Why don’t Americans Travel to Cuba?

The U.S.’ current administration maintains the unconstitutional prohibition for American citizens to travel to Cuba; a law implemented 49 years ago, which is rejected by the majority of the U.S. population .

After passing the law commanding rupture of all diplomatic and consular relations with Cuba in the beginning of January 1961, a prelude to all kinds of various attacks against the rising Cuban Revolution, on the 17th of January John F. Kennedy’s administration eliminated the right for any American citizen to visit the region of greater Antilla. Such a decision was made without valid reasoning.

The origins of this hostile policy did not emerge after the first month of 1959, as many erroneously believe, when the Revolution first implemented laws of vast popular benefit after achieving political sovereignty and in pursuit of consolidating economic independence.

The Americans’ hegemonic ambition to grip Cuba is a known fact that has persisted since the leaders of the thirteen colonies were fighting to obtain independence from the British. Since those times, these leaders have expressed their desire for Cuba.

In frustration after frustration, the island has always represented the sought-after apple. The triumph in the armed battle against Batista’s tyranny made the Americans very anxious for their aspirations after transfer of power to the Cuban nation.

This January, forty-nine years have passed since the decision to impede American travel 90 miles to benefit multiple services that could be obtained in Jose Marti’s land. Today the Americans are increasing in numbers in their protest against the arbitrary imposition.

The recent study by the French News Agency (Agence France-Press AFP) is eloquent. The study affirms that 70 percent of American favor removing the restrictions for the general population to travel to Cuba, while 59 percent believe that the time for a new policy towards the Cuban government has arrived.

Many Republican voters (62 percent), Democrats (77 percent) and independents (66 percent) want to be able to travel to the Caribbean island without restrictions, shows a poll by WorldPublicOpinion.org.

Fifty-nine percent of those interviewed affirmatively answered the following question: “Is it time to try a new approach to Cuba?”

In the northern legislative circle the subject represents a source of renewed debates due to the increased opinions within the circle that the moment has arrived to abolish the prohibition. It is time the Americans get to travel to Cuba the way they can travel to China, Vietnam or North Korea, countries with which Washington still maintains disputes.

On the matter, in the beginning of December 2009, Republican legislator Jeff Flake admitted that the government bill regarding the removal of restrictions, allowing Americans to freely travel to Cuba, has advanced. However, the bill does lack 218 required votes to be approved in the House of Representatives.

The reasoning in the debate underlines that the fundamental issue is not whether or not the ban carries a penalty against Cuba, but the fact that the law is an abrogation of Americans’ Constitutional freedom to travel freely where they have the desire to. Such a right has been violated for 49 years and has to be reinstated.