People do forget. Part of the reason we humans are in the position we are is precisely how we forget the lessons of history.
Castro will have to die or removed from power before any real change will take place. I hope I am wrong, but I doubt it. Likewise unless the Miami fanaticos change their attitude not much changed can be expected.
The only hope as we stand today is that the American people express their opinion loud enough so their representatives respond accordingly.
As you have already pointed out, such public opinion seems to have been influenced or silenced.
I agree that the great majority of Americans do not really want to be hostile to Cuba. However it appears that Cuba does not occupy a very high priority in their mind, hence my once "wishful thinking" idea that the Elias saga would change that is slowly disappearing into the bright light of reality.
The following report does not give any hope of any improvement:
web.amnesty.org
<snip>
New legislation
Tough new legislation aimed at combating political dissent and protecting the Cuban economy was approved in February and became effective in March. Law 88, the Law for the Protection of the National Independence and Economy of Cuba, provided a penalty of up to 20 years' imprisonment for a series of offences. These include providing information to the US government; owning, distributing or reproducing material produced by the US government or any other foreign entity; and collaborating, by any means, with foreign radio, television, press or other foreign media, with the purpose of destabilizing the country and destroying the socialist state.
<snip>
Then the US side....
This, (among other things), defines the type of government the US would deal with in Cuba:
thomas.loc.gov
<snip>
For purposes of this Act, a democratically elected government in Cuba, in addition to meeting the requirements of section 205(a), is a government which--
(1) results from free and fair elections--
(A) conducted under the supervision of internationally recognized observers; and
(B) in which--
(i) opposition parties were permitted ample time to organize and campaign for such elections; and
(ii) all candidates were permitted full access to the media;
(2) is showing respect for the basic civil liberties and human rights of the citizens of Cuba;
(3) is substantially moving toward a market-oriented economic system based on the right to own and enjoy property;
(4) is committed to making constitutional changes that would ensure regular free and fair elections and the full enjoyment of basic civil liberties and human rights by the citizens of Cuba;
(5) has made demonstrable progress in establishing an independent judiciary; and
(6) has made demonstrable progress in returning to United States citizens (and entities which are 50 percent or more beneficially owned by United States citizens) property taken by the Cuban Government from such citizens and entities on or after January 1, 1959, or providing full compensation for such property in accordance with international law standards and practice.
<snip>
I guess, that since 1959, and applying: "full compensation for such property in accordance to international law"
We could assume that Cuba might as well hand the keys of the country to the US. In practical terms... forget it, it will never happen.
It is clear that on both sides of the fence, the people who could start real change are a rabid bunch of fanatics, based on that... forget real change.
So... until Castro dies, I have to admit that the situation will remain very much like it is now.
It will be interesting to see how the situation will eventually develop, another lesson that history will provide us... which no doubt, humans being the idiots we are, will soon forget.
Another situation equally interesting, will be how the government of "El Zorro" (Fox) will implement their policies, whatever those will become.
This is a show that will commence Dec 1. of this year. Possibly, it may have some influence over the Cuba situation. |
