U.S., not Castro, impedes travel to Cuba

[Mika]

Dear Editor: I have been fortunate to travel to Cuba four times since 1999. I went once with the Madison Camaguey Sister City to sign our sister-city agreement and to bring medical supplies. I also traveled three times with the International Crane Foundation on biological and educational missions. Cuba is a fascinating country in terms of its music, history, ecology, health and social care. The Cuban people are friendly and cooperative.

When I discuss my trips with people and the difficulties Americans face in traveling to Cuba, I inevitably hear the same comment, "When Fidel dies, things will be different." But the problem lies not with Cuba and Castro, it is with our own government. Americans can travel to other Communist countries such as China and Vietnam much easier than to Cuba. The reason is the intense political power wielded by Cuban-Americans who oppose Castro.

American presidents from Dwight Eisenhower to George W. Bush have used invasion, blockade, embargoes, assassination attempts and outright support of terrorist actions against Cuba since 1959, resulting in the deaths of many Cuban civilians. The Cuban government has never used force to harm a single American.

I wonder how many Americans are aware of the selective legislation that has been passed, such as the Cuban Adjustment Act of 1966, which among other things provides illegal Cuban immigrants arriving on dry Florida land with: 1) financial assistance for food, education and accommodation; 2) immediate assistance with a work permit and a Social Security number; and 3) permanent residency status in the United States one year after their arrival. Are Haitians, Mexicans and other illegal immigrants given this huge benefit?

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