Tournament: Hockaday | Round: 1 | Opponent: all | Judge:
Contention 1 is Inherency:
Despite small changes, United States maintains an embargo that bars most economic activity with Cuba.
Guzmán, Emmy award winning journalist, 2013
(Sandra, “Jay-Z and Beyoncé's trip to Cuba isn't the problem, the embargo is,” CNN, May 8, Online: http://www.cnn.com/2013/05/07/opinion/guzman-beyonce-jay-z-cuba/index.html)
The few but very influential pro-embargo,…… it's because of this U.S. policy.
Contention 2 is Public Health:
The embargo restricts the flow of medical goods and creates financial strains that threaten to collapse the Cuban healthcare system.
Xinhua News, 2012
(“Cuban healthcare weakended by U.S. embargo,” 11/28, Online: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/health/2012-11/28/c_132004531.htm)
Cuban medical authorities said ………certain problems immediately."¶
These strains contribute to massive loss of life in Cuba – we have a moral obligation to lift the embargo.
Eisenberg, former Professor Emeritus of Social Medicine and Psychology at the Harvard Medical School, 1997
(Leon, “The sleep of reason produces monsters – human costs of economic sanctions,” The New England Journal of Medicine, 336:17, pgs. 1248-1250, ProQuest)
Thus, three unusual outbreaks of medical conditions. ……….Continuing to allow our reason to sleep will produce more monsters.
Contention 3 is Government Repression:
Despite claims of progress, Castro’s government continues to violate the political and civil rights of Cuban citizens
Brewer, CEO of Criminal Justice International Associates, 2013
(Jerry, “Political Change in Cuba so that everything remains the same,” May 6, Online: http://www.mexidata.info/id3612.html)
The most discussed world critique, …….., and acts of repudiation against citizens who dare to speak out and demand change.
These violations are reprehensible – the United States has an obligation to promote political change
Navarro, former ambassador the UN Human Rights Commission, 2002
(Ana, “Defending Repressed Cubans,” April, Online: http://www.sigloxxi.org/Archivo/repressed.htm)
During 2001, repression has increased in Cuba.. ….We, the countries that believe in freedom and live in democracy, should not abandon the people of Cuba.
Contention 4 is US-Latin American Relations
Relations with Latin America are at an all-time low – lifting the embargo on Cuba is a key starting point to spur cooperation on global problems.
Perez, JD from Yale Law School, 2010
(David, “America’s Cuba Policy: The Way Forward: A Policy Recommendation for the US State Department,” Harvard Latino Law Review, Lexis Nexis)
In order to effectively employ soft power in Latin America, …………To that end, warming relations with Cuba would have a reverberating effect throughout Latin America, and would go a long way toward creating goodwill.
Strong relations with Latin America are necessary to minimize the impact of multiple global threats like nuclear proliferation and global warming.
Inter-American Dialogue Policy Report, 2012
(IAD is a think tank hosting 100 leaders and experts from the US and Latin America, “Remaking the Relationship: The United States and Latin America,” April, Online: http://www.thedialogue.org/PublicationFiles/IAD2012PolicyReportFINAL.pdf)
In addition to economic and financial matters, ………The hemisphere’s institutional¶ architecture is in great flux, and there is growing need for decisions about¶ priorities and objectives.
Thus, we propose the following plan:
The United States federal government should end its embargo on Cuba.
Contention 5 is Solvency:
Lifting the embargo would alleviate Cuban suffering and allow Cubans to focus on the fight for liberty.
Perez, professor of history and director of the Institute for the Study of the Americas at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2010
(Louis, “Want change in Cuba? End US embargo,” CNN, September 21, Online: http://www.cnn.com/2010/OPINION/09/20/perez.cuba.embargo/index.html)
But if the administration really wanted to do something ………..¶ And it would serve the national interest.