In today's headlines is where an account where a former Cuban President Fidel Castro made countless speeches, the mounted United States, President Obama today listened to the strength of the star-spangled and, the president it into the first US David to that country nearly 90 years. During our only ISP, professor America of women's studies at as yes you. Welcome to the program Hello She was born into a coffin to the US when she was six years old, she is the owner of real in Claremont. Welcome. Thank you Let me first has to both only love you were born in Cuba, what is your reaction to today's visit Well, what can I say at the same time I think it's something that is long overdue. They keep saying 50 years, almost 16 years of the revolution, 57 exactly. Things have not changed with all these politics of hostility, nothing has changed. I think it's about time to try something else. We will see if this works or not. Federal, -- Sandra, what is your reaction to the visitor I think I agree, is long overdue and I've been waiting for this day for my entire life. Your family came to the US before the revolution in Cuba at the request Yes ma'am. 1956 to Will have been their feelings towards the government Besides other date and hatred, well, we have for many years said that the embargo the not work, and the United States have insisted on maintaining that has never worked. Our feeling is that let's try something else, let's bring freedom to the people.. The Communists are still there, with the marketplace for always almost to zero comments are still there and people are still oppressed. Let's try opening the doors and see if there's real change in democracy to the public To see this softening and argumentative UFS a final defeat from the government? At some level, yes think one of the things I heard people talk about is Obama is strengthening the Castro by going to., And federal. Well, the councils have spent a life that think the US is their enemy, and now here they are talking to the US and wanting the US to, in because the economy has been a failure so now they need the US. So there is some humiliation on the part of the government to admit that they need the US after having spent almost 6 decades saying that the US is the enemy. I think that somebody set is the reverse of that economics as it is, as a blessing and whatever the state police that they have in place, if there were so good at that, but economy would be great. I just listened to the interview, tell me what the political prisoners are, I will do a list and I will freedom by tonight. I think it's a little bit humiliation for to have to cut that any US. And yes, I do agree with the other speaker that we really have to do something, what happened on for 60 years has not worked so we need to do something because the one who suffer under the embargo are everyday citizens. The government manages to live well. It just the everyday people who are suffering under that something is about time. One of the things they announced, Obama announced is that even when he says dollars, the government his 10% of the money you receive and they are taking out that tax. That should also be an improvement Let me ask Sandra if any, will construct with Jim of presidents, President Obama that relations between the countries will be normalized until the US is up, what do you think about that? I really object to those people being called president, neither of the casters were never elected. They are dictators. Whatever demented Cuba has is just blown out of hot air because in fact most people don't understand that the embargo and the trade relations, the debacle that has happened, all that's done is give the Castro regime a great application for why the people they don't have any food to eat, whether some milk for the children, so concerning Guantánamo, I think we just opportunity what we're doing with Guantánamo. I don't think is going to make any difference at all, government or to the people out of the problem. Let me ask you both there's some talk about the fact that Kevin immigrants are fast tracked in a way that other refugees are not. They are fast tracked with a record, they are treated somewhat differently and has been for quite some time in the United States. Now the relations between the US and Kuba are being lied to think that to change? I don't know if they will change. Part two not because those are deficiencies of the Congress also. Let me say one little thing about Guantánamo, Guantánamo was rendered by the government to the US and the rental agreement and it a number of years ago. When you have lead the place for a number of years lease, you will renew the lease leaf. Guantánamo now in the last few years, I don't remember his seven or eight, is mainly have been occupied in a way that goes beyond the initial lease. Think that the US to give it back. I don't know. I'm just saying that people forget when they talk about this. There was a lease that was signed, it was signed for 99 years, and when that end, you have to change and it has not changed. It's a very complicated thing, -- how that humans are treated. I think all immigrants should be treated like humans were treated rather than take away something, it should be created in such a way that immigrants don't have to wait years and years and years and most Americans don't know that just to visit an American Embassy, depending on the country, you have to pay 15 or $75 and then maybe your visit is useless. I have to end it there are so glad that both of you were on. Thank you so much.
One of the last vestiges of the Cold War was buried Sunday, when President Obama set foot in Cuba. He's the first American president to visit the island since Calvin Coolidge, 88 years ago.
"Que bola', Cuba?" Obama tweeted in an informal greeting, moments after Air Force One touched down at Havana's Jose Marti Airport. "Looking forward to meeting and hearing directly from the Cuban people."
Holding an umbrella against a light rain, Obama and the first family were greeted by Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla. The motorcade then made its way to a meeting with staff of the U.S. embassy, which re-opened last summer after a half-century of official isolation.
Obama and his wife and daughters planned to visit the Havana Cathedral on Sunday evening and meet with Cardinal Ortega — recognition of the prominent role he and Pope Francis played in encouraging the Administration's surprise thaw with Cuba that was announced in December 2014.
The president was to be joined in Cuba by more three dozen members of Congress, including several who accompanied the first family on Air Force One. Several U.S. business leaders will also take part in the visit, including an executive from Starwood hotels, which just inked an agreement to manage three Cuban properties.
The history-making trip is designed to cement the Administration's diplomatic outreach to Cuba, making it hard for any future president to return to the half-century old policy of isolation that Obama and his team consider a failure.
Only Congress can lift the trade embargo against Cuba. But over the past 15 months, the Administration has been chipping away at it, easing restrictions on both travel and commerce.
The number of Americans traveling to Cuba jumped nearly 80 percent last year. That's expected to increase as airlines resume scheduled service later this year, with up to 110 flights a day.
Thus far, the U.S. overtures have been met with little reciprocal movement by the Cuban government. Obama is expected to press Cuban President Raul Castro to do more open both Cuba's economy and the political system when the two leaders meet on Monday.
The White House says Obama will also raise the issue of Cuba's human rights abuses and he plans to meet separately with anti-government activists on Tuesday. A weekly demonstration by the Ladies in White group was quickly silenced Sunday afternoon, and more than 50 dissidents were hauled away, hours before Obama's arrival.
A happier demonstration is expected Tuesday at Havana's Estadio Latinoamericano, where the Tampa Bay Rays will play an exhibition baseball game against the Cuban national team. The contest is a nod to the popular passtime the two countries share, and comes as Major Leage Baseball is negotiating a deal to let Cuban ballplayers sign with big league teams without having to defect.
In Havana'a central park, where baseball is a frequent topic of conversation, residents are looking forward to the matchup. Narcis Vallant says no matter which team comes out on top, both countries will be winners.
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