By Christopher Wells
Abraham Lincoln once said, “You destroy an enemy when you make him your friend.”
This is precisely the right kind of wisdom needed when dealing with Cuba. Yes, dictatorships are bad. Yes, Cuba allied with the former Soviet Union during the height of the cold war bringing the world to the brink of nuclear war. And yes, the Cuban government has committed human rights violations against it’s people; but guess what, so has the U.S.A. As a child who grew up in the cold war era, I was taught that Cuba was our enemy and that Fidel Castro and the soviet union couldn’t wait to destroy us. But when I saw how excited the people of Cuba were when they caught sight of the first U.S. president to visit their country in 88 years– not lost on them was the fact that this U.S. president has the same complexion as they do–I knew right then that Obama had made the right choice and was the right president to go to Cuba.
Why, you may ask? Because anytime a country extends it’s hand in diplomacy, the United States needs to accept it, period. Why is there even a debate about this? What nation prospers from having enemies? What nation is made safer by rejecting diplomacy? Would it have been smart for America to have rejected and still reject any diplomacy, products, or industry coming out of Germany or Japan because of World War II?–Or because Hitler was once in power? Think of all the technology the world would have lost if this had been the mindset then? Or let’s go back even further, how wise would it have been to have rejected diplomacy with the South after the Civil War or if we had rejected all ties with England after the Revolutionary War? On the contrary, it would have been very stupid and very short sided. Walking forward is always a safer direction to head than walking backwards?
This is why I believe going forward with Cuba makes much more sense than living within the extinct rules of a by-gone era. Also given Cuba’s close proximity to the U.S. coast at only 90 miles away, I need not tell you how much safer our country will be if the government of Cuba is our friend instead of our enemy. Obama’s historic mission can restore trade and tourism which can only bring about jobs and opportunity for both countries. If history has shown us anything, it’s shown us that once tourism is allowed to thrive in a country and their economic engine becomes driven by it, then that country becomes stable, friendly, and will reject the influences of radicalism or leader’s bent on destruction or power. What the world is witnessing with Obama’s historic visit to Cuba are the final moments of the cold war. Once the people see the hope of freedom President Obama’s visit represents, change will certainly come to Cuba and will stay with them forever. It has been stated that only Nixon could have gone to China; then the same is true now–Only Obama could have gone to Cuba. His success there will become our success. This was the right choice to make; shame on anyone who feels different.
Further Reading:
