Volunteerism?

“Hardly 48 hours ago … I once again explicitly offered the United States to send a medical force with the necessary means to offer emergency assistance to the tens of thousands of Americans trapped in the flooded areas and the ruins Katrina left behind after lashing Louisiana and other southern states.”
Dr. Fidel Castro Ruz, President of the Republic of Cuba, September 4, 2005
http://www.granma.cubaweb.cu/english/speeches/art11.html

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Fidel Castro offered to send doctors to New Orleans and the Gulf Coast to help the people who were impacted by the hurricane. He went on to say,

“Cuba would be completely powerless to help the crew of a spaceship or a nuclear submarine in distress, but it could offer the victims of hurricane Katrina, facing imminent death, substantial and crucial assistance.”

Fidel Castro spoke for his country and offered help from his nation. The offer of help was rejected by the U.S. government. Had it been up to the people of New Orleans, I suspect they would have welcomed this support.

Three years later, Cuba has suffered extensive damage from hurricanes Gustav and Ike. The island needs help. The United States government has offered $100,000 and team of experts to assess the damage. The Cuban government has rejected this offer. Americans want to reach into their own pockets to send money and provide aide to Cuba. Treasury Department restrictions prevent US citizens from transferring U.S. dollars to Cuba or for family members to visit relatives on the island.

During the recent Presidential Forum on volunteerism, both candidates Barak Obama and John McCain extolled the virtues of private giving and volunteerism. Private citizens reaching into their pockets or volunteering to help people in need has been a hallmark of the Bush Administration’s compassionate conservative policy. Yet, American citizens cannot offer help to the Cuban people because of U.S. governmental regulations.

The United States Congress needs to act immediately to end these Treasury Department restrictions on giving money and providing support to the people of Cuba so that Americans can offer help where help is needed.