8,242 miles away from hometown, Miami (a city that’s been argued to be the capital of Latin America), it often strikes me how little my Shanghai peers really know about Latin American countries and their respective political situations. Explaining my own Venezuelan background is often more of a geography lesson than a quick introduction, yet the most shocking of all is the comments I often hear about Cuba. Sure, most people know the quick facts: Cuba is a communist country, it had an integral role in the Cold War, and it has amazing beaches. I get it - Cuba is a tiny island that has little consequence to most. But since the opening up of US-Cuban relations back in July 2015, political pundits and the public alike have held their breath (or protested kicking and screaming) to see just how far the Obama administration was willing to go in the thawing of the decades-old Cold War block. Various steps have been made to normalize relations such as talks of reinstating commercial flights and the easing of financial export restrictions to Cuba. Although the embargo remains, these new regulations have allowed certain items to be exported to the Caribbean island, including telecommunication items, remittances, and civil aviation equipment. All of the above items of course remain strictly prohibited to be sent to “state-owned enterprises, agencies, or other organizations of the Cuban government” or specified prohibited government officials. The state department language in its policy revision says it all: “items to meet the needs of the Cuban people,” excluding any possible ties to the Cuban government, which to this day remains a socialist-communist dictatorship.The main question that is raised though, is whether the further loosening of restrictions (or the outright removal of the embargo) will do more harm than good. In other words, would the reestablishment of trade with Cuba simply return power to a government with a dark history of human rights violations or could it possibly improve the lives of 11 million people? This problem is nothing new. Critics of the embargo, including international organizations and world leaders have pointed out, the embargo has had a huge effect on the living standards of the Cuban people and the hypocrisy of the United States in its treatment of the small island. Levels of malnutrition and disease have increased during the years of the embargo’s hold on the island, as study after study has suggested.On a more interesting note, some critics, like current democratic candidate Hillary Clinton, have even suggested that the embargo is actually helping the Castro regime as it creates an easy scapegoat for all of Cuba’s problems. The strategy is familiar. Hugo Chavez, former venezuelan president, often took to criticizing the United States as a way to explain away his country’s own economic ruin. Political moves aside, the real concern of whether a full repeal of the embargo can bring back another age of the Castro Regime’s terror remains. Supporters of the repeal, such as Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe, argue for the opening of trade relations with Cuba, based on economic reasons. Politicians in both parties have often looked to Cuba as the new frontier for creating jobs and expanding their state’s exports, but their efforts have frequently been blocked by key pro-embargo exiles and dissidents. Those who oppose the repeal currently question what would guarantee that civil liberties and democracy will follow capitalism into Cuba? After all, to this date, China, which has embraced capitalism, cannot be truthfully described as a democracy or innocent of human right violations.As a descendant of a Bay of Pigs soldier, Cuba and its current situation is much more integral to me than your next tropical destination. With all the excitement over new economic opportunities and plans of real estate developments well underway, I would emphasize the need for caution and vigilance being exercised in the opening up the island. Obama is said to travel to Cuba in the next few months, certainly before the end of his term, to talk on further negotiations between the two countries. I hope, for the sake of the Cuban people, that he remains firm in the call for freedom of the long suffering caribbean island.. This article was written by Ana Cicenia. Please send an email to [email protected]. Photo Credit: Manuel Castro