Dorgan on the Senate floor - asking for exemption on ban on Cuban travel

[eleny]

Asking for an amendment, an exemption, from the rule on freedom to travel to Cuba. A soldier who is a Cuban, escaped from Cuba twice before being able to make it to the U.S. he joined the military and won the Bronze Star. Now wants to visit his family but has refused travel to Cuba. Dorgan asking for an exemption. This soldier's child is ill. No humanitarian relief will allow a visit.

Asking for an amendment of the rules for people who have family dying or ill in Cuba and being turned down.

[marbuc]

1. The travel ban is silly

What right does the American govt have to tell us we can't travel to Cuba from another point of origin?? If we are in Mexico, do we still have to adhere to the American drinking age? If we are in Amsterdam are we still prohibited to smoke pot, or indulge in prostitution?

It seems we should be expected to adhere to the law of the host country, and if they allow travel to Cuba there is no reason I shouldn't be able to go if I want to.

[SteppingRazor]

2. You would think that, but...

America's view of Cuba is downright psychotic at times. And it's only gotten worse under Bush -- the travel bands have been tightened, etc. -- which I think is a serious weakness. If it were played up, and a lift on certain travel bans were in the Democratic platform, we could turn many Cubans to the Democrats, which could allow us to carry Florida.

[marbuc]

3. Unfortunately I think you're wrong.

America's position is archaic, the last remnant of the cold war, but the ban is alive and well because of the Neo-McCarthyists in government, and the Anti-Castro Cubans in Florida and New Jersey. They still hate the idea of supporting Cuba in the least, including allowing travel. I keep hearing the exile community is dying off, and that the next generation of Cuban-Americans is more moderate, yet this is not reflected in our policy.

Maybe the time has come to push for lifting the travel ban, but as long as the cold war dinosaurs are in power in this country I won't hold my breath.

[SteppingRazor]

4. Then you don't really think I'm wrong

You just think my idea won't be done. Because believe me, what you've heard about 2nd and 3rd generation Cubans is true. They're not hung up on the horrors of the revolution, the way the immigrant generation is. That line of thinking will only grow more moderate as Cubans become more Americanized and Cuba becomes less Castro-centric (i.e. when he finally drops dead).

Most Cubans I know -- and I know an awful lot of them -- are more interested in visiting relatives in Cuba and being able to send them aid; two things that have been clamped down upon under our current administration. They don't really care one way or the other whether these two things would be seen as aid to Castro himself. Or if they do, that problem weighs less on their minds than the desire to see long-lost relatives.

[marbuc]

5. I stand partially corrected

You are not wrong, I changed my train of thought mid post. I do think the exile community still wields a tremendous amount of clout, even if their numbers are declining relative to the more moderate recent arrivals.