Should US citizens be allowed to travel to Cuba?

Yes

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by Karyn Clemons

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Citizens of the United States of America often look down their noses at countries where the occupants have fewer rights. Americans brag about their freedoms, claiming that they are the most free individuals in the world. If this is really true and Americans are free, than why does the government prohibit travel to Cuba? If Americans were allowed to travel to Cuba, they would be able to learn more about the country and the people. By learning about the country and people of Cuba, Americans could gain a better understanding of why Cubans live the way they do. With understanding of another culture often comes respect and stronger relationships.

Anytime leave your house, you have an opportunity to learn something new about the world. Learning can also take place in your own home, but the learning is much less direct. This type of learning can often lead to stereotypes about specific people and places and stereotypes make forming relationships more difficult. Travelling to Cuba will strip those stereotypes away and leave you with an impression that you will not quickly forget. You will see the differences between Cuba and the United States and if you are open-minded, you will see that these differences are often not right or wrong, they are simply different.

Understanding for people and places comes slowly for some individuals. It is difficult to understand the government of another country without talking to people from that country. When in Cuba, you would be able to discuss all matters, large and small, with Cubans. This will help you to understand why things in Cuba happen the way they do. This will only happen if you take the opportunity to leave your comfort zone and explore beyond resorts and tourist areas. You will find that when you do explore, people will be willing to talk and help clear up misconceptions about their culture and lifestyle.

The United States has not looked like the good guy in years. The country has been at war for controversial reasons and the world has been confused about America's motivation. If America lifted the ban on travel to Cuba, this would work to bolster the United States' image. It would also strengthen the relationship between Cuba and the United States. If individuals learned, understood, and then respected the culture of Cuba, this would help Cubans to learn, understand, and respect the culture of the United States. It would not hurt America to have another ally.

The United States government has been stubborn about the the issue of travel and trade with Cuba for too long. It is time for the US to give its citizens the right to have the option to travel to Cuba. If they do lift this travel ban, may the tourists who swarm to Cuba represent America in a positive way. This is what the countries must do to support each other and unite their people. The citizens of the United States must work to understand the rest of the world and approach Cuba with the willingness to learn about its country, culture, and people.

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