[drpixie]

From outside (I am not American) the anti-Cuba position seems to have an almost religious fervor!

Almost like They're socialist, we're capitalist; it's natural, true, and necessary that we must oppose everything about them. Similar to the catholic v protestant division that was very strong in the anglo world last century.

Surely, if one really wanted to dismantle an evil empire, one would open the borders as much as possible and release the forces of greed and assimilation.

[bruce511]

In politics it's helpful to have an antagonist to point at and blame for everything bad. There's a villain in every story, and I best point him out to you in case you think it's me.

Cuba is somewhat unique in that there are lot of ex-Cubans clustered in Florida, a swing state, who are there by virtue of being anti-Cuban-government. They are in favor of any policy that hurts the govt, even if it hurts the people left in Cuba more.

Ultimately all this animosity boils down to the nationalisation of private (US) property in the 60s. An unforgivable crime As Amerixan William Wallace might have said "you can take our freedom, but you can't take our money."

Politically though being anti-Cuban has little downside, and wins important votes.

[kortilla]

The nationalization of private property wouldn’t have been a problem if it was just US property. Many countries make it difficult/impossible for foreigners to own land.

The problem was that they did it to their own citizens, resulting in many of them becoming the Cubans in Florida.

BTW, labeling them “ex-Cubans” is a good way to piss them off (maybe that is your intention). Many see themselves as Cubans in asylum just waiting for the regime to fall and for their family homes/businesses to be returned.

[bruce511]

>> BTW, labeling them “ex-Cubans” is a good way to piss them off (maybe that is your intention).

It was not. I was not aware that term is offensive. My apologies. Cuban Exiles is perhaps a better description.

[yusmary]

Now that we are here, calling exiles anti-Cuban is also a good way to piss them off. That's the government stance: if you are against us, you are anti-Cuban.

This is not only a stance towards exilees, btw. If you oppose them, you get labelled the same no matter where you are.

Stop buying into the official position. It is demeaning

[pjc50]

Yeah, as sibling comment says: the "US" as a a whole has no real interest in Cuba either way, other than a general Monroe Doctrine one. But there are enough Floridians who want to re-litigate the revolution, that feel really strongly about it, and they get to control US discourse on the subject. Because nobody else cares.

[082349872349872]

I think the corn sweetener people might also care?