Leading Democrats such as Rep. Charlie Rangel believe that the time is ripe to life sanctions on Cuba. Is this the right path to go down?
Recently, the debate on Cuban relations with the United States has hit a new pitch with a debate involving veteran Congressman Charlie Rangel from New York on CNN.
The debate reached an interesting peak, culminating with an oft-repeated position that it is time to lift the sanctions against Cuba.
Upon looking back at the 1980s, I think that it is clear that we must resist taking this course of action.
Advocates of lifting sanctions point to some progress that the Cuban government is willing to make with the Obama Administration. Further, they point to a potential new market that Cuba could be for the farmers and producers of America.
On the surface, this may be true, but the issue of history still trumps this position.
Namely, the people of Cuba still are not free.
People routinely look for avenues to escape the Castro Regime, leaving a country where the oppression knows no socioeconomic barrier. From the very poor to the elite athletes of the island nation, many seize any opportunity to leave the country and make a break for the shores of the United States.
Much like they would have done if given the chance from, say South Africa decades ago.
Although the conditions of oppression are not the same, the bottom line of oppression is. Many called for relaxing the sanctions on South Africa during the 1980s due to modest gains by the minority people of the country. Although Blacks in the country had some freedoms, they remained relegated to minority status despite being a numerical majority of the country. They were grossly underrepresented in the country’s government. Nelson Mandela was not the president that we remember him to be today. In the 1980s, he was still in jail, finishing out his decades-long imprisonment.
Some were critical of corporations’ and governments’ level of holdings in the South African apartheid regime, saying that more must be done to punish the South African government for its apartheid policies. Others stated that we must relieve some sanctions and keep relations amicable in order to maintain some influence over the situation.
Most agreed, however, that constant action and pressure were required until apartheid was ended.
We must take the same approach now.
Selective measures and a “progressive” approach in Cuba will not satisfy the people looking for liberation nor should it appease us into lifting the embargo. Like in South Africa, the victory is not in the erosion of a few laws but in the elimination of law-supported oppression. Just as with South Africa 20 years ago, no amount of economic opportunity, desire for Cuban-American diplomacy, or amnesia for history should prompt us to alleviate sanctions without
