Florida is 90 miles from Cuba, but in the past it’s seemed to be a world away. That distance is symbolically shorter since the U.S. Government tentatively approved scheduled commercial flights to Cuba from 10 American cities.
Leonard Steinhorn - a professor at American University - says Cuba’s been trying to end the county’s isolation for the past decade since Raul Castro became president.
However, these new freedoms have their limits.
"I would equate Cuban society today much more like I would talk about a rubber band," Steinhorn says at a meeting with The Economic Club of Florida. "It’s much more elastic than it ever has been, but like a rubber band it will only stretch so far. So it’s elastic, it’s more flexible, more open, more free than it’s been, but there are limits because that rubber band will only take you so far."
Some of these changes include better religious tolerance and allowing citizens to casually criticize the government, but Steinhorn says authorities still crack down on dissenters that push too far.
"People are still detained," he clarifies. "They may not be detained for long periods of time. They may be detained for only a day, but who wants to be detained for a day and be threatened and have consequences placed on you for the exercise of free speech?"
President Obama and Castro pushed to lift the Cuba trade embargo during Obama’s visit in March.
Supporters say ending it could be a catalyst for more social change. However, opponents argue the U.S. cannot lift the embargo until Cuba agrees on its conditions, including the release of all political prisoners, free and fair elections and freedom of speech.
