[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 195 (Wednesday, December 19, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2612-E2613]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    UNITED STATES-CUBA CULTURAL EXCHANGE LETTER TO PRESIDENT BUSH--
                            ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 18, 2007

  Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge the U.S.-Cuba 
Cultural Exchange's letter to President Bush and to enter into the 
Record a copy of their letter.
  On November 27, 2007, the U.S.-Cuba Cultural Exchange sent a letter 
to President Bush that expressed their desire to establish relations 
with Cuban artists and urged him to take steps to normalize interaction 
with Cuba. The letter was signed by several artists including Harry 
Belafonte, Danny Glover, Carlos Santana, and Sean Penn. As of December 
11, 2007, the letter has been signed by one thousand four hundred and 
twelve people.
  I applaud the U.S.-Cuba Cultural Exchange for urging President Bush 
to change the U.S. policy towards Cuba and for raising awareness about 
how the policy impacts the artist community. Further, I support their 
movement, which would allow people from both countries to exchange and 
experience performing and literary arts.

[[Page E2613]]

  Art in any form including, but not limited to dance, music, and 
poetry provides a mechanism where by people are able to express 
themselves, which ultimately represents their culture, identity, and 
voice. In addition to representing a culture, the selling of artistic 
goods provides a source of income for artists and substantially 
contributes to an economy, especially in the U.S.
  The artists issue is part of the broader implications with the travel 
ban and trade embargo, which hurts the U.S. economically, politically, 
and socially. It is estimated that the U.S. economy loses millions of 
dollars annually due to the trade embargo. The lack of diplomatic 
relations prevents any effort to democratize Cuba. There is no way to 
quantify the cost paid by Cuban Americans who can't visit their loved 
ones freely.
  The United States-Cuba policy is a failure, period. Change is needed 
now. I urge my colleagues to support my bills, H.R. 624 and H. R. 654, 
which would lift the embargo and travel ban.


                                  U.S.-Cuba Cultural Exchange,

                               Albuquerque, NM, November 27, 2007.
     President George W. Bush,
     The White House,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear President Bush: We wish to bring to your attention the 
     accompanying letter, dated October 26, 2007, received from 
     Alicia Alonso, Prima Ballerina and Director of the Cuban 
     National Ballet, and also Goodwill Ambassador for the United 
     Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization 
     (UNESCO). Ms. Alonso has toured extensively in the United 
     States and her work has long been admired by the American 
     performing arts community, cultural critics and the public.
       We are writing you as representatives of the cultural 
     sphere in the United States. We write you as American 
     citizens. We write to express our dismay at your 
     administration's continuing hostility towards Cuba. We write 
     to express our opposition to policies that keep us divided 
     from our Cuban counterparts, preventing cultural interchange 
     between our two countries. We believe the time has come to 
     move towards cooperation and constructive relations with 
     Cuba.
       The present policies deny such possibilities of friendship 
     and cultural sharing. We further note that cultural 
     interchanges and relationships are also modes of 
     communication and expression. 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.
       This reality seems to run counter to other positions 
     expressed by your Administration. In September 2006, for 
     example, Laura Bush inaugurated your Administration's 
     ``Global Cultural Initiative,'' stating that ``One of the 
     best ways we can deepen our friendships with the people of 
     all countries is for us to better understand each other's 
     culture by enjoying each other's literature, music, films and 
     visual arts.''
       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 words of Alicia Alonso as we call 
     upon your Administration to:
       1. open a respectful dialogue with the government and 
     people of Cuba in accord with established protocols supported 
     by the community of nations;
       2. end 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
       3. initiate, by working with appropriate members of 
     Congress, a process that can result in the development of 
     normal bilateral relations between our countries.
       Supporters of Cultural Exchanges with Cuba:
       Louis Head--Cuba Research and Analysis Group--Co-founder 
     US-Cuba Cultural Exchange.
       Bill Martinez--Martinez & Associates--Co-founder US-Cuba 
     Cultural Exchange.
       Cynthia Semon--Media consultant/music promoter--US-Cuba 
     Cultural Exchange.
       James Early--Cultural Policy Specialist--U.S.-Cuba Cultural 
     Exchange.
       Harry Belafonte--actor/singer.
       Danny Glover--actor.
       Sean Penn--actor.
       Carlos Santana--musician.
       (Plus more than 1,400 other signatories).

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