Cuba and the Cry for Freedom
It seems there is in the very DNA of humans a natural and passionate desire for freedom. It does not matter as to one’s nationality, ethnicity, or language. The desire to be free and to escape injustice and oppression is a universal human longing. For those of us who grew up in the United States, it is a sentiment that we do not always understand—at least we do not understand the passion attached to such longings and the lengths to which people will go to be free. It is why some of the most patriotic Americans you will ever talk to are people who came to America from places like Afghanistan, Iran, the former Soviet Union, and Cuba. They know about oppression, dire need, and government control—and it gives them a passion and gratitude for the United States of America. Their experiences and patriotism expose the ignorance, naiveté, and ingratitude of many on the Left, including some of our more prominent politicians.
The demonstrations against the Cuban regime by the masses in that country are unprecedented. It takes courage to take such a stand anywhere; however, in Cuba this is the first time in over 60 years that the people have risen up and said “Enough!” A government that has beaten them down, stolen their property, imprisoned family and friends, and controlled their lives is a formidable opponent. For the United States, it is a rare opportunity to unequivocally take a stand for freedom and do all in our power to support the demonstrators in this island nation. President Biden must not repeat the mistake of the Obama/Biden Administration when they stood idly by and did not support the Green Revolution in Iran when thousands of Iranians rose up to take a stand against the abusive regime in Tehran.
America has a long and noble history of standing shoulder to shoulder with people literally around the world when they dared to demand their God-given rights and take a courageous stand against governments who abused and enslaved them. In the last 100 years, these oppressive governments have all been either communistic or socialistic.
There is much America can do, beginning with the Biden Administration taking a public and unmistakable stand in support of the Cuban people. The U.S. should use our military base at Guantanamo Bay (on the island of Cuba itself) to provide internet service to the country, as the Cuban government has shut down the internet and some of its telephone service in order to squelch the cries for freedom.
DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas declared that Cubans trying to escape their country by crossing the water to the U.S. will not be allowed to enter. This policy must be countermanded immediately by President Biden. Radio Marti, which is the voice of democracy being broadcast into Cuba, must be filled with support for the uprising. As much as possible, our intelligence agencies (including the CIA) must give material support to the demonstrators covertly and overtly. The thousands of Cubans encountered crossing the U.S. southern border last month must be given priority in the processing of their requests for asylum. These actions, and others like these, will send a clear signal to Cuba that we stand with those who stand for freedom. We must not squander this opportunity.
With brutal regimes who oppress their own people and facilitate violence and unrest in their neighboring countries, there should be no doubt as to where America stands and no hesitancy by any U.S. Administration in taking purposeful action. The Cuban government is such a regime. When the people of Venezuela attempted to demand freedom and change their national leaders, it was Cuba that sent in troops to prop up the corrupt government there. Cuba allows both Russia and China to keep military units and their intelligence agencies on the island. There are principles regarding both freedom and national security that demand the United States support the uprising in Cuba. It is in our own interests, and those of the Cuban people, that we support the cries for freedom there.
Do you think communism is a failed political philosophy under which no one should be forced to live? Do you think socialism is a threat to individual liberty and upward mobility? If you do, then Senator Bernie Sanders disagrees with you. With a long history of being enamored with communism, Senator Sanders stated that he hopes the Cuban government will tolerate the demonstrations and respect the rights of Cubans to demonstrate. He then went on to blame the U.S. for the suffering of the Cuban people. But Senator Sanders, there is no right to free speech in Cuba. The regime is anything but tolerant. Representative Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, predictably, also blamed the U.S. and the embargo on the suffering in Cuba—calling U.S. policy “absurdly cruel.” What is absurdly cruel is the Cuban regime violently attacking the demonstrators, imprisoning some and others simply disappearing after their arrests by the police. With the demonstrators, there were no signs demanding the U.S. lift the embargo against their corrupt government. There were many American flags and signs that simply said, “Freedom.”
Stand with the ACLJ as we stand with the citizens of Cuba.
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