The U.S. and Cuba Need More Than Rhetoric

Re “Castro Must Yield to U.S., Bush Says,” May 21:

Having traveled to Cuba legally and heard from the Miami-based opposition to Fidel Castro as well as from his supporters, I hope your readers are as bored as I am by the rhetoric from the Bush brothers (George W. and Jeb) and the Castro brothers (Fidel and Raul). The only relevant commentary that has been made is that of former President Carter, who seeks to open up relations between Cuba and the United States by allowing a free flow of ideas within Cuba, something common on the street but badly needed at the higher levels of government, and by lifting an outdated trade embargo against Cuba that serves no other purpose than to harm ordinary Cubans.

For the past 43 years, U.S. citizens have been barred from enjoying one of the world’s most culturally rich nations--barely 90 miles from Florida--simply because of politics. President Bush can tear down that wall. All he has to do is take the first step.

Dan Haifley

Santa Cruz

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Re “Bush Is Out of Step on Cuba,” editorial, May 21:

Blaming Bush’s Cuba policy--and previous administrations’ policies, for over 40 years--for the plight of the poor Cubans, because of our refusal to trade with them, and comparing it to our policy on trade with China misses the key point. Many other countries have continued to trade with Cuba, like Canada and Mexico. But, unlike even China, Cuba refuses to allow foreigners to own property or businesses. That’s why Canada’s trade with Cuba has gone nowhere but our trade with China is growing.

The plight of Cuba’s poor is directly because of Castro’s communistic grip. Please don’t blame the U.S. for every other country’s problems.

Dick Ettington

Palos Verdes

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While President Bush was campaigning for his brother’s reelection in Florida, he asked Castro to set up a timetable for “free” elections in Cuba and suggested 2003. I suggest that he help Castro in that vein; perhaps he can have Gov. Jeb Bush send the voting machines used in Florida for our last presidential election; he can even have Jeb send Florida Secretary of State Katherine Harris to Cuba to monitor the elections. Then there’s the Supreme Court. Sorry, Fidel--I forgot--that’s only for our use.

Donald A. Dzienis

Bellflower

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Havana is the one Latin American capital not surrounded by shantytowns. And Cuba is a human rights oasis compared with those Latin American countries where homeless children are murdered by security forces with U.S. weapons.

Paul Tracy

Oceanside