Hemingway's House in Cuba: Is the embargo still a viable policy? (political)

[melliedee]

Hemingway lived there from 1930-1960 where he wrote some of him most famous works. Appartently, despite being on the national register of historic sites in peril, santions against Cuba are preventing academics and historians from recovering orginal manuscripts, notes, letters and countless other Hemingway artifacts.

"Sarah Stephens, executive director of the US-based Centre for Democracy in the Americas, which is working to change US policy, said: "The Hemingway house is a classic example of how sanctions hurt Cubans and Americans. This is our great writer whose material is being destroyed by weather and time. It is shocking. They are just out in the open air."

McGovern is a harsh critic of the embargo and the attempts to block preservation of the home:

"Speaking from his office on Capitol Hill, Mr McGovern said: "The embargo is an embarrassment. It hasn't worked. We've been doing it for 50 years, and I'd like to think that if something hasn't worked after 50 years, we'd be mature enough to let it go."

What do you think? Is the embargo an outdated policy that did nothing to encourage democracy and may have even created a sympathetic platform for Castro/communism? Will sanctions be lifted when Castro dies? Should santions be lifted for special circumstances like this one?

Link to full article:

Bell tolls for Hemingway treasures as Cuban house caught in sanctions trap | News | Guardian Unlimited Books

[PlayadelSoul]

Personally, I am on the fence when it comes to the embargo. It doesn't work, yet it does. I think it hurts the Cuban people more than the government. However, if it were lifted, I believe the Cuban people would still be hurt by a corrupt dictator and his cronies.

This story is kind of silly, IMHO. If the documents are out in the fresh air, put them somewhere else. Plenty of air controlled spaces in Cuba. Ever hear of cigars? If they have the ability to keep cigars in air controlled climates, they certainly have the ability to do the same for important documents. In fact, I bet Fidel's papers are kept that way.

It is easy for anyone to get permission to go to Cuba. Educational permits are issued, all of the time. I even know a few guys who went on a cigar "factfinding" mission.

[melliedee]

Originally Posted by PlayadelSoul

Personally, I am on the fence when it comes to the embargo. It doesn't work, yet it does. I think it hurts the Cuban people more than the government. However, if it were lifted, I believe the Cuban people would still be hurt by a corrupt dictator and his cronies.

This story is kind of silly, IMHO. If the documents are out in the fresh air, put them somewhere else. Plenty of air controlled spaces in Cuba. Ever hear of cigars? If they have the ability to keep cigars in air controlled climates, they certainly have the ability to do the same for important documents. In fact, I bet Fidel's papers are kept that way.
It is easy for anyone to get permission to go to Cuba. Educational permits are issued, all of the time. I even know a few guys who went on a cigar "factfinding" mission.

I think that's kind of the point of the article. Historians efforts are being blocked as a direct result of the santions. Humidity and handwritten 50+ year old manuscripts don't make a great combination. People always talk about the embargo in terms of cigars, which I find equally silly (not being a cigar fan!) but I guess since I am a Hemingway fan...well, to each his own.

"More importantly, the original manuscripts and books, which contain thousands of Hemingway's notes, are still at risk. The US government has blocked not only the money needed but specialist equipment such as dehumidifiers and scanning equipment."

It seems pointless to let these be lost?

[ami]

What do you think? Is the embargo an outdated policy that did nothing to encourage democracy and may have even created a sympathetic platform for Castro/communism? Will sanctions be lifted when Castro dies? Should santions be lifted for special circumstances like this one?

