Florida Matters; 6; Cuba

Oh. A major funding for Florida matters comes from the mosaic company a leading producer of fertilizer made from phosphate and natural resource found in Florida. America's farmers depend on Florida phosphate for their crop nutrition needs. Mosaic helping America grow. I'm standing today on Cuban soil but I'm not in Cuba. Jose Marti park right here in Ebor city is a bridge between two cultures. A piece of land owned by the Cuban government but right in the middle of Tampa. Today we're going to explore the complex relationship between the U.S. and Cuba and how Florida fits into it all. I am Irene Mayer and welcome to Florida matters. This small piece of land in

Tampa Zeb or city is owned by the Cuban government and was purchased in 1957 to wander the Cuban Patriot Post say Marty. He's considered by many the apostle of Cuban independence. This place also serves as a symbol of the relationship between the state of Florida and the country of Cuba. Florida has a long history with Cuba in the 1880s Cuban citizens traveled freely to Tampa to work in the cigar factories of Ebor City and West Tampa. Many made Florida their home. But when Fidel Castro took control of Cuba in 1959 many Cubans fled to Miami as political refugees. In 1980 under tremendous pressure Castro allowed one hundred twenty five thousand Cubans to leave for miami in what is known as the Mariel boatlift. They came on any kind of boat that Miami organizers could secure. Again in 1904 amidst political

turmoil 50000 Cubans left for Florida this time risking their lives on homemade rafts. Today two million Cubans reside in the United States and two thirds of them live in Florida because of the repressive Castro rule. The flow of Cuban refugees continues the West Stampa sandwich shop is a place where friends can get together to talk about old and new times. The small restaurant sits in the heart of Tampa's Latin community and many of the customers here have ties to Cuba. Melina Velasquez works as a waitress serving coffee Cuban toast and Tampa's famous Cuban sandwiches. Molina left Cuba in 1998 and still has close family there and not many at that time I didn't have any y and my family was there. And then I had the opportunity to bring my mother here with me after 10 years in this country. And now my mother is the only one here with

the rest of my family is still in Cuba. In reaction to 9/11 the Bush administration tightened restrictions on Cuba limiting the Lynas ability to visit her family and send them financial support. I would really like for the restrictions to be taken away because even though my mother is here and my father and his brother and his wife will be coming soon my uncles my cousins all my family is still there and I still have to help them because the economic situation Cuba is very bad. And of course I would love to have all the restrictions taken away so that I can see all my family that still there and visit whenever I want. That would be a lot better. A week after taping this interview President Barack Obama signed a bill easing those restrictions for Molina and many Cuban Americans. This will provide a

lifeline to their family members. Patrick Montag editor of like a seta a popular Spanish language newspaper is frustrated with the lack of forward progression. We actually probably gone backwards and our relationship with Cuba from where I was seven or eight years ago at the West Tampa's sandwich shop there's no shortage of opinion on Cuba and the embargo. Many patrons would like to see the embargo lifted for a variety of reasons. Rex Rodriguez travels to Cuba regularly on business. What I'd like to see is a wobbler lifted and all the travel ban lifted for separation as it's been used for 40 some years as sort of as a cause of all the problems in Cuba. I see nothing good be a bad lot don't do nothin for. Fall for your 50 years. I don't think that is good at all. The United States embargo against Cuba has been in place since February seven thousand nine hundred sixty two. Its purpose was and still is to bring down the Castro regime

by blocking trade with the small island nation. Since the beginning some of the embargoes most passionate supporters have been Floridians. But as time marches on some hardliners are considering a new approach. Here's Carson Cooper with the story. With a focus on things that El Castro Miami's Cuban exiles became major players in Florida and U.S. politics. Ronald Reagan was among the first presidential candidates to recognize their influence since and presidential hopefuls have made it a point to address their concerns. One of the purposes of the embargo signed by President Kennedy was to punish Castro for siding with the Soviet Union. Now the Cold War is over. The Castro regime is still in place and the U.S. embargo against Cuba is 47 years old from the beginning it has been these original exiles who have led the fight to keep the embargo intact. The fact that they represent a large voting bloc in an important swing state ensures that they are not ignored. Tampa attorney Ralph Fernandez is one of those Cuban

