[jyl]

Because the US doesn't have normalized relations with any other country that restricts religious freedoms, doesn't hold open elections, or holds political prisoners, right???

Cuba is treated the way it is by the US because of history from 50 and 60 years ago. We made up with Germany, Japan, Vietnam, and they were actually in a war with us. Cuba merely had themselves a revolution and some American companies lost their investments (perhaps ill-gotten). And then they made friends with the Russians for a few decades, but last time I checked we have normal relations with Eastern Europe too.

Maybe that all seemed important at the time, but today it is really all a "BFD" thing. Get over it already. Most of the people actually involved back then are dead or so will be.