There are tectonic shifts happening on the global stage this year. The era of Eurocentrism is waning; and the emerging economic and power centers outside of Europe and North America are seeing stirring signs of change.
Not just across the Taiwan straits; not just in Asia-Pacific, notably South Asia, and the ASEAN countrues, but in Latin America.... a new era has emerged.
The issue of normalization across the Taiwan Straits between Taipei and Beijing is headed in the right direction.
Setting aside half a century of acrimonious tensions, between brothers and sisters, the rapprochment being initiated in good faith across the Taiwan Straits is clearly bringing benefits between the peoples who live across both sides of the straits, and has created a "win-win" environment.
Tourism across the straits is humming along.... the lessening of tension, the focus on mutually beneficial links across the Taiwan Straits is a positive thing that can be chalked up as a good thing for world peace.
More important, the economic integration and synergy developed between the China mainland economy with Taiwan's economy have brought about tremendous benefits across both sides of the Taiwan Straits. Those links are irreversible and unstoppable.
Today, as President Barack Obama ventures into Latin America and engages Latin American leaders from 33 nations, in a summitry about the issues confronting this hemisphere, in a constructive dialogue to start a new page in U.S.-Latin American relations, the issue of Cuba has been catapulted to the frontburner.
Barack Obama can be bold; and he can change the course of America in its relations with its Latin America neighbors south of the U.S. It is clear that the Monroe Doctrine is dead; and Latin America is seeing a new dawn. Barack Obama and the Castro brothers should seize the opportunity to start a "warm springs" dialogue akin to the one that Ma Ying Jeao did when he took office and ramped up the outreach to Beijing's Hu Juntao and Wen Jiabao, who responded in good faith and proactively re-started the dialogue and rapprochment.
The Taiwan Straits has since seen a remarkable thawing after the dialogue started.
Similarly, the U.S. has an opening to re-engage Cuba with Obama now firmly at the helm in the White House. The time is ripe. U.S. policy towards Cuba has been an anachronism for quite some time, locked by the cobwebs and demons of the past.
It is time to think and look forward to the future. At stakes is not just that Caribbean island nation, but the notion of mutual respect, reciprocity, and honoring diversity while seeking common grounds with non-European nations outside of the Western hemisphere.
The era of Eurocentrism in international relations and power politics among nations is now over. Finito. No mas. No more.
Obama is being positioned to bring about this bold change away from the Eurocentrism which has heretofore characterize U.S. international relations. And he has a great Secretary of State in Hilary Clinton who can help pave the way, with a degree of humility, respect, and cultural sensitivity toward the latinos from the South.
Consider reading the following links including some very refreshing signals of contrition and regrets in U.S. past mistakes made by US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, particularly on U.S. "failed" policies towards Cuba, Myanmar, Iran and other countries in the non-West:
http://apnews.myway.com/article/20090418/D97KT7MG0.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/18/world/americas/18diplo.html?_r=1
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123999745284329571.html
Signs of a "warm springs" in U.S. attitude towards countries from the Non-West is palpable; and it is the right thing to do by US President Barack Obama. And the first step made in Trinidad-Tobago by US President Barack Obama is the right step to break the ice between the US and its neighbors in the South side of the Americas.
The hugh divide and tension in Cuba-US relations must be fixed first and foremost. It is time to move forward and look to the future for a thaw.
http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D97KG5HO0&show_article=1
It is time for Cuba and America to make peace, after fifty years of saber-rattling and relentless polemics across the Caribbean. The Latin nations in this 34-nation summit are overwhelmingly in support of a constructive US-Cuba dialogue. At stakes is a new climate of mutual respect of each country's national sovereignty, and the principle of non-interference in each other's internal affairs.
Let's get real.... Fidel Castro has outlived more U.S. presidents.....from Dwight Eisenhower, Jack Kennedy, Lyndon Baines Johnson, Richard Nixon, Jerry Ford, Jimmy Carter, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush... and he is the last man still left standing. By his longevity, he must be doing something right for Cuba and the Cubans. Previous Americans have made relentless attempts to overthrow and destabilize Cuba, without success.
Obama sees the futility of this Cold War against a small Caribbean neighbor whose only crime is defiance against the big gorrilla up North.
Barack Obama has enough chits, now that he is in the White House, to become a statesman, and make his administration a symbol of a humbler, more conciliatory, more listening world leader leading the world's most powerful country, the U.S.A.
Instead of the usual hubris, arrogance, and bullying exemplified by previous American presidents, Barack Obama is well pivoted to lead America to engage the Non-West with initiatives for peace, dialogue, and constructive engagement which is not suffocating, domineering, and bullying.
And Cuba is as good a start to begin this process in America's new posture in its international relations. A bit of humility and honest listening will be good for Obama. And the American public needs to listen more and talk less.
Let the sunshine in... let the warm springs between the U.S. and Cuba be nurtured.
It is time for the Castro brothers... Fidel and Raul, to engage Barrack Obama in a genuine dialogue to normalize relations and get the mistrust behind them.
Yes... we can; Yes... we all can. Si Se Puede. Si Se Puede.
