Dec 29, 2008
Undoubtedly a Good Thing
Last year José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, prime minister of Spain and leader of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party, pushed through parliament a liberalizing measure that will greatly enhance some Cubans' and many others' freedom to travel.
"The new law, which comes into effect today, gives the chance of Spanish nationality to descendants of those who fled the country during the civil war between 1936 and 1939. It also gives a right of application to those whose grandparents fled the dictatorship of General Franco, which lasted from 1939 until 1975."
It is ironic that a self-styled socialist government is doing more to bring freedom to Cubans than successive U.S. administrations with their self-defeating sanctions.
"The new law, which comes into effect today, gives the chance of Spanish nationality to descendants of those who fled the country during the civil war between 1936 and 1939. It also gives a right of application to those whose grandparents fled the dictatorship of General Franco, which lasted from 1939 until 1975."
It is ironic that a self-styled socialist government is doing more to bring freedom to Cubans than successive U.S. administrations with their self-defeating sanctions.