Normalizing Cuba-US relations

The following was written in response to inquiries from family and friends immediately after it was announced that the US and Cuban governments were taking steps to normalize relations. 

Thanks for thinking of me and caring about Cuba and Cuban-Americans. I have positive, albeit mixed, feelings about today's announcement.

The Castros have a lot of blood and theft on their hands. Their oppression of countrymen during the past 55 years is unforgivable. Ultimately, however, it is the Cuban people who will benefit from normalization of relations with the U.S. -- as will the American people.

As long as today's announcement will not exonerate the Castros -- history should place them along Stalin, Hitler and other tyrants -- I agree the time has come for a change. While I sympathize with Cuban-Americans who lost loved ones to firing squads, or knew of people who rotted in jails for daring to speak out for values that Americans take for granted, or had what was rightfully theirs confiscated by a one-party government, I laud President Obama for making the courageous decision to put the welfare of everyday Cubans above politics.

It is these everyday Cubans, most of whom have never lived under a leader not named Castro, that we should think of and hope for today.

Again, thanks for caring.