Is Obama the one to bring Peace on Earth (or is it a ploy)?

The Cuba embargo is a relic of the mid 20th century. we neeed to reconcile that situation with our island neighbors. Fidel Castro is out of power and there’s no reson to maintain the blockade out of tradition.

Are you kidding me? Hes a man. No such thing as peace on earth.

Peace on Earth can only occur if it happens first in the hearts of the people of Earth.

Obama? He’s just a guy. A very intelligent and savvy political player guy, but in the end, just a guy. Perhaps he’s taking that hymn “Let there be peace on Earth and let it begin with me.” seriously, and good on him.

And let’s be honest, did anyone think La Revolución was going to last past the death of Fidelito? He’s Exhibit A in the Cult of Personality Museum. All right, maybe Exhibit L, but you get me.

the people of earth will not settle in their hearts. Because this world is broken.

Obama deserves some credit for sure, but the political winds have also finally changed. It used to be that anyone who made conciliatory moves toward Cuba would incur the full wrath of the expat Cuban community in Florida. Florida has proven to be such a key political trophy in national elections that no candidates could afford to rile this very vocal constituency.

But the generation that first arrived from Cuba, and who were the most passionate about the issue, are now old and want to see their homeland and estranged family before they die; and their children and grandchildren are less passionate about the blockade. For the first time, a majority of Cuban-Americans now favor a loosening of restrictions.

Obama has little to lose, politically, by making this overture.

[Disclaimer: I didn’t read the article, just your question.]

He’s a really awesome guy. I think he’s highly capable, and extremely intelligent, but he’s still just one mortal man.

If you see him as the Messiah, you’re only setting yourself up to be disappointed.

Th Cuba embargo was just one more tool that vocal critics of the US, like Morales, used to rile up their base. As Harp pointed out, it’s not worth maintaining for the sake of a dwindling vocal minority.

Also, without the changes instituted by Raul Castro since he took office, the overture may not have been extended.

Peace on earth is still a dream at this point, not a reachable goal for anyone currently in office.

Barack Obama has just shit all over the ideal of negotiation, by suggesting to the world that he had, on behalf of America, engaged in reasonable dialogue with Somali `pirates’ when in fact he was merely buying just enough time for his hit men to execute them (with extreme prejudice) That was a defining moment in his tenure as President thus far. America, ultimately, does not and will not negotiate with non nuclear powers…period.

Right now he has to work on doing enough so he will get re-elected for another term.

Peace on Earth? I don’t think that is on any President’s agenda. I will be happy if he could just send the troops home from Iraq if and when that is possible.

This change was long in coming, but it had to come. Race relations (sad, but true) in Cuba could be better, (TRACEY EATON) and Raoul Castro is probably anticipating the backlash from ordinary (mostly black) Cubans when he and his brother no longer control things.

Sadly, i doubt, one of you has actually visited Cuba, if you were to however, i imagine, or i certainly hope, that your perception of the country would be rapidly exposed as fraudulent nonsense, then perhaps you would be capable of making informed opinion rather than vague assumptions. Further more why is Cuba expected to adapt to American whims and fancies, why shouldn’t America acknowledge and learn from Cuban achievements?

Woodrow Wilson was hailed as a Prince of Peace. Dwight Eisenhower was hailed as a Prince of Peace. We seem to want a Prince of Peace, but that’s beyond the abilities of any one man. Barack Obama knows that some will bless him and some will curse him. No one should either think he has superpowers or revile him for not having them.

@mammal – could you tell us what things we ought to understand about Cuba? I haven’t visited and I don’t know which of the things I’ve heard are “fraudulent nonsense”. Set us straight!
I see you’re in the midst of writing something but I’m gonna post this anyway.

i think one of the reasons’ that America is so, so stubborn with regards to Cuban relations, is the Bay of Pigs humilation and the inability to control, a little nation, of predomiantely mulatto peasants, right in their back yard. It must smart somewhat, sure… then of course there is the lingering doubt that maybe Castro, Ché, Camilo et al had a point.

@susanc would you assume the contents of a book or a movie just from hear say, how could one possible make any political conclusions regarding another country without having experienced it at first hand, or at least without having some expertise born from worldy understanding.

I think the premise of Obama bringing peace on earth is flawed.
That’s setting the man up to fail right there. World peace will be a long and drawn out process that will take generations. We have to be patient and be willing to look at a timeline that will that extends beyond our own lifespans if we are to even have a remote chance of achieving this.

As for the pirate situation, that was no a diplomatic situation, that was a hostage situation. Further negotiations would have put innocents at risk. There can be no peace is shipping routes are plagued with violent thugs.

As for everyone’s pop hero Che Guevara, any point he may have had was wiped out by his bloody, savage ways.

@mammal – Your last comment seems to be a perfect reason to open communication and break down the walls of separation.

I heard a portion of KQED radio’s Forum just a couple of days ago in which host Michael Krasny was speaking with guests about Cuba. (It was probably this one.) One of the guests was saying how much Cuba could learn from us, and a listener phoned in to say it was a two-way street and ask why we couldn’t learn plenty from Cuba as well, where they have us beat in education, public health, etc. The guest expert acknowledged Cuba’s accomplishments and said certainly we could learn plenty about how they do it, but that the real question is whether the same can be achieved in a society that does not have a restrictive, authoritarian government and where people do practice freedom of choice.

He can’t do it alone. But our chances have increased at least 500% compared to the 8 years of the recent dark ages period the world had to endure.