Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon's recent trip to Cuba has received praise and criticism.
Nixon was joined by state agriculture officials for a trade mission May 29-June 1 to meet with Cuban officials regarding expanded trade agreements that will benefit Missouri cotton and rice farmers.
However, Heriberto Del Porto, a Cuban exile and recently-retired Westminster College professor, said last week he thinks such deals can ultimately be harmful if they aren't focused on the freedoms of the Cuban people.
"If we fought so hard as a country for freedom and human rights, why aren't we demanding more from the Cuban government?" he said. "It's hard to see how the government would be willing to make changes without having policies that would be conducive to helping the Cuban people enjoy the rights of freedom."
Del Porto, who taught Spanish and Latin American studies for nearly 40 years, said that deals between the United States and Cuba can be beneficial, but only if strings are attached.
"If we do not demand any action from the Cuban government, we are not doing much in the name of freedom," he said. "If you look at the big theme of what (deals like this) are going to do, (they) allow Castro to prevail and continue. You have to put some demands there."
Opening the door
In December 2014, President Barack Obama and Raul Castro, president of Cuba and brother of previous President Fidel Castro, simultaneously announced a new chapter in U.S.-Cuba relations. The agreement expanded opportunities for Americans to visit Cuba and led to Obama and his family taking a trip to Havana in March.
In January 2015, Nixon said he and other state officials would travel to Cuba to explore opportunities of exporting Missouri-grown produce there.
"For many in my generation, trade with Cuba was unthinkable," he said. "But never underestimate the power of American democracy to improve people's lives and open hearts and minds. Once free markets begin to flourish, freedom will follow."
Del Porto said he would support efforts by the U.S. to set humanitarian goals for the Cuban government and penalties for not achieving those goals.
"They haven't made any changes in almost 50 years. Why would a trade deal make them change unless we ask for them to make even small changes?" he said.
Del Porto, who fled Cuba in the early 1960s, also cited a Communist anti-capitalist doctrine. He said he has difficulty believing that Cuban leaders will keep their end of the trade deals because of this.
"I don't have any faith in the Cuban government to make these changes in the way they treat the people. If you give them what they want, why would they want to change?" he said. "As a Cuban American, I have very strong OVERSET FOLLOWS:reservations about the Cuban government in carrying out any promises they have made to our government."
Scott Holste, Nixon's press secretary, said cultivating a relationship with Cuba will be mutually beneficial.
"Governor Nixon has made it clear that the focus of the state on these trade missions to promote Missouri exports, particularly agricultural commodities does not conflict with the larger federal role of relations between our two countries," he said.
Additionally, the trade mission to Cuba is an opportunity for Missouri farmers to take advantage of the lifted federal trade restrictions, Holste said.
"As trade with Cuba increases and restrictions are lifted on the federal level, Nixon wants to make sure that Missouri farmers and businesses have the opportunity to be there, so the growing export sector of our economy can continue to expand," he said. "This trade mission was a step to help accomplish that."
A skeptical Del Porto said while there may be a positive long-term effect, he struggles to see the immediate gain for the Cuban people.
"If you are doing it for profit only, pragmatically it would be a good thing for business for the local market. But if we believe in certain rights that every human being should have, we are going against our own principles that we hold so high in our society," he said. "I may be wrong, and this may turn out to be positive, but I can't foresee how that can be so if we don't demand concrete changes from the Castro dictatorship."
Simply put, Del Porto said providing benefits while not inviting Castro to make changes ultimately empowers his regime.
"We will be perpetuating a dictatorship," he said.
Seeing two sides
Although the discussion about Cuba is heated, another local professor noted there are good arguments to be made on both sides of the issue.
"I'm sympathetic to both sides," said Travis Tamerius, director of the Center for Ethics and Global Studies at William Woods University. "One side, where people have memory of a regime that is guilty of human rights crimes. The other side of it is saying at a grassroots level, the tours of goodwill have some good effect."
He said when it comes to Cuba, it's complicated.
"There's not an easy answer," he said. "I really do appreciate both perspectives."
Tamerius, who has taken two trips to Cuba with William Woods students, said people on both sides of the debate mostly agree about one thing.
"There are people on both sides saying what we've been doing (in the past) isn't effective," he said.
Tamerius said one of his concerns is whether or not the people of Cuba are benefiting from the new relationship with the U.S. In the long term, trade deals with Cuba will ultimately lead to change, he said.
"In general, I think that those types of trade partnerships can be beneficial, and I think that people are hopeful," he said. "I do think that trade has promise for what's to come. It's promising without having the illusion that it's going to be an easy fix."
Since both sides of the Cuba discussion have strong opinions, Tamerius said the path forward will not be easy.
"There's wisdom on both sides of the debate," he said. "The cultural memory is very powerful and how to move forward is a very complicated discussion."