# Normalizing U.S.-Cuban relations? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [February 11, 2014, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/normalizing-u-s-cuban-relations/681071 "2014-02-11T17:43:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2015, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/normalizing-u-s-cuban-relations/681071/41 "2015-06-30T23:42:42Z")
[The U.S. and Cuba will re-establish diplomatic relations and open embassies in Havana and Washington.](http://www.cnn.com/2015/06/30/politics/u-s-cuba-embassy-relationship/) ---
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2015, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/normalizing-u-s-cuban-relations/681071/42 "2015-07-01T00:01:45Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > [The U.S. and Cuba will re-establish diplomatic relations and open embassies in Havana and Washington.](http://www.cnn.com/2015/06/30/politics/u-s-cuba-embassy-relationship/) Excellent news! Hopefully we get Assata Shakur back though. ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2015, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/normalizing-u-s-cuban-relations/681071/43 "2015-07-03T11:43:15Z")
When does the stuff like property claims for government expropriation come in? there are still firms that lost property in Cuba; maybe even the heirs of Meyer Lansky? This will take decades to sort out. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2015, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/normalizing-u-s-cuban-relations/681071/44 "2015-07-03T12:29:34Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > When does the stuff like property claims for government expropriation come in? there are still firms that lost property in Cuba; maybe even the heirs of Meyer Lansky? This will take decades to sort out. Unless the agreement declares all such claims null and void. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2015, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/normalizing-u-s-cuban-relations/681071/45 "2015-07-03T14:11:59Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Unless the agreement declares all such claims null and void. Or does not mention the matter at all. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2015, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/normalizing-u-s-cuban-relations/681071/46 "2015-07-03T16:23:48Z")
I’m sure that will be one of the issues discussed between the governments of the U.S. and Cuba. I mean, I doubt Cuba would agree to initiate trade relations with the United States if it expects its property to be constantly seized as part of endless reparation suits. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2015, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/normalizing-u-s-cuban-relations/681071/47 "2015-07-03T17:28:36Z")
Its been 50+ years. The properties are likely all expended, alienated and the owners dead or senile. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2015, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/normalizing-u-s-cuban-relations/681071/48 "2015-07-03T18:01:25Z")
Hey, that’s what\* we’ve \*been saying… ---
**Author:** ![Fuzzy\_wuzzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a8b319/32.png) [@Fuzzy\_wuzzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuzzy_wuzzy)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2015, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/normalizing-u-s-cuban-relations/681071/49 "2015-07-03T18:09:30Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > Its been 50+ years. The properties are likely all expended, alienated and the owners dead or senile. What about things such as family homes or farms? Assuming a percentage of people who lost out in such nationalisation fled to America that’s a number of families in the US today who feel they have lost out. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2015, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/normalizing-u-s-cuban-relations/681071/50 "2015-07-03T21:20:32Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Hey, that’s what\* we’ve \*been saying… And us too. Although we actually managed to get a few agreements on this issue with our neighbour unlike _some people_ I could mention. 🆒😉 [QUOTE=Fuzzy\_Wuzzy] What about things such as family homes or farms? Assuming a percentage of people who lost out in such nationalisation fled to America that’s a number of families in the US today who feel they have lost out. [/QUOTE] Family homes might have been sold/allocated on to bona fide purchasers/allotees. Farms might no longer be farms now. Most realistic thing for the vast majority would be compensation. ---
**Author:** ![Fuzzy\_wuzzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a8b319/32.png) [@Fuzzy\_wuzzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuzzy_wuzzy)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2015, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/normalizing-u-s-cuban-relations/681071/51 "2015-07-03T21:59:48Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > And us too. Although we actually managed to get a few agreements on this issue with our neighbour unlike _some people_ I could mention. 🆒😉 > > Family homes might have been sold/allocated on to bona fide purchasers/allotees. Farms might no longer be farms now. > > Most realistic thing for the vast majority would be compensation. Fair enough. How it is sorted out, and the numbers of claimants involved, I have no real interest in or knowledge of. However, it is wrong to say government expropriation of property is not a legitimate issue for a substantial number of individuals - few of them Meyer Lansky types or shareholders in multinationals formerly invested in Cuba ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2015, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/normalizing-u-s-cuban-relations/681071/52 "2015-07-03T22:44:17Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > When does the stuff like property claims for government expropriation come in? there are still firms that lost property in Cuba; maybe even the heirs of Meyer Lansky? This will take decades to sort out. The other side of that coin would be claims by Cuba for the damages wrought by half a century of embargo. In the past two decades Helms-Burton went even further by threatening the businesses of sovereign nations if they did business with Cuba. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2016, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/normalizing-u-s-cuban-relations/681071/53 "2016-03-20T21:13:13Z")
Bumped. Obama is now the first U.S. President since Coolidge to visit Cuba: [Obama In Cuba: President And First Lady Arrive In Havana, Starting Historic Visit : The Two-Way : NPR](http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/03/20/471190812/president-obama-touches-down-in-cuba-commencing-a-historic-visit) ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2016, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/normalizing-u-s-cuban-relations/681071/54 "2016-03-20T21:23:17Z")
People are complaining about human rights. Sure - but is this a case of, “There’ll always be human rights abuses, and it’s tiring to gripe about it forever, so we might as well gloss it over?” ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2016, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/normalizing-u-s-cuban-relations/681071/55 "2016-03-20T21:28:56Z")
I’ve been watching President Obama’s arrival in Cuba on TV. Pretty momentous. On CNN they said there are numerous US business leaders visiting as well. Apparently The Rolling Stones will be performing in Havana on Friday. They are calling Obama their ‘opening act.’ 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/normalizing-u-s-cuban-relations/681071.md?page=2)