Most Americans approve of Cuba connection

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Cuba's foreign minister, Bruno Rodriguez, with Secretary of State John Kerry on July 20. Image: State Department.
Cuba's foreign minister, Bruno Rodriguez, with Secretary of State John Kerry on July 20. Image: State Department.
Roughly 100 miles of water and a million miles of political philosophy separate Cuba and the U.S., but the troubled seas in between are beginning to calm. A growing portion of the American public approves of efforts to improve relations between the U.S. and Cuba.

     As of mid-July, roughly 72 percent of those questioned in a Pew Research Center survey favored ending the Cuban trade embargo. And 73 percent approved of re-establishing diplomatic relations. Both figures are an increase from past surveys. In January, when the same question was asked, 66 percent favored ending the embargo, and 63 percent wanted to re-establish diplomatic relations.
     This month, Cuban and American leaders began reopening embassies. On July 20, the Cuban flag was raised over that nation’s embassy in Washington – the first time that has happened since diplomatic relations between the two nations ended more than five decades ago. The U.S. reopened its embassy in Havana on the same day.
     Political leaders signaled that many issues remain unresolved. Secretary of State John Kerry referred to the day the Cuban flag was raised over the embassy in Washington as "an historic day; a day for removing barriers." But he also said that the milestone "does not signify an end to differences that still separate our governments."
     Cuba's foreign minister, Bruno Rodriguez, said that totally lifting "the blockade, the return of the illegally occupied territory of Guantanamo, as well as the full respect for the Cuban sovereignty and the compensation to our people for human and economic damages are crucial to be able to move towards the normalization of relations."
      Even so, in recent months, the Cuban people have been showing the love. In spring, as diplomatic relations blossomed, American flags were seen on apartment buildings, bicycle taxis, shirts and pants, The New York Times reported in an article accompanied by a photo of a man in a stars-and-stripes T-shirt.
      On the other side of the Florida Straits, attitudes toward Cuba were beginning to warm. The Pew Center found a dramatic shift in the views of Republicans. In January, only 40 percent of those identified as “conservative Republicans” favored ending the trade embargo. Now, more than half – 55 percent – support dropping the embargo, the center reported. Similarly, 52 percent of Republicans approve of re-establishing diplomatic ties with Cuba. 
     Does all this mean that Cuba will drift closer toward democracy? Not necessarily. Asked about the direction Cuba will take in the next several years, 43 percent thought it would become more democratic, 49 percent said it would stay the same, and 3 percent predicted it would be less democratic.
    Despite the skepticism about change in Cuba, the percentage foreseeing an increase in democracy has risen. In January, nearly a third (32 percent) said they thought Cuba would become more democratic.
    


     Sources:

     Related:

     Mending fences: Why normalization matters  

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