On July 20, 2000 the House of Representatives voted 232-186 to prohibit the Treasury Department spending funds to restrict the travel of Americans to Cuba. One week later the Republican leadership removed this language in Conference.
Cuba—Why Wait?
Dear President Clinton,
After four decades of confrontation, mutual misunderstanding and needless human suffering, the US badly needs a new approach to Cuba.
It is in your power to restore to all Americans the freedom to travel to Cuba, in conformity with the expressed sentiments of Congress. Let Americans witness for themselves the good and bad aspects of life in a very close neighbor a decade after the end of the Cold War.
Demonstrate faith in our own values of freedom. Allow average Americans through interaction with average Cubans to decide for themselves whether it benefits either country to prolong forty years of economic blockade and political conflict. Our national debate must go beyond partisan special interests.
Mr. President, your final months in office provide a unique opportunity to bring to US-Cuba relations the same courageous vision you have asked of parties in conflict in Northern Ireland and the Middle East.
Signers to date include Dr. Craig Calhoun, President, Social Science Research Council; Dr. John Coatsworth, Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies, Harvard University; Dr. Bernd Crasemann, Professor Emeritus of Physics, University of Oregon; Richard Erstad, Director, Latin America and Caribbean Region, American Friends Service Committee; Paul Hawken, author; Dr. Leon Lederman, Professor of Science, Illinois Institute of Technology, 1988 Nobel Laureate in Physics; Dr. Irving Lerch, Director of International Affairs, American Physical Society; Nancy Mikelsons; Raymond C. Offenheiser, President, Oxfam America; Wayne Smith, Director, Cuba Project, Center for International Policy (Organizations listed for identification purposes.)
Cooperating Organizations (list in formation):
American Civil Liberties Union, American Association for the Advancement of Science, Center for Constitutional Rights, Center for Cuban Studies, Cuban Committee for Democracy, Fund for Reconciliation and Development, Global Exchange, Operation USA
Add my name to the letter to President Clinton.
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Send me ______ copies of this letter to share with possible signers.
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Enclosed is a contribution of $_______ to the “Fund for Reconciliation and Development” for publication of this ad (if donations permit in the New York Times or Washington Post).
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Please print & return to Fund for Reconciliation and Development, 475 Riverside Drive, Suite 727, NY, NY 10115; fax 212-367-4366; e-mail uscuba@igc.org Visit http://uscuba.home.igc.org