
Congress passes the Helms-Burton Act, strengthening the embargo against Cuba,
but other foreign governments and humanitarian groups disagreed with this.
2.
Because of the
allied relationship Cuba built with the Soviet Union many Presidents put
policies in place to keep the island isolated financially and diplomatically.
Making Cuba the longest sanctioned country by the US.
3.
The down spiral
in Cuba’s economy and Castro’s
dictatorship caused thousands of Cubans to seek refuge outside of the island. In
1980 Castro announced anyone wanting to leave could do so. Over 100,000 Cubans
did. (This separated many families and some lost their lives).
4.
In 1992 Regan
labeled Cuba (state sponsor of terrorism) because Cuba supported militant
groups in Central America and Africa.
5.
President George
H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton signed the Cuba Democracy Act of 1992 and the Cuban
Liberty and Democratic Solidarity Act of 1996 that which strengthened
the U.S regime, requiring Cuba to transition to a democratically elected
government that excludes the Castro’s before the embargo could be removed. (Raul
said he would leave office in 2018).
6.
1996 the
Helms-Burton Act, which applied the embargo to foreign countries that traded
with Cuba. This was issued in retaliation after Cuba shot down two U.S.
civilian airplanes.
7.
The Cuban
government estimates that the trade restrictions cost Cuba $4.6 billion in
economic damages, totaling $126 billion since the embargo started in the 60’s.
8.
Cuba and the US
only spoke through Switzerland’s mediation.
9.
President Obama
played a key role in 2009 lifting all restrictions on family restricted travels
to Cuba. He allows general travels to
Cuba to religious groups and for educational purposes. Also, in 2011 allowing
the ease of restrictions allowing non-family remittance and US airports to
license charter flights to and from Cuba.
11.
In 2015 Cuba is
removed from the US Department’s list of sponsors of terrorism. President Obama
made this decision after meeting with Raul Castro in Cuba. He’s the first sitting President to visit the
country after 85years. They held a press conference calling for the trade
embargo to be lifted between the tow nations. In 2016 President Obama signs a directive
easing trade restrictions on Cuban rum and cigars.
12.
After the death
of Fidel Castro and election of Donald J. Trump in late 2016 regenerated talks
over U.S.-Cuba policy. Trump announced in June 2017 that he would reestablish
some restrictions on travel and trade that had been eased by the Obama
administration, but would not break diplomatic relations. (This makes me, and
I’m sure many others really nervous about the US & Cuba relationship).
Especially with the latest developments of the embassy workers being pulled from Havana currently because of sonic illnesses being reported.
****I don’t know where this will leave the relationship. My hope
is that the people of Cuba and the US will determine it’s on working
relationship, and not let the news and tainted leadership be a guiding voice for
relating to one another.
Questions sparked
from my researching Cuba and the US relationship:
1.
How do Cubans feel
about having a possible democratic government?
2.
How do the Cubans
feel presently today about Americans? How did they feel over the years while discord between Cuba and
the US was happening? What dialogue was birthed? In the middle of Castro’s desires and the US, did they
feel heard or seen as a people?
3.
How did this
effect families, art, education, and coping with being under Castro’s
leadership? Once families were separated what type of atmosphere did this
produce for Cubans on the island, and those who came to the US and other places?
4.
Were there a lot
of groups rising up in Cuba against Castro’s leadership? Did a majority support
his cause? What were the consequences if not?
6.
What is it like
for Afro-Cubans, darker skinned Cubans today on the island? Are they under the same
racism and pressure like African-Americans here in the United States? Are prison
rates higher for them like us? What’s the social and economic state for them in comparison to us here in the US? Do they have some of the same struggles as Black Americans here in the US? Do the
Afro-Cubans know our democracy under certain parameters still has us living in silence, in the shadows? Do they know we have similarities regardless of where we live in the US?
7.
How do Cubans view our democracy system?
Articles:
U.S.-Cuba Relations, September 29th, 2017, Backgrounder by Claire Felter and Danielle Renwick
A timeline of US-Cuba relations since the Cuban revolution, November 16th, 2016, Quartz, by Adam Epstein
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