Obama and Castro Shake Hands: So?
Posted: 11/12/2013 | Author: The Political Idealist | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Castro, Cuba, democracy, Handshake, Nelson Mandela, Obama, Politics, World, world news |Comments Off
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Nelson Mandela the statesman had a brilliant ability to spread goodwill and a more peaceful outlook on life. The leader and figurehead of the movement for racial equality in South Africa has become synonymous with peace and justice in the minds of billions. Now it seems that Mandela has managed to continue this work, even in death.
This photograph, of US President Barack Obama and the Cuban premier Raoul Castro shaking hands, has made headlines, shockwaves and news stories around the world. The gradual warming of relations between the superpower and the small quasi-Communist dictatorship that lies close to its shores, has accelerated under the Obama administration. Consequently, many analyses have been applied to The Handshake. Many of Obama’s opponents have condemned his “support” for a brutal dictatorship. How funny that many such people, especially Republicans, seem to have had little to say when former Presidents have met much more ruthless dictators of oil rich capitalist economies. Then there is the Castro administration itself, which has hailed The Handshake as the “beginning of the end of the US aggressions”. Hmm.
Or maybe, a handshake is just a handshake.
We’ve all shaken hands with people we may not like.
I think that there is massive potential to shape the democratisation of Cuba, as long as the global powers that be engage with the process. Obama was right to ease restrictions on travel and trade between Cuba and the US, for it is already paying dividends as the siege mentality of the Cuban regime ends. As a result, economic liberalisation is taking place and pressure for social reforms will follow with soft international and strong domestic pressure. The Cold War is over: there is no need to retain the confrontational approach that brought the world to the brink on so many occasions.
If it takes a handshake, and even a conference or two- one day- to encourage the Castro brothers to engage with the rehabilitation of Cuba into the community of nations, then so be it.
