Alabama and Cuba

I am writing regarding your "Spanning the Globe: Cuba" profile in the Feb. 7 issue. As the international trade and market development director for the state of Alabama, I have visited Cuba over 20 times in the past three years. We have carried numerous companies, legislators and businesspersons to present them the opportunities that await in Cuba. Did you know that more products were sourced from and have been sourced from Alabama since 2001 than any other state? Did you know that last year, the Cubans purchased over $150 million of products from Alabama? This $400-million economic impact was felt in all corners of Alabama. From chicken to lumber and from milk powder to utility poles, both Alabamians and Cubans benefited from trade with Cuba.

The United States embargo and travel restrictions are insulating ourselves from Cuba, not isolating Cuba from the world. The U.S. embargo is allowing the other nations of the world to maintain a vigorous economic relationship with our southern neighbor.

The "article" was a good encyclopedia version of what is and was Cuba. The references made by the writer and allowed by the editor of the section in the article relying on the U.S. State Department should be taken in context and minimized due to the fact that the ideology governing these reports are based on an "embargo" mentality. That mentality, coupled with the minimal contacts by U.S. Interests Section personnel into the "real" Cuba, makes one wonder of the validity of these reports. I say this because every time I visit Cuba, I am quizzed as to situations with Cuban companies and perceptions of my Cuban contacts by the U.S. Interests Section and the FBI.

In addition to praying "that the Cuban government will allow us to work with the seminary and the churches," please pray that the U.S. government will lift the embargo and American travel restrictions to allow Americans to openly travel to Cuba to work for greater religious opportunities and spreading ideas and impetus for change.

John Curry Key
Montgomery, Ala.