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The reason that American tourist travel to Cuba is even up for debate is because of the drastic difference between the two countries. Cuba is a Communist country that up until February 19 was led for the past half-century by Fidel Castro. It is a small country next to one of the largest democratic nations in the world, as well as the known leader of the free world. America has ordered long-standing embargoes against Cuba in an attempt to stifle its growth as a rival political power, and this naturally breeds much contempt for it among the Cuban citizens.

America stands for ideals radically different than those held or even allowed by the Cuban regime. Americans are allowed to cast votes for political change on both a local and national level. Americans can read what they want, write what they want, and listen to whomever they want and all without the fear of any repercussion or the threat of violence. Americans are able to travel the world and visit any country they wish to visit regardless of who is in power, what the dominant political system is, or anything of the sort.

So to forbid Americans to travel to Cuba goes against treasured American ideals that so many people hold so very deal. The right to conduct one's life as one wishes, which includes belonging to any political party or social organization, doing business, owning property, and traveling abroad for leisure and business alike, is fundamentally American. It is a right that Americans fought for two centuries ago and achieved at tremendous cost.

It is fine to disagree with Cuba's political regime and actions as a nation. Naturally, that is what it means to be a part of the international community. However, it is not right to completely restrict American citizens from traveling to Cuba just because of the aforementioned disagreements, whatever they may be. If such a thing is permitted, before long Americans will only be able to visit Great Britain, Canada, and Mexico. Certain countries will be placed on the "No Travel" list due to the official religion. So long Iran, Kuwait, Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia (to say nothing of the fact that a pilgrimage to Saudia Arabia is part of the religious duties of all Muslims, a significant amount of whom live in the United States). Other countries, like China, will be banned due to their political governments. Still other countries will be placed on the "No Travel" list because of their cool relationship with America and the fact that those countries do not support America's war: no more vacations in France, Italy, Germany, or Japan, to name a few.

If Americans are forbidden to travel to one country, what makes them think that they won't soon be forbidden to travel to another? And then another? Travel to Cuba is not the only thing at stake in this debate, and any attempt to push that agenda is simply an attempt to cloud the issue.

Learn more about this author, Huma Rashid.
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