U.S. artists demand normal cultural relations with Cuba
- Submitted by: admin
- Arts and Culture
- North America
- 11 / 21 / 2007
More than 200 prominent individuals from the arts and show business in the United States have signed a letter addressed to President George W. Bush expressing their support for cultural relations between the United States and Cuba.
"President George W. Bush... We are writing you as representatives of the cultural sphere in the United States. We write you as American citizens," the letter begins.
"We believe the time has come to move towards cooperation and constructive relations with Cuba," including cultural exchange, says the letter, published on the website of The Cuba Research and Analysis Group (CRAG), http://www.cubaresearch.info/cubaletter.
The letter to Bush bears the signatures of more than 200 actors, musicians, filmmakers, producers and other prestigious individuals such as Harry Belafonte, Ry Cooder, Peter Coyote, Danny Glover, Sean Penn, Bonnie Raitt, Gloria Steinem and Alice Walker.
"The present policies deny such possibilities of friendship and cultural sharing," the letter adds. "In denying us the possibility of engaging in such exchanges and relationships, we are being denied our fundamental rights as guaranteed by the 1st, 5th and 14th Amendments of the U.S. Constitution."
"As citizens, artists, scholars, educators and cultural workers from all artistic practices, academic disciplines, advocacy and service organizations in the arts, we hope you will read and consider" the petition, it says.
The letter asks for opening "a respectful dialogue with the government and people of Cuba in accord with established protocols supported by the community of nations;" ending "the travel ban that prevents U.S. citizens from visiting Cuba and allow for Cuban artists and scholars to visit the United States, thus eliminating the censorship of art and ideas," and initiating, "by working with appropriate members of Congress, a process that can result in the development of normal bilateral relations between our countries."
Since 1962, the U.S. government has maintained a rigid economic, commercial and financial blockade against Cuba, costing the island nation losses of more than $89 billion.
For the 16th straight year, the UN General Assembly has approved a resolution, in a vote of 184-4 with one abstention, opposing the U.S. economic siege of Cuba. The UN adopted this resolution, proposed by Cuba, condemning Washingtons blockade because of the obstacle it creates to the islands development and well-being and because it attempts to subject the Cuban people to hunger and disease.
(PL)
"President George W. Bush... We are writing you as representatives of the cultural sphere in the United States. We write you as American citizens," the letter begins.
"We believe the time has come to move towards cooperation and constructive relations with Cuba," including cultural exchange, says the letter, published on the website of The Cuba Research and Analysis Group (CRAG), http://www.cubaresearch.info/cubaletter.
The letter to Bush bears the signatures of more than 200 actors, musicians, filmmakers, producers and other prestigious individuals such as Harry Belafonte, Ry Cooder, Peter Coyote, Danny Glover, Sean Penn, Bonnie Raitt, Gloria Steinem and Alice Walker.
"The present policies deny such possibilities of friendship and cultural sharing," the letter adds. "In denying us the possibility of engaging in such exchanges and relationships, we are being denied our fundamental rights as guaranteed by the 1st, 5th and 14th Amendments of the U.S. Constitution."
"As citizens, artists, scholars, educators and cultural workers from all artistic practices, academic disciplines, advocacy and service organizations in the arts, we hope you will read and consider" the petition, it says.
The letter asks for opening "a respectful dialogue with the government and people of Cuba in accord with established protocols supported by the community of nations;" ending "the travel ban that prevents U.S. citizens from visiting Cuba and allow for Cuban artists and scholars to visit the United States, thus eliminating the censorship of art and ideas," and initiating, "by working with appropriate members of Congress, a process that can result in the development of normal bilateral relations between our countries."
Since 1962, the U.S. government has maintained a rigid economic, commercial and financial blockade against Cuba, costing the island nation losses of more than $89 billion.
For the 16th straight year, the UN General Assembly has approved a resolution, in a vote of 184-4 with one abstention, opposing the U.S. economic siege of Cuba. The UN adopted this resolution, proposed by Cuba, condemning Washingtons blockade because of the obstacle it creates to the islands development and well-being and because it attempts to subject the Cuban people to hunger and disease.
(PL)
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