Following the frankly ridiculous statement on Cuba policy from the Republicans (see post below) this letter was circulated yesterday by some Cuban-Americans who have a firmer grasp on reality.
To the Republican and Democratic National Committees:
In
light of both the upcoming Republican and Democratic conventions we, as Cuban
Americans and American citizens, urge both parties to not fall into the trap of
viewing our community as a monolithic voting bloc that is in favor of the United States' embargo
on Cuba. During these conventions the
platforms for each party will be decided upon and put into action. For the past
fifty years, a strategy of blind support for the embargo has become the norm
for political candidates from both parties in order to garner the support of
Cuban Americans. We would implore all candidates to not look upon our
demographics as one that unanimously supports this failed policy of hostility.
Rather, we are a diverse body of voices with a majority that favors a policy of
engagement, and ultimately, normalization of relations between the two nations.
Numerous
polls of the Cuban American community in southern Florida and throughout the
nation demonstrate that a majority of these citizens favor the policies that
the Obama administration put in place in 2009 and then expanded in 2011. These moves have eased the process of reunification
of Cuban families by allowing Cuban Americans to travel to Cuba more frequently
and send more remittances to loved ones on the island. Overwhelmingly, Cuban
Americans have voted with their feet and pocketbooks by traveling to Cuba,
sending money, and acting as ambassadors for our great nation. As Cuban Americans we feel that we are
not any better than any other American citizen and would hope that the U.S.
government takes steps to eliminate the travel ban placed on all American
citizens.
We
ask Mitt Romney, the presumptive candidate, and the Republican Party to abandon
the cold war rhetoric. Easing the embargo is not an act of "appeasement".
It is our hope that Paul Ryan will
remain consistent to his well-documented stance against the embargo. We urge
all candidates to consider the vast support among congressional Republicans who
represent the Midwest and many other districts across the country to end the
embargo in order to open up a potentially dynamic market for agricultural and
other manufactured goods made in the USA.
True
conservatives cannot defend our policy towards Cuba. The travel restrictions
violate American citizens' individual right to travel. Also, our government's stance
towards Cuba is an absolute contradiction to free market capitalism.
Furthermore, it is our hope that the GOP will understand the historic ties that
Tampa, the host city of their national convention, has with Cuba. The majority
of the Cuban American community there favors normalization of relations with
Cuba. We reject any attribution of Cuban American congressional members of the
Republican Party from southern Florida such as Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Marco Rubio,
David Rivera, and Mario Diaz-Balart to speak on behalf of Cuban Americans as a
whole within the state, let alone throughout the nation.
The
inclusion of Cuba on the list of State sponsors of Terror is counterproductive.
This designation undermines American national security because it eliminates
the possibility of working in concert with Cuban leaders on important matters
of regional security. Our policy
towards Cuba is also looked upon with derision by most of our allies in Latin
America and this also compromises our position of influence in the hemisphere.
Finally, the embargo effectively denies the very real potential of sustained
gains in various sectors of the economy that would result from the opening of a
very close market that yearns for American goods and services.
President
Obama and his administration are well aware of these circumstances and have
encountered opposition from our partners in the western hemisphere regarding
such policies. We welcome a proactive response to deal with these challenges. Regardless of the outcome of the elections
in November we would hope that liberals and progressives within the Democratic
Party continue to work to bring about a relationship that is more beneficial for
both the Cuban people and the American populace.
In
closing, we reiterate to all political candidates of both Republican and
Democratic parties that Cuban Americans represent a plurality of views
pertaining to U.S.-Cuba relations. Any posture by any politician that insinuates
that we are all in favor of the embargo is misleading. It is our desire that the members of the
American political class resist the urge to repeat the same tired lines about
Cuba and the embargo from past campaigns.
Such an attempt to pander to a community whose grasp of the issue of U.S.-Cuba
relations is quite sophisticated and nuanced could cause negative results at
the ballot box.
Respectfully,
Members of the Board of Directors of CAFE (Cuban Americans
for Engagement) and from the Executive Committee of FORNORM
Dr. Maria Isabel Alfonso, New York, NY. CAFE
Dr. Romy Aranguiz, Worcester,
MA. CAFE
Dr. Eduardo Araujo, Boulder,
CO. CAFE
Alejandro
Barreras, Miami, FLA. CAFE
Isidro
Borja, Miami, FLA. former President
of FORNORM
Ernesto
Cabo, Alexandria, VA. CAFE
Amaury
Cruz, Miami, FLA. Vice
President of FORNORM
Elena Freyre, Miami, FLA. President of FORNORM
Arturo Lopez-Levy, Denver,
CO. CAFE
Andres
Ruiz, Worcester, MA. CAFE
Dr. Julio
Ruiz, Miami, FLA. Secretary of
FORNORM
Benjamin Willis, New
York, NY. CAFE
Antonio Zamora, Miami,
FLA. former President of FORNORM
Thanks for sharing!
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