{"id":191816,"date":"2019-01-15T18:50:57","date_gmt":"2019-01-15T23:50:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/?p=191816"},"modified":"2019-01-15T18:50:57","modified_gmt":"2019-01-15T23:50:57","slug":"cuban-americans-in-miami-divided-in-their-views-on-cuba","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/cuba-usa\/cuban-americans-in-miami-divided-in-their-views-on-cuba\/","title":{"rendered":"Cuban-Americans in Miami divided in their views on Cuba"},"content":{"rendered":"

The so-called Guant\u00e1namo Generation has been the turning point in the reconfiguration of the Cuban-American community, diametrically altering its design since it settled in the south of Florida after 1995, according to a <\/span>poll released<\/span><\/a> last Thursday by the Florida International University on Cuban-Americans\u2019 view on the Island.<\/span><\/p>\n

In almost all the polled categories, the new generations, particularly those who arrived in the United States after 1995, advocate a closer rapprochement with their native country or, at least, maintaining things as they are, although in electoral political terms they continue being inclined towards the conservative side.<\/span><\/p>\n

“The poll concluded that there are Cubans and Cubans,” one of its authors, professor of sociology and president of the Department of Global and Sociocultural Studies of the FIU, Guillermo Grenier, ironically said.<\/span><\/p>\n

The study, known as the “FIU Cuba poll,” is titled “How Cuban-Americans in Miami view U.S. policies toward Cuba” and was carried out between last November 14 and December 1. One thousand and one Miami-Dade County residents were contacted by phone. The margin of error of the results is more or less 3.1%.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Dr.<\/a>
Dr. Guillermo Grenier, during the presentation of the poll on Cuba at FIU last Thursday, January 10, 2018. Photo: Marita P\u00e9rez D\u00edaz.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Relations between the U.S. and Cuba<\/strong><\/p>\n

At a press conference, Grenier <\/span>noted that the poll shows<\/span><\/a> that with respect to how the United States should deal with Cuba, the Cuban-American community remains divided. Older people tend to identify with old policies and ways of thinking, while young people are more open to change.<\/span><\/p>\n

That is how the vast majority of those who have arrived since 1995, as well as the second and third generation, support a policy of developing links of all kinds with their country of origin.<\/span><\/p>\n

On the other hand, Cubans who arrived before 1980 – when the Mariel maritime bridge took place – advocate a more hostile policy toward Cuba.<\/span><\/p>\n

The arrival in the White House of President Donald Trump and his promises to roll back the opening policies of his predecessor, Barack Obama, have not substantially modified the trends regarding the political opinions of Cuban-Americans. They were already defined since the 2014 bilateral thaw.<\/span><\/p>\n

“In this we see a bit how the philosophy of the carrot and the stick continues. The old guard is against travel, for example. But Trump\u2019s election did not change much the opinions (of the youngest ones) on the trips and people to people programs,” emphasized Grenier.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Little<\/a>
Little Havana. Photo: Milena Recio.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The embargo: it hasn\u2019t worked, but it should stay in place<\/strong><\/p>\n

The position on Washington\u2019s economic embargo on Havana is a clear example of this. In fact, the overwhelming majority, aged between 18 and 76, agrees with it: in these 60 years, the embargo has not worked at all. “It’s the only thing in which there are no nuances. There’s no doubt about that,” Grenier said.<\/span><\/p>\n

The first difference arises in relation to the existence of the embargo itself. 51% are in favor, 49% against. In this regard it should be noted that it is not a novelty because, except for the polls carried out in 2008, 2014 and 2016, when the majority of Cuban-Americans favored the lifting of the embargo, in the others since 1991 – when these studies started being carried out – support has prevailed for this measure of punishment by the U.S. government toward the island.<\/span><\/p>\n

The three exceptions have coincided with important electoral stages for the Democrats: the election and re-election of Obama and the duel between Trump and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.<\/span><\/p>\n

When the cut is made per year of arrival, this 2018 poll confirms that the Cubans who arrived after 1980 until 1994 favor the continuation of the embargo.<\/span><\/p>\n

But 60% of those who arrived after 1995 – the Guant\u00e1namo Generation – until now, believe that the economic embargo must end.<\/span><\/p>\n

