US / Cuban Relations

An Evening with Hope Bastian

(August 10th, 7pm)

Join us on August 10th at 7pm in the Koinonia museum for a

presentation by Hope Bastian of “Witness for Peace.” Hope will give a brief history of the relations between the US and Cuba and talk about some of the most recent changes that President Bush has made in policy towards Cuba. Following her presentation, she will take any questions folks have either about US/Cuban issues or general questions about Cuba and her experiences there.

“Our U.S. policy toward Cuba, I think, is a tragedy. When I was president, within two months I had opened up all travel by Americans to Cuba because I thought the best way to bring about democracy in Cuba is to let Americans go there and let the Cuban people have access or communications with us. Now the policy is to totally isolate Cuba. I think this makes Castro a hero, like a David fighting a Goliath. And it also prevents an evolutionary move toward democracy.”