It Is Time to Lift the Cuban Embargo.
For the last forty some years, the United States of America has had a blockade on trade and travel with the nation of Cuba. However, in the past decade, there has been strong protest and lobbying to lift this long running embargo. Many people, including farmers, businessmen, and high ups in Washington alike, believe that the lifting of the embargo would be beneficial for business and tourism, as well as the possibility to help steer Cuba as a whole away from the communist government they are currently ruled by, and to have them adopt some sort of democracy (Berrios 3). With the budding business relationships in Cuba and the prospect of great trade and tourism among other things, the Cuban Embargo should be lifted gradually, as to make every transition that takes as smooth as possible.
The Cuban Embargo was birthed by President John F. Kennedy, on February 3rd, 1962 (Tamayo "U.S. Farmers" 2). At that state in time, Cuba was seen as a major military threat, and that fact along with Castro seizing U.S.-owned properties and joining the Soviet Bloc (Tamayo "U.S. Farmers" 7), led to the Embargo being clamped down upon Cuba. The embargo in a quick overview bans trade and travel with Cuba and the United States, but it does allow some things. The sale of food and medical supplies to individuals rather than .
Cuba as a government is permitted, as well as humanitarian aid, special granted visiting rights for certain U.S. citizens (students learning abroad, journalists, artists and sporting groups), the ability for Cuban Americans to visit with family they have in Cuba once a year, and direct phone service along with direct flights from Miami, New York, and L.A. (Tamayo "U.S. Farmers" 7). On the other hand, the embargo kicks in when it comes to important matters, as it bans the importing of Cuban goods such as rum and cigars (excluding cultural materials and goods brought back during legal visits), the ability for any one in the U.
