Earlier this week, the Cuban embassy opened up in Washington, DC and an American embassy opened quietly in Havana, and the world went back to whatever it was that I was ignoring in the news cycle. Irresponsible? Maybe, but I didn’t want to hear about it — and certainly not from pundits with no skin in the game.
But Elizabeth Scalia invited me to share my thoughts on the renewed diplomatic relations between the US and Cuba, and frankly, I couldn’t say no. In fact, I delivered a blog post pretty quickly. It had been sitting on my heart for some time, and I’m grateful that she asked — if only for the catharsis that writing would give me. She graciously opened up her own blog, where I guest-posted the following. Here is the opening, but I do hope you’ll follow the link and read the whole piece:
When the news that Pope Francis had a hand in talks between the U.S. and Cuba came to light, I received an emoji of “Dead Fidel” on my phone: a bearded, military-cap-wearing, cigar-smoking, cross-eyed caricature of an aging dictator.
I laughed when I got it. And yet, I didn’t forward it, as I once might have. I was conflicted.
Conflicted. That about sums up the surge of emotions after this week’s opening of embassies, thus re-establishing diplomatic ties between the U.S. and Cuba.
I think it can be a good thing; I think little good can come of it.
Except, perhaps, the lifting of the embargo.
And I mistrust that, too.
See what I mean? I can’t commit to one view, because there’s more to this situation than an opportunity for trade and travel between the two countries. It’s not about vacationing on beautiful beaches. It’s not about a time capsule for car enthusiasts. It’s certainly not about Cuban cigars (and I know where I’d like to put a Cohiba the next time somebody asks me for one.)
[….]
Please read the rest at The Anchoress.