Link to full article:

Bell tolls for Hemingway treasures as Cuban house caught in sanctions trap | News | Guardian Unlimited Books[/quote]

I don't think there's anything else we could have done to encourage democracy there. Short of building an armada of boats so Cubans could come over here to see what democracy is really about. But I disagree about the sympathetic platform scenario...it's hard for me to imagine anyone in the free world sympathizing with Castro's regime

[Banzoomba]

End the Embargo link very interesting........I think open trade would have more of a positive effect......the Orioles played in Cuba a 1999 and a Cuban team came to Baltimore to play and I really thought things were going to start changing......lots of goodwill on both sides....but not much happened after that

[PlayadelSoul]

Originally Posted by melliedee

I think that's kind of the point of the article. Historians efforts are being blocked as a direct result of the santions. Humidity and handwritten 50+ year old manuscripts don't make a great combination. People always talk about the embargo in terms of cigars, which I find equally silly (not being a cigar fan!) but I guess since I am a Hemingway fan...well, to each his own.

"More importantly, the original manuscripts and books, which contain thousands of Hemingway's notes, are still at risk. The US government has blocked not only the money needed but specialist equipment such as dehumidifiers and scanning equipment."

It seems pointless to let these be lost?

I think my point was lost.

Cigars need a controlled climate. Temperature and humidity has to be kept at certain levels, in order to age the product. If the Cubans have the ability to do this (which, obviously, they do), there is nothing stopping them from taking proper care of those documents. I am sure they take care of other documents. Sounds to me like the Cuban government is trying to pull at the heartstrings in a new and inventive way, by holding Hemmingway's documents hostage. Its really not to much trouble to move them to a climate controlled area, is it? Lots of European and Asian companies make industrial dehumidifiers.

[Rissask]

Originally Posted by Banzoomba

End the Embargo link very interesting........I think open trade would have more of a positive effect......the Orioles played in Cuba a 1999 and a Cuban team came to Baltimore to play and I really thought things were going to start changing......lots of goodwill on both sides....but not much happened after that

I thought steps were being made toward ending the embargo lately, that they were relaxing it more and more.

I agree it is hurting the Cuban people more than punishing the government, hurting them more than seems necessary, after all this time.

Although, on the other hand...I can't really see how anyone in Cuba can totally blame the embargo for making them suffer, as we, and China and many other countries trade fully with them, no problem.
So what can they not get just because the US won't trade with them? Or is it a matter of losing money in tourism dollars and because trade with the US would be much more profitable because they are so close?

You Americans have to admit that they did better than expected....the US thought they would give in decades ago, and they are still kicking and really- not in bad shape at all.

As far the Hemingway papers, I guess 'valuable' is in the eye of the beholder- how much do or should Cubans care about his work, really. Lifting the sanctions just to get a dehumidifier for some papers would be a pretty silly reason.

[melliedee]

Originally Posted by PlayadelSoul

I think my point was lost.

Cigars need a controlled climate. Temperature and humidity has to be kept at certain levels, in order to age the product. If the Cubans have the ability to do this (which, obviously, they do), there is nothing stopping them from taking proper care of those documents. I am sure they take care of other documents. Sounds to me like the Cuban government is trying to pull at the heartstrings in a new and inventive way, by holding Hemmingway's documents hostage. Its really not to much trouble to move them to a climate controlled area, is it? Lots of European and Asian companies make industrial dehumidifiers.

You could be right here, but I also think it has a lot to do with the issue of tourism. The US is resisting efforts to renovate because they correctly assume that Hemingway's house would become an international attraction, one that could put quite a few dollars into Cuba's economy (do not underestimate the traveling literary geek!).

"Molly Millerwise, public affairs director at the Treasury, said: "We do not issue licences that facilitate activity promoting Cuba's tourism. The sanctions against Cuba are in place to help restrict hard currency from flowing to the Castro regime, which lines its pockets with money while forcing the Cuban people to live in fear and oppression."

Why Cuba would drag thier feet on preserving these documents is up for debate--and Castro was a Hemingway fan!

[Banzoomba]

Now it seems as if America is just waiting for Castro to die.....before doing anything positive.....but he just keeps hanging on

[PlayadelSoul]

Originally Posted by melliedee

You could be right here, but I also think it has a lot to do with the issue of tourism. The US is resisting efforts to renovate because they correctly assume that Hemingway's house would become an international attraction, one that could put quite a few dollars into Cuba's economy (do not underestimate the traveling literary geek!).

