THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, September 13, 1994 TAG: 9409100020
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A14 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 42 lines
Our government will not negotiate normalization of relations or lift our embargo on Cuba unless Cubans agree to a ``free market'' (capitalist) system. Basically this is a form of extortion in which we starve an otherwise peaceful country unless they agree to the domination of our business interests.
This may stem from the fact that our standard of living is propped up by corrupt puppet regimes and dictatorships which ensure us access to raw materials at artificially low prices and which enforce conditions of veritable slave labor for the multinationals.
Most Cubans know that capitalism will not benefit them. The result of a capitalist system in Cuba would be a wealthy elite class and massive extreme poverty along with illiteracy, lack of health care, malnutrition and brutal exploitation. One need only look at the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico or any other country south of our border as an example.
While the Cuban system may have its problems, it has even under the worst conditions provided health care, education, housing and the basic necessities to all its citizens. We have not done this under far better circumstances.
The Cuban government has become more representative in the past several years with popular elections. Some reforms in their economy have taken place with joint ventures and tourism appearing on the island. Castro at one point even offered to retire if the United States would normalize relations with Cuba.
Many overtures of peace have been made by Cuba and ignored by our government and by the Clinton administration. Our aggressive policy toward Cuba is cruel, outdated, and should make us all angry and ashamed. It's time for a change. It's time for mature, civilized diplomacy. It's time to end this illegal, vengeful, inhumane embargo and normalize relations with Cuba.
WILLIAM FOSTER
Chesapeake, Aug. 27, 1994 by CNB