exiles. He has always been a proponent of the embargo until now. In a perfect world I would have wanted the Cubans and the Cuban Americans have gotten together and got rid of Saddam long ago. But that's not how it happened. Castro 150 years into it we got a lot of problems. So what do we do. We support contact we supporting gauge meant Andrew Salerno is also a post revolution exile. He is a successful furniture business in Ybor City. I hear rumors and things like that that they're going to make some kind of relation between the two countries and not you know at the beginning I would be a pro be opposed to it. But the more I think about it. I may. Have it I'm not a mime. And listen to see what they plan to do. What is the objective objective as a transition in Cuba. Are we going to get a transition to democracy in Cuba. Now. We got to try some other things. We're going to try a different type B or C and A D. If we

take the embargo down and it works and it's good for our country maybe a liberal it's our country. Maybe it helped our revolution within Cuba. For people to say hey. This is good. I'm going to good. And Castro doesn't have the chance of pro-Castro. To blame the United States anymore. For them state and for that they don't have anything to eat. Now he's going to have to go and face reality is not the embargo. Is the government. You have on it. If they give you government who's holding the people that Raul Fernandez says his stance is change because the situation has changed. Fidel Castro is gone he was a stumbling block. The reason I say that is why he was there. You cannot reward someone like him by engaging him. It affects the core of our values and for reward a murderer a dictator a tyrant and an exporter of all of that. By engaging him. But he's out of the way a lot of the old people like me

they come from the 60s. We think that way. Maybe we are getting softer edge a bit. And in Miami today. I figure if we really tried to find out. It would be a 50/50 changing the embargo would be sad for maybe 10 or 15 percent of the Cuban Americans who still hold hold through some tough stance. America will happen and will be able to go back to Cuba. According to Patrick Mann tago Florida may have an uphill battle for business if the embargo is ever lifted. Because Florida really is the home base for the population that has kept this relationship between Cuba and show between Cuba and the US child. Florida has probably the worst relation of any state with Cuba but Fernanda says the US has bigger reasons to change its relationship with Cuba. What is the problem the problem is a long term event going on in Cuba

right now in our absence. China has come in and invested tremendous amounts of money. China is making a concerted effort. To take over Cuba for you don't do something radical in Cuba. Which may not be a perfect scenario which may not be a change to democracy as we wish it but as long as we keep China out and we keep some level of control and contact with Cuba will avoid a great big problem two decades from now. President Barack Obama says he is willing to engage the aging revolutionary Raul Castro to see if positive advances can be made. And Cuban-Americans even the old guard are watching and hoping for the best. Now we're going to see what's going to happen with this new administration. You know a lot of people are suspecting a lot of fence. A lot of people is going to suspect. Miracles do happen. That's not going to happen. I'm going to give Obama the benefit of the doubt. And I want to wait to see six months to a year

what kind of situation we're going to be in. Not only in my country in this country. Yes I am I going to give you the benefit of the doubt. I got to go in and and I. Respect him as my president. Give him a chance to prove. What he can do. And if it doesn't. Then we're in for in 4 years. We're going to have to talk. For Florida matters I'm Kirsan Cooper. At one time a Cuban citizen could board a steamship travel to Tampa and work in one of the Boer cities cigar factories. But by the time of the Cuban Revolution freedoms like that had vanished. Roberto care Rose was born and raised in Havana but by the time he was 24 he was desperate to reach Florida. Roberto Kiros is a Cuban-American. He lives in West Tampa with his wife and two daughters and works here at the tire shop. He's living the American

dream. But to get here he had to endure a nightmare. In 1994 Cuba erupted in political turmoil. Fifty thousand Cubans took advantage of the distraction built rafts of inner tubes and canvas and set out on a 90 mile journey toward freedom. Roberto story is their story. Bridges I have I could go. Back to Milan. Reffed. We asked him if he was ever afraid and afraid. A couple times. Right. Make the choice. You make the decision of. Turning back. There were 11 people in Roberto's raft. They lost their food supply on the first night on the third day they ran into another raft with 10 people who had been in the water for days. They tied their rafts together one of the four they would pick the girl. Up. Beautiful girl. Been a wonderful three day. Road myself in a raft. And she has seen her husband.

