WASHINGTON — Normal relations between the United States and Cuba officially resumed Monday, ending a half-century of hostility. It came with more controversy than celebration.
Cuban-Americans and many Floridians had long assumed that normal relations would follow the downfall of the Castro regime, and many remain bitterly disappointed that it will not.
The historic moment, ushered in by the official designation of embassies in Havana and Washington, will instead lend legitimacy, at least in the short run, to the Cuban government headed by Raul Castro.
It will also lead to closer ties to the Cuban people, creating opportunities for trade and travel, especially for Floridians because of their close proximity to the island.