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| Photo Credit: Moses Jackson |
In the United States, socialism
and communism are emotion-packed, confusing, scary terms. They evoke dark,
grainy photos of war and intimidating portraits of Lenin and Stalin. Cuba prompts
similar reactions from many Americans – visions of Fidel Castro and the Cuban
Missile Crisis.
Foreign relations between the US
and Cuba are muddled by lack of information and outdated biases – largely on
the part of Americans. One of the biggest huddles seems to be the hang-up on
Cuba’s governance style, which if looked at objectively would soothe any
misgivings Americans might have.
Cuba has a socialist government
that is run by the communist party. Not the authoritarian Russian communist
party of the Cold War, but an evolved, modern and even democratically inclined
party in a socialist system where citizens vote for representatives at all
levels. Cuban socialism isn’t about tyranny and unchecked state ownership and
control – if it was, I have no doubt that the Cuban revolutionary spirit would
have overthrown it in a fashion much like the revolution of 1959 [which was based
on socialist ideals during a time when Cuba desperately lacked economic equality
and adequate social safety nets].
However, socialism has been given
little room to flourish in Cuba. The US-imposed economic blockade has
effectively cut Cuba off from the global trade and financial assistance needed
to building a strong nation [regardless of governance]. The blockade –
inherently anti-socialist and anti-Castro – asserts that the economic challenges
in Cuba are the de facto failed outcome of socialism. The UN General Assembly, however, recognizes the role of
US policy in Cuba’s hardships and has called for an end to the blockade for the
past 21 years, calling it “archaic” and “punitive.” Despite the blockade,
socialist Cuba has maintained its egalitarian ideals and with fewer resources,
all citizens make due with less.
Socialism [and the Cuban nation] should
cease to be seen as a threat to US democracy and freedom. It’s time to move
beyond the Cold War and embrace one of our [geographically] closest neighbors.
US suppression of Cuban freedoms
needs to be recognized as a crime against humanity within the United States. It’s time to end
the blockade.
In his writings, Ché Guevara explores Cuba as a vanguard in
the resistance of US hegemony in Latin America. He highlights exceptional aspects
of the Cuban revolution, while noting that “it fundamentally followed a logic derived from laws intrinsic
to the social process.” It’s time to take Ché’s
analysis and turn it back on ourselves. We stand at a strategic moment in time
when we can act as the vanguards to influence social process again – towards improved
foreign relations with Cuba [and ultimately a closer look at neocolonialism and
imperialism].
My generation has no memories of
the time when socialism and communism were an actual threat to the US. And, based
on my experience in Cuba, I feel that it is my responsibility to dispel any
misgivings about the country and its government. During our trip, we heard from
professors who identified themselves as members of the communist party. They
were friendly and open and struck me as oddly… normal. Cubans were eager to
engage and had an astounding ability to differentiate between the American
people and senseless policies of the American government. Rather than treat me
[an American] with animosity for all the suffering my country has inflicted
upon them, they were enthusiastic and happy to chat. After such understanding, I
cannot comprehend how we continue to harbor negative feelings about this nation. Perhaps
that is the greatest accomplishment of the blockade, prohibiting the flow of
people and ideas and not allowing US citizens to experience and make their own
opinion about Cuba.
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“There is talk about the failure of socialism,
yet where is the success of capitalism in Africa, Asia, and Latin America?
Where is the success of capitalism in places where thousands of millions of
people live? I believe that the failure of capitalism should be discussed as
much as the failure of socialism in a small number of countries. Capitalism failed in more than 100 countries,
which now face a truly desperate situation. I do not understand why this is
forgotten. There is talk about the failure of socialism based on what happened
in East Europe. Capitalism has ruined the world. It has poisoned the rivers, the
seas, and the atmosphere; it is destroying the ozone layer, and it is
disastrously changing the world's climate.”
--Fidel Castro
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