Her brother in law. And the brother in law's wife. Son. And. She was in a state. I mean you couldn't even ask her a question. She would know what to say. On the fifth day they were rescued picked up by the U.S. Coast Guard and sent to Guantanamo. We asked Roberto why he would risk his life to come here. Is the greatest country in the world. No way. Everybody wants to know more you. If you see an opportunity. To. Use an individual. As an individual. An opportunity. To succeed. Roberto invited us to his home in West Tampa. It is important for him to tell his story that when decided to get on really hard so we have only one war. And the guys who start talking. Let's make let's make a sale would with a canvas. Whenever the wind blows as ours go. So I grab the or put it in between my legs here and held it

right. And we put the camis on top. And two of the guys will hold it. And the canvas as a sail and started to get over you can see the raft. Barely hitting. Now at this point. It's really windy by the way was not that high. You ask me why. So. And the raft is moving where we're going. I have no idea. I remember most seven it was so cold I was trembling then. One friend of mine just grabbed me from the bag and held me. Oh man. Because I was wet from holding the. Everybody was in the back of the raft and the waves are ahead of me as I was away and. I was shaking and so this buddy of mine just governs what about you. I'm a little bit drier you let me try to keep you warm. And it's. Forget. Roberto's brother came by raft as well at the same

time. But Roberto didn't know it until they met up in Guantanamo. He was not supposed to know and he didn't want to come. I know I talked. He wanted to he wanted to be each to see how. You find me or. Help somebody. Bring. A raft over there. And then all the guys came out in front of us really help the guy put the red of the leaves and these two other guys probably say Oh man we need two more. Guys help me out and. I said you don't need to more you need just one me that Roberto and his brother remember how bad it was in Cuba. If you if you walk from your girlfriend's house to the bus stop to take a bus to go out. There was stuff you had to tell us. Three blocks away. Where you going from. Economic conditions were deplorable. How do you legally fit your family. How how can you tell your family by just going to the store and buy if there's another in a store for them

or you already. But whatever it is the day on them you have holiday for you in the store that night. Roberto when his family enjoyed a meal they could have never had in Cuba they enjoyed the taste of freedom. Of the 50000 who left Cuba when Roberto left only 30000 have been accounted for. Roberto normally works in construction but because of the tough economy he enjoys his work at the tire shop. He plays soccer on Sundays in the long Florida sun and continues to live out his American dream. In today's Florida story Larry Ellison visits with another Cuban American family as the memories of Castro fade with time distance and new generations. East of Tampa two kids at play in a Florida suburb. Eight year old Samantha Garrett Tex and her brother 6 year old Andrew.

Maybe the only conflict they know in their young lives who can keep the ball. Samantha and n Drew are a generation far removed from a world in which their own parents grew up. Early end of that recalling sweet heart born in Miami both the first generation Cuban Americans whose own childhoods centered on parents who fled their island homeland and the reign of Fidel Castro. Tonight Ernie sister Marilyn bear attacks has stopped by for dinner with the family that the dinner conversation was mostly about school. Unlike the days when Ernie and Marilyn and eventually there was no talk around the table of Cuba but Aunt Marilyn doesn't want her niece and nephew to forget the hardships. Once faced by their grandparents. Or the pursuit in America.