"Molly Millerwise, public affairs director at the Treasury, said: "We do not issue licences that facilitate activity promoting Cuba's tourism. The sanctions against Cuba are in place to help restrict hard currency from flowing to the Castro regime, which lines its pockets with money while forcing the Cuban people to live in fear and oppression."

Why Cuba would drag thier feet on preserving these documents is up for debate--and Castro was a Hemingway fan!

Maybe, but the article said that the US had already allowed for some work to be done on the house. So, the idea that the US was blocking its refurbishment is kind of weak, IMHO.

If Cuba can't handle the docs, they can send them to me. I will take care of them. Well, me and Ebay.

[melliedee]

Originally Posted by Rissask

As far the Hemingway papers, I guess 'valuable' is in the eye of the beholder- how much do or should Cubans care about his work, really. Lifting the sanctions just to get a dehumidifier for some papers would be a pretty silly reason.

I suppose it is, but I would submit that Cubans care very much for a writer who completed so much of his work as an ex-pat in thier country. I tend to think that great writers "belong" to everyone and transcend national identity. When the boy sees Santiago's hands and starts to cry, well, that gets me in any language...

Back to the embargo, after a bit more digging:


"We have cared for this house with great affection for many years, because we Cubans consider Hemingway one of ours," said Gladys Rodríguez, president of the Hemingway International Institute of Journalism in Havana and one of the principal caretakers of the author's legacy in Cuba.
"We will keep doing all that we can," she said. "But we cannot deny that we need help."

A group of American preservationists, architects and Hemingway biographers offered to come to the rescue this year. The Hemingway Preservation Foundation applied for a license that would exempt it from the 40-year-old U.S. economic embargo against Cuba and allow it to provide money and expertise to help restore the finca. The foundation, led by Frank and Jenny Phillips, estimates that the project would cost $2 million to $3 million.

The Bush administration denied the foundation's request in June, saying its project would support tourism and thus help the economy of the hemisphere's last Communist outpost. The request came at a time of increasing tension between the two countries. In March 2003 the Bush administration announced new restrictions on travel and cash transfers to Cuba, saying that the measures were aimed at weakening Fidel Castro's 45-year grip on the island and at opening the way for democracy."

Politics threatens Hemingway's Cuba home

[Just Lucky]

The embargo has not worked. We fought a war in Vietnam and now they have "most favored nation" status.

The embargo hurts our position and the Cuban people far more than it effects the regime. It is far,far past time to end the embargo.

[MWC]

Well, if the Hemingway Preservation Group is creative, they will find a way to re-establish themselves out of Spain or Paris, (both prominent in Hemingway's literature) and send their monies from there. That would take care of the problem.

As far as I'm concerned, I can't wait for Cuba to be open to US travelers. I'll bet it has some kick-*ss snorkeling.

I'll open the "Bay of Pigs" paintball concession.

[JEZ]

The embargo must be right.

The US administration must know something sceret about the benifits of the embargo, that no other nation in the world knows or agrees with. However the US cant share this information, otherwise it wont be a secret anymore.

[PlayadelSoul]

There are a few countries the US doesn't do business with. North Korea and Syria, to name two. Cuba isn't suffering from the embargo. Cuba is suffering because of its governance. The US doesn't want to prop up a dictator who jails dissidents by the boatload, won't allow free elections and happened to allow nuclear weapons to be stationed on his soil, pointed at the US, and stole property from US citizens. When Fidel is gone, I bet the trade embargo is lifted. Until then, it is well within the rights of the US to choose not to do business with Cuba. This has been the official policy through Democrat and Republican administrations.

BTW, I thought the Cuban people were happy with their lot in life and their leader for life?