One reporter for the New York Daily News rants, "Come on, let's be serious…if anything is clear, it is that the trip of the famous couple to Havana has exposed the travel ban as what it is: a senseless, anachronistic and anti-democratic policy, contrary to U.S. interests and values," (Ruiz, 2013).
What was done to resolve the controversy?
There has yet to be a clear resolution to the controversy, but the expression of symbolic free speech on the part of Beyonce and Jay-Z has deepened the discourse about the purpose and effectiveness of the Cuba embargo. The celebrity visit has caused new dialogue about Cuban-American relations and the meaning behind the ongoing travel ban Many Americans do not give much thought to the travel ban; but Cuban-Americans take the ban personally. Now that the Cold War is over, it does not seem to make much sense to have an embargo. The United States does business, and allows travel to, many nations with questionable human rights. Even the United States is culpable of human rights abuses; and ironically some of the grossed abuses are perpetrated on Cuban soil in the Guantanamo Bay facility.
Opinion and Conclusion
Beyonce and Jay-Z had every right to their symbolic free speech. Resolving the controversy will become an ongoing process. Calls to change American foreign policy toward Cuba may become more vocal as a result of a high-profile visit such as the one by Beyonce and Jay-Z. The Obama administration has relaxed travel restrictions on Cuba significantly enough to allow for such visits. Americans who are curious about Cuban culture, society, and scenery have been visiting the island nation in spite of the travel restrictions, albeit in less dramatic and high profile ways as Beyonce and Jay-Z. Those visits can likewise be considered demonstrations of free speech, affirmations of the right and freedoms of Americans to go, see, and do whatever they please within the general parameters...
When the laws in place reflect outmoded values, they can and should be broken in a form of peaceful protest not unlike the forms used during the Civil Rights movement. The embargo to Cuba is outdated, and no longer necessary.
References
Boesveld, S. (2013). Beyonce and Jay-Z's Cuba jaunt sparks uproar as U.S. politicians accuse Obama of breaking tourism embargo. National Post. April 9, 2013. Retrieved online: http://news.nationalpost.com/2013/04/09/beyonce-and-jay-zs-cuba-jaunt-sparks-uproar-as-u-s-politicians-accuse-obama-of-breaking-tourism-embargo/
Brown, H. (2013). How the GOP response to Beyonce's Cuba trip highlights broken policy. Think Progress. April 9, 2013. Retrieved online: http://thinkprogress.org/security/2013/04/09/1838661/rubio-beyonce-cuba/?mobile=nc
Hudson, D.L. (n.d.). Posts tagged 'nonverbal expression.' Inside the First Amendment. Retrieved online: http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/tag/nonverbal-expression
Peralta, E. (2013). Treasury: Jay-Z and Beyonce Traveled to Cuba on U.S.-Approved Trip. NPR: The Two-Way. Retrieved online: http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/04/09/176732458/treasury-jay-z-and-beyonce-travelled-to-cuba-on-u-s-approved-trip
Ruiz, a. (2013). Albor Ruiz: Beyonce and Jay-Z's benign visit to Cuba shows the absurdity of the 50-year-old U.S. travel ban. Daily News. April 10, 2013. Retrieved online: http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/albor-ruiz-u-s-drop-ban-travel-cuba-article-1.1312116#ixzz2Q6T3GgxU
Saad, N. (2013). Beyonce and Jay-Z's trip to Cuba was approved by U.S. Treasury. Ministry of Gossip. Retrieved online: http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/gossip/la-et-mg-beyonce-jayz-cuba-approved-us-treasury-20130410,0,6726668.story
Wilkins, B. (2013). Terrorist supporter Ros-Lehtinen slams Jay-Z & Beyonce Cuba trip. Digital Journal. Retrieved online: http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/347658#ixzz2Q6Rjlgqr