There were hopes. She was a journalist for The St. Petersburg Times Miller wrote about her own experience growing up with Fidel Castro. Her personal essay was written a year ago. It still rings true. Fifty years of Fidel and my family by Marilyn heritage. Back in Cuba this guy was right here back in Cuba. The grass was greener. Back in Cuba the flowers are prettier. My siblings and I grew up hearing that phrase constantly. There was one and only one thing that wasn't great back in Cuba. Fidel Castro. I've never met the man but he has been a never ending presence in my life. My parents grandparents and other adults in my family despised him. They had to adapt to a new country while mourning the loss of their homeland. To evolution the vehemently opposed. And they blame Fidel for everything. When I was a child he was the bogeyman. When I was a teenager he was a reason I didn't know my uncles aunts. Cousins in Cuba. When I was a college student. He became the center of political discussions with my father. And when I

became a journalist he was a focus of bad newspaper stories written by people who didn't understand Fidel and what he had done. He said When my father said. I'd explain it the stories were striving to present the facts and allow people to judge for themselves. He was never swayed. He had one response. He's Fidel. Millan's father Erast mother was born in the countryside of Camaguey province and her mother Sylvia in Havana. They were engaged in their beloved Cuba. The young couple would marry in Miami. Fidel's 1959 revolution divided my father and 11 siblings became brother against brother. My father acknowledges that the army wasn't perfect but to him for the US politics were far worse. His father a country Judge died in jail. My father's ended up being jailed himself but wants him more than that. He eventually escaped and was the first to arrive in Miami in April 1960. My mom worked for an American cargo company smuggle them aboard a departing trip to Key West. She followed a few months later arriving on the American Cummings lashes out of Cuba U.S.-Cuban

relations chilled to a deep freeze shortly after my parents were married in November 1960 with only two family friends as witnesses. Many in their families eventually arrived on the Freedom Flights or brought thousands to the United States. My father's older brother's is the younger sister ever remained in Cuba. This is hard for me to imagine the courage it took to leave home for a strange land. As a journalist I was in a Coast Guard cutter reporting on. The 1904 Exodus video allowed. They had Cubans jumping on raps. Whether in the end they did it for political reasons or economic reasons. Every time a Cuban was pulled from the scene I thanked my parents. Moments like that and my father's stories help me understand of their obsession with Fidel stems from an emotional and personal place. My parents would like us to despise Fidel with the same passion. Perhaps some in my generation do but my brother sister and I will never experience what our parents did. We can only respect it. Try to put ourselves in their shoes and support in our own way. Everything is Fidel's fault. But is little a group made the weekly phone call to his grandparents still living in Miami after 50 years.

It was quickly apparent that conversation between the three techs generations was not about the past. Like their father in Maryland before then Andrew and Samantha were being introduced to Cuban culture. But it's different. My niece and nephew have or don't know. Fidel is my father really talks about him in their presence. As with us he is reluctant to share the painful memories come with us. My generation is Cuban-American but my niece and nephew are perhaps more American Cuban. Weeping though Marilyn and Ernie didn't experience the pains of Cuba firsthand. They lived it through parents who did. And though we want to keep that you know living memory for them it's also tough as you know especially with my children the next generation have become further apart and they don't

really understand. You know Fidel what Fidel did to the country. So we're sort of caught between sort of the past and the future but the future is you know generations who will probably know less about Fidel and less about what's happening Cuba but the past remains strong and those of us who are in between you know really the link in between those two generations. But they do see the benefits and they don't see you know the best parts of Cuba and you know. The work ethic that my parents brought over and in the good parts of our traditions and family in the family and all the good Castro retired as president in February 2008 only to be succeeded by his brother Raul. And Fidel. Time when the bearded Cuban dictator will no longer be a part of family conversation but certain Castro will always be a presence in her life. You see Marilyn and Fidel both share the same birthday.

Thank you for joining us for Florida matters. To comment or join our discussion on Cuba go to slash Florida matters. Until next time. I'm Irene Mayer. Major funding for Florida matters comes from the mosaic company a leading producer of fertilizer made from phosphate a natural resource found in Florida. America's

farmers depend on Florida phosphate for their crop nutrition needs. Helping America grow up.