And by age, the difference is greater. 65% of Cubans aged 18 to 39 want the end of the measure, the figure drops a little among those who are between 40 and 59 years old, because only 51% think this way.<\/span><\/p>\n

From that age range, the numbers shoot up in favor of maintaining the blockade. Older people want the continuation of this policy, with figures that go up from 60% to 73% from those aged 60 and more.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
The legendary Versailles. Photo: Milena Recio.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Trips to Cuba<\/strong><\/p>\n

Regarding the issue of freedom to travel to Cuba, that is, without restrictions for non-Cuban-Americans, 57% are in favor of lifting these restrictions, 43% against.<\/span><\/p>\n

In this area the opinion of the Guant\u00e1namo Generation is once again imposed when the cut is made per year of arrival.<\/span><\/p>\n

68% of those who arrived after 1995 agree. However, 63% of those who arrived before 1980 and 51% between that year and the end of 1994 are against it. It is to be highlighted that the aging community is less flexible in this than the younger ones. By age the rejection is higher than 50% for those aged 60 and rises to 72% in those over 76.<\/span><\/p>\n

Since the Cuban exiles began flying more or less freely to their homeland in 1979, the subject of travel to Cuba was always controversial. The most conservative and belligerent sector of the exile was deeply opposed, there were clashes, bombs, deaths. Now the issue is no longer violent but it does not stop causing tensions.<\/span><\/p>\n

According to this Florida International University poll, 57% of respondents say they have never traveled to Cuba since leaving the island or their families did, because Cuban-Americans who have a special permit to travel should be taken into account. On the other hand, 43% affirm they have traveled.<\/span><\/p>\n

Again, among those who arrived after 1995, 75% have traveled at some time. But those who settled in the United States at an earlier date have not done so.<\/span><\/p>\n

68% of those who arrived before 1980 and 51% of those who arrived from that date until the end of 1994 have never traveled. The figures are almost the same when the cut is made by ages.<\/span><\/p>\n

And this is also accompanied by the implementation of one of the liberalization measures signed by Obama, the issue of remittances.<\/span><\/p>\n

60% say they have never sent remittances to Cuba while 40% say they have. In this area, the sending of money accounts for 40% of the remittances and 36% comprises merchandise in general. Again, in the cut by year of arrival most of the shipments came from those who arrived starting January 1995.<\/span><\/p>\n

“In all this, the least we can say is that the community is divided. There is a group that does not want a rapprochement or a change in the situation [with Cuba]. But there is another group that has relatives there and sees everything from the point of view of the need for contact with those relatives,” emphasized Grenier.<\/span><\/p>\n

Business with Cuba<\/strong><\/p>\n

Although the economic embargo on the island is a reality, its structure was fractured since the Bill Clinton administration signed the emergency aid package to the Caribbean that opened the doors to the sale of agricultural products.<\/span><\/p>\n

In a way, trade has flourished modestly and has evolved. From purchases in cash to sales on credit. In the last years of the Obama administration, with the bilateral thaw, dozens of consulting firms have appeared to advise hundreds of Americans who are studying how to enter, in some way, the Cuban market. Some have even been established with the expansion of the market and tourist services. Be they cruise ships, specialized travel agencies or, in the case of Cuban-Americans, in joint initiatives with relatives on the island.<\/span><\/p>\n

Therefore, the poll has tried to find out what the Cuban-Americans think about the issue. Should American companies expand their business deals with Cuba or simply abandon them?<\/span><\/p>\n

To begin with, 46% say that they have to be expanded, 32% that they stop them and 22% think that things have to be left as they are. Most of those who advocate the expansion came after 1980 and are less than 60 years old.<\/span><\/p>\n

Should the residents of the United States – of Cuban origin or not – receive permits to invest in businesses in Cuba? Understood as not being businesses owned by the Cuban government.<\/span><\/p>\n

In this the opinions are in general diametrically divided, 50% in favor, the remaining against. But by age and year of arrival, the youngest and those who arrived since 1995 tend to be overwhelmingly in favor.<\/span><\/p>\n

Other aspects of the poll<\/strong><\/p>\n