By Barbara E. Hernandez | May 7th, 2009 @ 2:05 pm
In Mobile, Ala., the rich port and its residents see Cuba as a
historical trade partner and not a Cold War casualty. Barges routinely
drop off cotton, corn, soybeans, railroad ties and utility poles to the
island country, part of the USA's $718 million of goods shipped there.
The state's politicians, both Democrat and Republican, favor lifting the
Cuban embargo and increasing trade with their Communist neighbor,
according to the Los Angeles Times. They want cruises to the island,
more shipments of goods and reciprocal tourism. There are approximately
11 million people in Cuba, only about 600 miles away from Mobile.
Maybe the desire for trade goes further back in history, when Mobile,
part of the Spanish empire in the 18th century, traded with Cuba on a
regular basis.
It is no surprise that Mobile, Ala., and other ports like it, are
thinking about the positive economic impacts of Cuban trade rather than
the political or ideology impacts. Although most of the anti-Fidel
Castro rhetoric comes from Florida amid Cuban refugees – other areas of
the country, even close neighbors, may see the problem differently.
Instead of maintaining a stance, Alabama sees open trade as a benefit to
the state and its residents. They have no beef with Castro and they see
the Cuban people as nothing but warm.
"I grew up in the Cold War," Ron Sparks, the state commissioner of
agriculture and industry, told the Times. "I thought Russia was the
worst thing that could ever happen to America. But I also remember the
day President Reagan stood on the wall and said, 'President Gorbachev,
tear down this wall.' I supported that. Now let's tear down the wall
between us and Cuba."
Perhaps it is now time to rethink our policies on Cuba, for ourselves
and to improve our economy.
Alabama Port Seeks Cuban Trade | BNET Travel Blog | BNET (8 May 2009)
http://industry.bnet.com/travel/10001833/alabama-port-seeks-cuban-trade/
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