Reply #42: "As a Republican, I am appalled at President Bush's decision..." [View All]

[Osolomia]

Loosen stance toward Cuba
10/24/03

As a Republican, I am appalled at President Bush's decision to tighten travel restrictions to Cuba and to allow for more dissidents to emigrate to the United States, as a way to destabilize Fidel Castro's government. His argument is that American dollars spent in Cuba only end up in the hands of the elite.

That is not true. I have visited Cuba five times recently, twice with a group of students from my school. We were able to bring 1,000 pounds of humanitarian aid that we personally distributed to local agencies and individual citizens.

We shopped and we tipped, knowing that (our money) would ultimately help working families and school children.

Bush should stop his hawkish stance toward Cuba, a nation that is not a threat to our national security. He should leave Castro alone and allow me, a Spanish teacher, to visit a country that has been a wonderful host to me and my students.

The president's comments have cost him my endorsement for his re-election.

ROBERTO J. VILLA Northwest Portland

http://www.oregonlive.com/letters/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/editorial/1066997017122540.xml

A golden opportunity has been handed to the Dems on a silver platter and look at what the leaders are doing with it: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=180595#181688