The Cuban embargo was signed in 1962 by President John F. Kennedy. The embargo consists of a variety of economic sanctions against Cuba, as well as the restriction on travel for all United States citizens. Today, President Obama wants to lift these bans on Cuba in hopes to help the Cuban citizens as well as the U.S. economy. The idea of lifting the sanctions has sparked controversy across America. Through the 54 years that the embargo has been signed, it has become clear that the outdated sanctions on Cuba should be lifted.
One of the largest problems with the Cuban embargo is that sanctions have a history of failure. Most past sanctions have been used to the advantage of the dictators oppressing the citizens within the country. They use the isolation from other governments and use it to keep their people from wanting to rise and overthrow them. They use the sanctions …show more content…
Although it may project an undesirable image to take the sanctions off, keeping the sanctions looks even worse. The United States trades with many countries, such as China, that hold the same problems that Cuba holds. Keeping the sanctions on Cuba makes the U.S. look hypocritical in their beliefs. By saying they don’t believe in one way yet upholding trade with another country that holds the same beliefs does not create a desirable image for the U.S. Furthermore, opening Cuba to the ideas of the United States and its people rather than keeping them closed off to the world shows “…the opening of relation, liberalization of sanctions,” and “…the potential to bring transformational change much more than the prior U.S. policy” (Zagaris par 9). By lifting the sanctions the U.S would be providing a proactive approach to the problem rather than allowing it to continue
One of the largest problems with the Cuban embargo is that sanctions have a history of failure. Most past sanctions have been used to the advantage of the dictators oppressing the citizens within the country. They use the isolation from other governments and use it to keep their people from wanting to rise and overthrow them. They use the sanctions …show more content…
Although it may project an undesirable image to take the sanctions off, keeping the sanctions looks even worse. The United States trades with many countries, such as China, that hold the same problems that Cuba holds. Keeping the sanctions on Cuba makes the U.S. look hypocritical in their beliefs. By saying they don’t believe in one way yet upholding trade with another country that holds the same beliefs does not create a desirable image for the U.S. Furthermore, opening Cuba to the ideas of the United States and its people rather than keeping them closed off to the world shows “…the opening of relation, liberalization of sanctions,” and “…the potential to bring transformational change much more than the prior U.S. policy” (Zagaris par 9). By lifting the sanctions the U.S would be providing a proactive approach to the problem rather than allowing it to continue