Hands Off Cuba: Lift The Blockade!!

Richard S. Dunn July 30, 2021

Those of us who warned during the 2020 Presidential Election campaign that; it’s not just getting rid of Trump but, what follows after in the way of national and international Policies and actions. In the six months of the Biden Administration, he has not reversed one domestic or international reactionary Policy of any of his predecessors.

The Trump Administration imposed 243 sanctions against Cuba. The Biden Administration has imposed additional ones with the comment that “this is just the beginning.” The imposition of the additional sanctions is not only illegal and immoral, but self-serving, hypocritical and fueled by the US’ obsession of ‘great power’ chauvinism. Despite the enlightened international community calling for an end to the embargo on Cuba; the US continues this backward and reactionary Policy. Further it is a double standard that shouldn’t go unnoticed by all peace loving and enlightened people. Israel has illegally occupied Palestine and have subjected it’s citizens to Bantustan type living conditions and ruthless violence for 73 years; Saudi Arabia has carried out a genocidal war against Yemen, resulting in millions forced to flee their Homeland; it is no secret about the governmental corruption and of abuse of citizens in Guatemala, Ecuador, Brazil and Haiti among others and, none of these belligerent countries have been sanctioned by the United States. The United States is in no moral position to critique any Country about “human rights abuses;” the history of the United States is replete with human rights atrocities right here in these United States. The genocidal forced relocation of the Native Americans along the Trail of tears; the enslavement of African people and Jim Crow after “emancipation;” the imprisonment of political dissidents under COINTELPRO; ‘redlining’ by HUD and mass incarceration of Black men, are just a tip of the iceberg. Internationally, it has intervened in the domestic affairs of other Countries; fomenting destabilization and assassinations; regime change through coups, civil unrest and direct removal of a democratically elected President, Jean-Bertrand Aristede of Haiti.

The Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has sent three ships to Cuba with fuel, oxygen tanks, needles and syringes; apart from international solidarity, it exemplifies a humanitarian, moral and principled position on the Cuban question. Democracy Now reports that 400 plus activists, politicians, intellectuals, clergy, artists are calling for the immediate lifting of the 243 sanctions imposed on Cuba by the Trump Administration. The group includes former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula DaSilva, intellectuals Dr. Cornel West and Noam Chomsky. The call was placed in a full-page ad in the New York Times July 23 entitled “Let Cuba Live.” That is precisely the focal point. The United States have placed a strangle hold on Cuba ever since the triumph of the revolution and, it has continued to this day, 62 years later.

The United States have never forgiven Cuba for ending the exploitation of the Cuban masses by the local oligarchy and the multinationals; it has never forgiven Cuba for transforming land ownership and returning the land to the rightful owners, the Cuban people; it has never forgiven Cuba for ending the immorality and social decadence in the country carried out by the Mafia through prostitution and the casinos and most importantly; it has never forgiven Cuba for building a socio-economic System that benefits the Cuban people providing free universal health care, quality education at all levels and a society resolute in self-determination. Cuba’s international solidarity with the oppressed peoples of the world, especially in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean is well known. Cuban doctors, nurses, teachers and work brigades have, carried out assistance to these developing countries with no strings attached. Even in the height of the pandemic, Cuba fulfilled a request from the Jamaican government and dispatched doctors and nurses to assist, in the fight against Covid-19. Cuba’s military assistance in Southern Africa against the South Africa Apartheid regime is exemplary; many Cuban men and women have lost their lives in the National Liberation struggles of Angola, Mozambique, South Africa and Namibia. Those achievements have earned the ire of the United States.

Despite the embargo and the continued US’ covert machinations, Cuba’s handling of the pandemic has been more successful than that of the United States; Cuba has had less deaths from Covid-19 than the United States, despite the economic and social challenges. Without the illegal and immoral embargo, Cuba’s social development would be way ahead from where it is now. To sustain a society for this long faced with constant hostility and destabilization tactics from without and within, calls for enormous creativity and sacrifice by the Cuban people. The recent demonstrations in Cuba have nothing to do with governmental mismanagement or “failure.” The demonstrations are a result of the United States embargo which places unreasonable and additional hardships, on a society that is still building the intent and objective of the revolution; to create a truly equalitarian society.

Cuba must live; Cuba must be allowed to develop and prosper; Cuba must not be coerced into becoming a lackey of the United States. Hands off Cuba; lift the blockade.

Richard Dunn can be reached at makingitplain.net