REPLIES TO THE CURRENT QUESTION

Our question last week was:

What do you think our proper relationship with Cuba should be?

Here are your answers.  The name of a writer is included only if he or she actually placed a name at the end of the message.  Otherwise, we assume the writer wished anonymity and "name withheld" is inserted.

Why should we have a relationship with Cuba?  If we get a thorn in our foot, we don't form a relationship with it; we remove the thorn and get on with our lives. Since we can't remove the "thorn" of Cuba, because of its sovereign status as an independent country, let's just ignore it and maybe theyit'llll go away of its own accord.  

That oversimplification begs the question.  A more complete answer follows:

We didn't break Cuba; and, without intervening in Cuban affairs, we can't fix Cuba either.  If Cuba were geographically located in the Indian Ocean, think Madagascar for instance, this question wouldn't even be asked.  During the Cuban missile crisis Cuba was an issue only because of its relationship with the USSR at the time.  It was a threat to our security only because it permitted the Soviets to alter the balance of power between the US and the USSR.  Cuba, intrinsically, was neither a threat nor a potential asset.  Today, the only way Cuba can pose a threat to the US is if it engages in a similar exercise with some other country.  Iran or Russia come to mind.  At that time, we would then have  a problem.  It would be with Iran or Russia, not with Cuba.  

Implicit in this question is the notion that the current administration plans to change our relationship with Cuba from the current, near total embargo on all activity with Cuba.  Is this a good or bad idea?   There are some altruistic, feel good reasons that can be proposed to make a change.  We can "improve" the lot of the average Cuban by doing this.  We can simplify the task of Cuban-Americans who want to communicate with or visit relatives remaining behind in Cuba, etc.  We can do the same thing for North Korean-Americans, Iranian-Americans, etc.  Why don't we just welcome all of those who would do us harm, with open arms.  We'll all feel better....for a little while.

Don Newell
Vancouver, WA

I grew up in Miami, and went to school with kids whose families escaped from Communist Cuba. I have no love for the regime whatsoever. The proper response to Cuba is to take a very hard line. When both of the monstrous Castro brothers are dead, look around for a moderate leader and then, only then, make overtures to soften our relationship. Otherwise, the Castro brothers will take credit for whatever good comes from the relationship with the US. Those who grew up under Communism and have known no other life, will believe them.

(name withheld)