Negative Effects Of The Cuban Embargo

The Cuban embargo is an economic, social and political embargo against the communist nation of Cuba, imposed by the United States in October of 1960. It was established by America in hopes of encouraging democracy and attempting to topple the communist Castro regime that has ruled for nearly 60 years. However, the embargo has accomplished none of what it was intended to do. After nearly 55 years of stalled diplomatic relations with the United States, Cuba has yet to embrace democracy, cease human rights abuses or release jailed political opponents. As Americans, it is our duty to acknowledge our mistakes in history and move towards the future, and that includes discontinuing our foolish ban on an entire nation, which harms innocent Cuban
The embargo prevents us from profiting from Cuba’s lucrative trading industry, which includes well sought after goods such as Cuban cigars and rum. The United States Chamber of Commerce has estimated that we loose 1.2 billion dollars annually in lost export profits (Anonymous). Instead, this business has gone to other nations; our allies and enemies alike. According to the Cuba Policy foundation, if the embargo was lifted, the average American farmer would see positive effects on their business in just a few short years (Anonymous). The agriculture business in both America and Cuba would be impacted significantly, giving both countries an economic boost. The Cuban Embargo is a relic of a dark time in American history, when we lived in fear of something that we did not understand. It is a reminder of the irrational terror that swept the nation during the red scare. It is not healthy for us Americans to dwell on the past and prolong the conflicts that should be history in this day and age. We are allowing ourselves to be frightened by a nation that poses no threat to us. Cuba was removed from the State Sponsors of Terrorism list in 2015, and in 1998, the Defence Intelligence Agency stated that Cuba is no longer an imminent danger to national security. It is my firm belief that if we furthered our relationship with Cuba, we could help direct them towards a path to democracy and civil rest. Reconciliation with
Our policy of silence has clearly not worked, and has instead punished the Cuban people. It is our responsibility as Americans to uphold the virtues of liberty, freedom and democracy. Unfortunately, up until now we have failed at this in Cuba. Today we can make a choice: will we continue to fail, or will we move towards the future, and fix the broken relationship between our