Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Isn't it illegal to travel to Cuba?
A: For Americans, yes. There are exceptions, but Cuba is the only
country in the world to which our country prohibits us from traveling -
with threats of ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine! You can legally travel to Iran, North Korea,
Afghanistan - anywhere in the world but this peaceful nation 90 miles from our
border!
Q: Why can't we travel to Cuba?
A: As you know, there has been a 50-year political pissing contest
between the US and Cuba since the revolution. Our CIA had successfully
ousted a progressive, democratically-elected government from staying in
power in Guatemala in 1954 and in Iran in 1952. It was an affront to
our ability to control our hemisphere to have a bunch of upstarts like Che Guevara and Fidel Castro kick our man Batista out on his ass. That
they then had the audacity to nationalize their resources and an oil
refinery, as well as to close down the bordellos and casinos added
insult to injury! They also successfully repelled the Bay of Pigs
Invasion, adding to our cumulative embarrassment. We cannot let them get
away with such things, so we have prohibited travel (to prevent any
American dollars being spent in that country) and imposed an economic
embargo for all these years. The Pope (John Paul) declared this embargo a moral
outrage. The United Nations has voted multiple times to request an end
to the embargo - the only countries to vote to continue the embargo ate
the US, Israel, and Palau! Go figure...
Q: But doesn't Cuba support terrorists?
A:Not in the past forty-some years. Fidel says "we send doctors, not
soldiers". And they do! Cuba helped Spain with some of the Basque
terrorists - offering to bring them to Cuba to live out their lives to
get them out of Spain's hair. Spain agreed to the plan - and appreciated
Cuba's help -and continues good diplomatic relations with Cuba - but we
take the opportunity to claim that they are "providing shelter to
terrorists" and therefore we will not have diplomatic relations or allow
travel. Cuba has helped Colombia negotiate with the FARC rebels there -
with the blessings of Colombia - but we use this to claim that they
"talk to terrorists". And yet the United States is harboring terrorists
like Luis Posada Carilles who is wanted in Venezuela and Cuba for blowing up a Cubana Airlines
airplane, killing some 73 people, in October of 1976.
Q: So HOW did you go to Cuba?
A: The State Department allows Americans to travel under a "general
license" if they are going to be doing research in Cuba which will be
published or otherwise distributed upon return. The problem is that a
"general license" is not a specific piece of paper and the State
Department could decide after you return that your trip did not qualify.
A pretty bizarre situation, if you ask me. Individuals can seek a
license for individual study (ten weeks or more) or to play at athletic
events or to present their
music or art. I suspect enforcement is haphazard and selective at best -
I know a physician who travels to Cuba several times a year and has
never been harassed. Details are available online at the website of the
Office of Foreign Assets Control of the State Department.
Q: Do the Cubans hate Americans?
A: Wow! - Absolutely not! Cubans love Americans - we share a lot with
the Cubans - who love lively music, have tremendous family values, and
like to have fun. When I traveled to Cuba thirty years ago the Russians
were still there offering support. I remember having a Cuban
explain how he didn't like the Russians who "were cold and stiff"
whereas the Americans loved the Salsa music and were fun to talk to! We
are missing a valuable opportunity by shutting out our neighbor with
this 50-year spite fence.
Q: What can I do to help stop the travel ban
and embargo?
A: VERY good question! A bill has just been introduced into the House of
Representatives that would lift the trade embargo on agricultural goods
and lift the travel ban. You can find out about HR 4645 and how to share
your support with your elected member of congress at the website of the
Latin America Working Group (LAWG).