President Obama Should Act Fast on Cuba

President Obama Should Act Fast on Cuba
By Dr. César Chelala Created: Mar 14, 2010 Last Updated: Mar 14, 2010

NEW YORK—Several years ago, during my first visit to Cuba to attend a
health-related meeting, I was witness to an unusual event. As friends
and I walked into the Bodeguita del Medio, a traditional restaurant
famous because of the number of illustrious visitors who had dined there
over the years, a young Cuban man was discretely asked to leave. Seeing
my friends and myself and realizing we were not Cuban, he began ranting
against the restrictions placed on Cubans by their government.

"I have the money to spend here," he told us. "But they prefer to have
foreigners eat here. I am fed up with this regime. Do you see something
in that corner?" he asked us. "Yes," we said, "there is a man standing
there." "You are wrong," he replied, "he is not a man. That's a gigantic
ear that is listening to everything I am saying to you. But I don't
care; I am so sick and tired of this situation."

In a few brief minutes, I gained an idea of some of the problems
besieging Cuban society: the need for foreign money, the oppressive
nature of the regime, and the dissatisfaction of the youth. These
impressions were later confirmed during another visit to the island when
I headed a U.N. mission to assess the progress of Cuban scientists in
developing interferon, an anti-viral substance.

To pinpoint the Cuban governments shortcomings, however, is in no way to
deny its achievements. During that last visit I had the opportunity of
meeting Fidel Castro. Although we didn't raise any political issues in
our conversation, I was able to observe his enormous interest in, and
knowledge about, health issues. That interest and knowledge underlie his
government's achievements in two critical areas, health and education.
Cuba is in the forefront in both fields when compared to other Latin
American countries and in some areas on a par with the United States.

This progress, however, has been hindered by an unnecessary and
substantially ineffectual embargo against that country, a situation that
has cost the United States both in material terms and in prestige among
Latin American governments who consider the embargo a violation of a
nation's rights and sovereignty.

There is no doubt that political pressure from the powerful Cuban exile
community in Florida has been an important factor in maintaining the
embargo. However, the descendants of that immigrant generation have a
more nuanced view of the Cuban regime; they have seen the damage caused
by the antagonism between both countries and are eager for more amicable
relations between them.

While Cubans have always been clear as to their admiration for the
American people—which I was able to observe during my visits to the
island—the embargo does more to foster hate and mistrust of the U.S.
government than of the Cuban government. Moreover, the United States has
been flying in the face of world opinion on the Cuban issue. If votes in
the U.N. General Assembly are a test, no country in the world—with the
exception of the United States, Israel, and the Marshall Islands—support
the embargo.

President Obama has wisely eased restrictions on travel to the island by
Cubans and their descendants. He should now strengthen that approach
through an intense exchange of scientists, doctors, artists and ordinary
citizens between both countries. The effect would be dramatic in
neutralizing the atmosphere of antagonism and should lead to a lifting
of the embargo.

Trade with the United States now amounts to half a billion dollars a
year, a negligible amount equivalent to U.S. trade with Canada on a
single day. Should normal relations return the increase in trade could
be substantial. A furthering of this administration's more open attitude
toward the island is in the best interests of both the United States and
the Cuban people, who have been the ones really hurt by this situation.

César Chelala, MD, PhD, is an international public health consultant and
a co-winner of an Overseas Press Club of America award.

Epoch Times - President Obama Should Act Fast on Cuba (14 March 2010)
http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/31329/