Spring Break
Time To Rethink Relationship With Cuba
Greg Pivarnik
Issue date: 9/10/07 Section: Commentary
However, the ties with China - especially the economic ones - shine brightest on the world stage. With over a billion people and a cheap labor force, China has become one of the largest trading partners with the United States. This has happened despite the fact that they are not only communist like Castro's Cuba, but that they also have a general disdain for human rights. When it comes down to it though, the U.S., with its own abysmal human rights record, bases its decisions on the almighty dollar. Cuba has nothing to offer, so they can be abused.
We frequently ignore China's massive human rights violations at the expense of our economic well-being. Amnesty International statistics estimate that China executed between 7,500 and 8,000 people last year alone. Most recently, this past summer, China executed the head of its State Food and Drug Administration, Zheng Xiaoyu, for taking some $850,000 in bribes from drug companies. Granted, 10 people did die and 80 more were sickened from the availability of faulty drugs, but an execution is unusually harsh nonetheless. China often jails reporters and political figures who oppose the communist government's views on issues. The U.S. has also been treading water with respect to the Darfur genocide as it relates to China. The U.S. has been hesitant to come out and criticize the Chinese, who have a large stake in Sudan's oil, for supporting the region economically. If Castro was pulling a stunt like this, it may be grounds for invasion.
In a morally perfect world, the pertinent decision would be to stop trade relationships with China until they clean up their act. However, given the billions of dollars that change hands between the two countries every year, this would be extremely hard to convince people of. There is also the need to acknowledge the necessity of a healthy economy for the citizens of the U.S., of which China is a big part, through their cheap labor and exports. With all these premises, the only logical and fair decision is to lift all economic sanctions against Cuba. They no longer pose a threat, and the economic stability would only benefit the people, while the sanctions only benefit those in power. After all, if we can constantly forgive China for their human rights transgressions and their communist way of life, there is no reason Castro cannot be extended the same hand.
Weekly Columnist Greg Pivarnik is a 7th-semester molecular and cell biology major. He can be contacted at Gregory.Pivarnik@UConn.edu
We frequently ignore China's massive human rights violations at the expense of our economic well-being. Amnesty International statistics estimate that China executed between 7,500 and 8,000 people last year alone. Most recently, this past summer, China executed the head of its State Food and Drug Administration, Zheng Xiaoyu, for taking some $850,000 in bribes from drug companies. Granted, 10 people did die and 80 more were sickened from the availability of faulty drugs, but an execution is unusually harsh nonetheless. China often jails reporters and political figures who oppose the communist government's views on issues. The U.S. has also been treading water with respect to the Darfur genocide as it relates to China. The U.S. has been hesitant to come out and criticize the Chinese, who have a large stake in Sudan's oil, for supporting the region economically. If Castro was pulling a stunt like this, it may be grounds for invasion.
In a morally perfect world, the pertinent decision would be to stop trade relationships with China until they clean up their act. However, given the billions of dollars that change hands between the two countries every year, this would be extremely hard to convince people of. There is also the need to acknowledge the necessity of a healthy economy for the citizens of the U.S., of which China is a big part, through their cheap labor and exports. With all these premises, the only logical and fair decision is to lift all economic sanctions against Cuba. They no longer pose a threat, and the economic stability would only benefit the people, while the sanctions only benefit those in power. After all, if we can constantly forgive China for their human rights transgressions and their communist way of life, there is no reason Castro cannot be extended the same hand.
Weekly Columnist Greg Pivarnik is a 7th-semester molecular and cell biology major. He can be contacted at Gregory.Pivarnik@UConn.edu
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
Babs
posted 9/10/07 @ 7:09 PM EST
As a Cuban-American who came to this country in 1962, I thank you for a voice of reason. It is increasingly embarrassing to see presidential hopefuls pander to a small group in Miami's Cuban American community that is holding our foreign policy hostage, contrary to our legitimate best interests. (Continued…)
Abdel Rassi
posted 9/11/07 @ 11:20 AM EST
I agree with you, Greg. I'm a Cuban living in Canada.
Gilbert Quintana
posted 9/12/07 @ 8:49 PM EST
I'm also a Cuban-American and I could not agree more with the previous comment. It's time for this country to change its policy towards Cuba. After all, time has demonstrated that it did not work, all the opposite. (Continued…)
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