Lamis Andoni writes: "In his speeches Obama tries to project "humane world view" that respect other nations path and struggle for change and development. This vision will lack credibility as long as America continues its self-entitlement to punish other nations who do not adhere to its world view."

That arrogant and most offensive word "punish", so often used in the US media, makes my blood boil. Parents "punish" (nowadays though, more often than not they rather educate...) and, apparently, God has the absolute authority to "punish" his(her?) creatures for their sins, something that has become less popular over the years... more and more people having become rather partial, it would seem, to a loving and forgiving God.

In any case, who in the world do we, Americans, think we are to even entertain the thought of "punishing" anybody but our own?

Once more, throughout the world, can be heard calls for the U.S. to punish U.S. citizens responsible for criminal actions, be it in Guantanamo, in Afghanistan, in Iraq, or elsewhere, including against the Cuban people. I believe this country should therefore concentrate exclusively on punishing its own criminals, thereby moving decidedly beyond its unique regime of self-proclaimed entitlement to shameful impunity from prosecution for its own war crimes and crimes against humanity. Failing that, any vision of a decent America can only forever lack credibility.

Simply put, if it is to claim to project, internationally, a "humane world view" which truly "respects other nations" this country needs to become, first and foremost, a responsible international stakeholder.

For over50 years, while the U S economy was booming, pragmatic leaders had no inclination to concern themselves with other countries social views. As the country finds itself in dire financial needs, humility, cooperation, and reasonableness will be the inclination essence of the day. And both economies will benefit from it.

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Ms Andoni - you have absolutely no idea of what is going on in Cuba. Castro is not about to let there be normal relations anymore than Washington is. His government cannot withstand that. I find your views on this ridiculous. It would be far more interesting to hear your views on the Middle East - that area we have so very much to learn from when it comes to ideology!

I agree that the embargo should be lifted, it wont happen anytime soon. Obama is a change in the right direction. The real question is, will those of us who refer to ourselves as Americans admit, repent, and change?