KANSAS CITY, MO -
U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, who just returned from a diplomatic trip to Cuba, says that it's time to mend our ties to the Communist island. But Cubans living here in Kansas City aren't so sure.
The Arancibia brothers, Junier and Julio, left Cuba four years ago, and they say that they'd make the journey again in a heartbeat.
"I can say whatever I want, I can do whatever I want," said Junier Arencibia, who is unsure of America's effort to forge a new relationship with Cuba. "They can try, I dont know. I dont think so."
Congressman Cleaver was part of a group of six representatives who met with Cuban President Raul Castro in Havana to begin easing diplomatic relations in talks that he says are way overdue.
"We meet with despots all over the world," said Cleaver. "What we've done in the U.S., which is tragic, is we've let some Cubans who left Cuba in the 1950's dictate national foreign policy."
"The best way for democracy to rule is not with guns or embargo, but with Americans demonstrating how much superior we are in this democracy," said Cleaver. "We have a market out there of people looking to buy our goods and services."
But even if the embargo is lifted, the Arancibia brothers say most Cubans could not afford anything that America would want to sell.
"Cuba and the United States are never going to have any business because Cuba always want everything free," said Julio Arancibia.
Cleaver said that, overall, nothing was decided in the trip, but that President Castro got the message.
"Do you want the relationship to thaw or not," said Cleaver. "If you do, then do something... So I'm hoping that has inspired him and maybe we'll see something coming soon."
The Arancibia brothers, Junier and Julio, left Cuba four years ago, and they say that they'd make the journey again in a heartbeat.
"I can say whatever I want, I can do whatever I want," said Junier Arencibia, who is unsure of America's effort to forge a new relationship with Cuba. "They can try, I dont know. I dont think so."
Congressman Cleaver was part of a group of six representatives who met with Cuban President Raul Castro in Havana to begin easing diplomatic relations in talks that he says are way overdue.
"We meet with despots all over the world," said Cleaver. "What we've done in the U.S., which is tragic, is we've let some Cubans who left Cuba in the 1950's dictate national foreign policy."
"The best way for democracy to rule is not with guns or embargo, but with Americans demonstrating how much superior we are in this democracy," said Cleaver. "We have a market out there of people looking to buy our goods and services."
But even if the embargo is lifted, the Arancibia brothers say most Cubans could not afford anything that America would want to sell.
"Cuba and the United States are never going to have any business because Cuba always want everything free," said Julio Arancibia.
Cleaver said that, overall, nothing was decided in the trip, but that President Castro got the message.
"Do you want the relationship to thaw or not," said Cleaver. "If you do, then do something... So I'm hoping that has inspired him and maybe we'll see something coming soon."
