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“Prior to the Fidel Castro led socialist revolution of 1959 Cuba was a Latin American paradise” Apparently what Mr. Curran lacks in facts he makes up for in comedy! I’m sure Cuba was a Latin American paradise for the wealthy, but certainly not for the poor. Prior to the revolution, and under President Batista’s regime, there was a huge social and economic dichotomy between the rich and the poor in Cuba, essentially creating an ever-widening gap between the haves and the have-nots. Undoubtedly this was a contributing factor to the Cuban Revolution. Of course, this is typical with any country that begins to adopt capitalist ideals and practices – and one can certainly make the argument that there have been generations of Americans dwelling in the lower economic classes who feel this burden, as many Cubans did prior to the revolution. So, let’s not pretend that this “paradise” went to hell after Fidel took power. During his regime, Batista joined forces with wealthy landowners, had dealings with the American mafia for profit, did little to quell the strife of crippling poverty felt by the Cuban masses, and even curtailed individual civil liberties in the process. What a great guy!!!

Here’s a quote for ya Curran:

"I believe that there is no country in the world including any and all the countries under colonial domination, where economic colonization, humiliation and exploitation were worse than in Cuba, in part owing to my country’s policies during the Batista regime. I approved the proclamation which Fidel Castro made in the Sierra Maestra, when he justifiably called for justice and especially yearned to rid Cuba of corruption. I will even go further: to some extent it is as though Batista was the incarnation of a number of sins on the part of the United States. Now we shall have to pay for those sins. In the matter of the Batista regime, I am in agreement with the first Cuban revolutionaries. That is perfectly clear."

— U.S. President John F. Kennedy, interview with Jean Daniel, 24 October 1963

I suppose we should dismiss these social injustices because Batista’s economic policies were more aligned with the American capitalist system than his demon communist successor-by-coup Fidel Castro. Communist or Capitalist, it’s what a person does with his or her power that establishes their legacy.

The fact of the matter is that we are entering into year 2015 and, if there is any hope for change in world and subduing old enemies, we should try to make the Cold War a distant memory. Perhaps strengthening foreign ties with countries we once considered a threat, loosening sanctions, and integrating our economies and cultural norms, is a sure bet towards a modern age of mutual acceptance and influences. We did it with Japan and even China (moderately), why not Cuba? Are we still so wrapped up in this anti-commie McCarthy vigilantism that we are unable to realize how a gradual renovated relationship between the two nations could benefit both Americans and Cubans in the long run? If so, America is less evolved than how it portrays itself.

The Cold War strategies of mutual destruction didn’t seem to work…how about we try something else.