U.S. Cuban Relations Being Normalized

You know, if I did not know any better, the impression that President Obama is making as of late would signify that he is actually trying to do something, despite a do nothing, obstructionist Congress!

First, he sets out a new direction for the environmental policies that the United States is to put into practice. Then, he goes about initiating immigration reform pretty much on his own (or, I should say, his White House does).

Now this!

U.S. relations with Cuba will get more normalized.

It is not there yet, of course. But this was a huge step, and it is the beginning of the end of a policy that, I think it is fair to say, has failed, yet which the United States has pursued now for over half a century.

The embargo was pretty much always ridiculous simply based on it's presumption that the rest of the world would automatically agree with the American position, and follow suit by joining the embargo.

Still, some hard-headed opponents of the measure are suggesting that it is too early to end the embargo, and suggesting that the proper time to lift it would be when there is a "regime change."

Now, I don't know about you. But given the recent history that the United States has when it pursues "regime change" for a foreign nation, it might be wiser to steer clear of such a lofty goal. Especially since Cuba is an independent nation that has the right to choose of it's own free will and accord how it governs it's own territory, even if that runs counter to what we (or the rulers of our nation) feel would be in our (or their) best interests (or their wallets).

So, maybe "regime change" is not the way to go. And again, in an age when more and more countries are doing their thing without feeling any need for America to lead the way, we should probably recognize that Cuba was, in fact, the first thing where many other countries, including our allies, did not bother to follow our lead on this issue. In fact, since many countries that we recognize as traditional allies have not only not gone our direction, but outright opened relations with Cuba enough that there is a solid tourist industry there, it seems to me that we are missing the boat on this one. Again, nobody is waiting, like we are, to try and somehow strong arm the Castro brothers out of the country. Especially, since they are old and obviously do not have all that much time left, anyway. Let's get a grip on things.

Frankly, it seems to me that this is long overdue. The embargo simply was not working anyway and, if anything, it was making Castro bigger than he otherwise would be, by giving attention to him on an international scale that he otherwise likely would never have come close to achieving.

I, for one, applaud President Barack Obama. not just on this, although this was an impressive step. But also for taking action on climate change, which is probably the most important single matter that faces us all presently, as well as on immigration reform, exposing the do nothing approach of an obstructionist Congress controlled by a party that relies on obstructionism, simply because they want to see this president fail, no matter what the cost to the country. I am not the biggest fan of President Obama, but the Republican answer is always so damn predictable: oppose him, no matter what his stance. And make sure that he does not get anything done no matter what, even if that means that the country, and the lives of the people living in it, are put on hold.

Now, one way or the other, at least the discussion is on what the president is doing, right or wrong, rather than what Congress is preventing him from doing.

And on this issue, like the other two I mentioned, some action is better than inaction, period. This is a departure from past presidents, and at least on this matter, with normalizing relations with Cuba, I stand with the president.