Ana Paquette

7-4-15
Hora 2
U.S.-Cuba Relations

1. Do you think that Americans should support the plan to restore diplomatic ties with Cuba
that were severed in 1961?
I think that Americans should support the plan to restore diplomatic ties with Cuba. In
U.S. Cuba Relations, it said the Cuban government estimates that more than fifty years of
stringent trade restrictions has amounted to a loss of $1.26 trillion. Cuba is a poor country as
it is, and that is a ton of money to lose. If Cuba is losing that much money, how much money
are we losing from the restrictions? Also in U.S.-Cuba Relations Obama has loosened some
of the restrictions set by George Bush. He has allowed U.S. citizens to send remittances to
non-family members in Cuba and to travel there under license for educational or religious
purposes. Because of the restrictions, people cannot send a lot of money to support their
families, nor their friends, in Cuba. If the ties were restored, I think it would be easier to help
and support families in Cuba. Also, under the current restrictions, a person can travel to Cuba
only under a license. If the ties were restored, Americans could go there with less restrictions.
It might even be a nice place to vacation and visit family. In Obama Meets Ral Castro,
Making History, Benjamin J. Rhodes said Our Cuba policy, instead of isolating Cuba, was
isolating the United States in our own backyard. The current restrictions are only limiting and
isolating us, the Americans. Instead of punishing the Cubans, we are punishing ourselves. If
the ties are restored, these restrictions will end, and the people who live in the land of the
free will be a little more free.

2. How do you think this plan to restore diplomatic ties with Cuba will affect the CubanAmericans living in Florida as well as in other parts of the United States?
If the diplomatic ties with Cuba were restored, I think the Cuban-Americans living in
Florida would be greatly affected. In U.S.-Cuba Relations ...allowed U.S. citizens to send
remittances to non-family members in Cuba and to travel there under license for educational
or religious purposes. If the ties are restored, then Cuban-Americans can travel more freely
to see their family and friends living in Cuba. Based on the article, they dont get to visit family
very often, if at all, because they dont have an educational or religious purpose. In U.S.-Cuba
Relations ...Cuba continues to repress individuals and groups who criticize the government
or call for basic human rights through detentions, travel restrictions, beatings, and forced
exile. If the ties are restored., I hope and think that America, and the President, will
continually press for better human rights on the island. Robert Menendez doesnt support the
dtente, saying it would do little to improve human rights on the island.If they dont get
better, but the ties are restored, then those who are oppressed can come to America easier,
and stay. If the diplomatic ties with Cuba are restored, I think the Cuban-Americans living in
Florida will be greatly, positively impacted.

Works Cited:
Herschfeld Davis, Julie and Randal C. Archibold. Obama Meets Castro, Making
History. The New York Times. The New York Times Company, 11 April 2015.
Web. 12 April 2015.
Council on Foreign Relations. CFR Backgrounders. U.S. Cuba Relations. Council
on Foreign Relations, 20 Jan. 2015. Web. 26 March 2015.