Many Americans are happy with the proposed changes. Of course, many are not. I spoke to an American citizen not of Cuban descent yesterday, who voiced what the radical Cuban exile communities would voice.
We, the editors of this blog, have long believed that helping Cuban people individually, within the strict rules that our country has imposed, was good, and that worrying that my help to them might somehow benefit their government was a secondary concern. I generally stay in casas particulares or family homes, rather than government hotels. I generally eat in paladares rather than government restaurants. I take only the amount of money allowed by the U.S. government. We have given computers, Ipods, and other electronic devices to Cubans in Cuba. We have assisted a family member to purchase a better dwelling once that was permitted by Cuba law.
We know that Congress will have the final say on some of the proposed changes mentioned by President Obama. We know that will be difficult to achieve. The editors of this blog support what President Obama has done, entirely, and find no fault with any of his proposals. We are elated, and have not talked to a single Cuban citizen living in Cuba who is not elated.
Here is a link with a synopsis from the White House web site.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/foreign-policy/cuba
Here is the UTube video of the talk:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pyw1iKif9Zs
Here is the White House's Recap of the Talk (same as the first link above):
"President Obama Delivered a Statement on Cuba
We are separated by 90 miles of water, but are brought together through shared relationships and the desire to promote a democratic, prosperous, and stable Cuba. President Obama is taking action to cut loose the anchor of failed policies of the past, and to chart a new course in U.S. relations with Cuba that will engage and empower the Cuban people.
A Failed Approach
Decades of U.S. isolation of Cuba have failed to accomplish our objective of empowering Cubans to build an open and democratic country. At times, longstanding U.S. policy towards Cuba has isolated the United States from regional and international partners, constrained our ability to influence outcomes throughout the Western Hemisphere, and impaired the use of the full range of tools available to the United States to promote positive change in Cuba. Though this policy has been rooted in the best of intentions, it has had little effect – today, as in 1961, Cuba is governed by the Castros and the Communist party.
We cannot keep doing the same thing and expect a different result. It does not serve America’s interests, or the Cuban people, to try to push Cuba toward collapse. We know from hard-learned experience that it is better to encourage and support reform than to impose policies that will render a country a failed state. We should not allow U.S. sanctions to add to the burden of Cuban citizens we seek to help.
Next Steps, New Course
Since the President took office in 2009, he has taken steps to support the ability of the Cuban people to gain greater control over their own lives and determine their country’s future.
Now, the President is taking the next steps to renew our leadership in the Americas, end our outdated approach on Cuba, and promote more effective change that supports the Cuban people and our national security interests.
Here’s what the President’s new approach will do:
Human Rights and Civil Society
A critical focus of these actions will include continued strong support for improved human rights conditions and democratic reforms in Cuba. The promotion of democracy supports universal human rights by empowering civil society and a person’s right to speak freely, peacefully assemble, and associate, and by supporting the ability of people to freely determine their future. The U.S. efforts are aimed at promoting the independence of the Cuban people so they do not need to rely on the Cuban state.
The U.S. Congress funds democracy programming in Cuba to provide humanitarian assistance, promote human rights and fundamental freedoms, and support the free flow of information in places where it is restricted and censored. The Administration will continue to implement U.S. programs aimed at promoting positive change in Cuba, and we will encourage reforms in our high level engagement with Cuban officials.
The United States encourages all nations and organizations engaged in diplomatic dialogue with the Cuban government to take every opportunity both publicly and privately to support increased respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in Cuba.
Ultimately, it will be the Cuban people who drive economic and political reforms. That is why President Obama took steps to increase the flow of resources and information to ordinary Cuban citizens in 2009, 2011, and today. The Cuban people deserve the support of the United States and of an entire region that has committed to promote and defend democracy through the Inter-American Democratic Charter."
Tweet from President on Twitter:
Yoani Sanchez, famous Cuban blogger did not act quite as enthusiastic as other Cuban citizens.
https://generacionyen.wordpress.com
And there is a story on the Internet of 10 lies included in Obama's speech. We don't like it, so we are not providing a link, but you can find it if you want to.
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