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For the past 50 years Cuba has remained disconnected from the western world. In 1991 many thought the cold war had finally come to an end, but the ideology behind it remained in Cuba. It wasn't that politicians viewed Cuba as a threat to national security. They viewed it as a threat to their elections. The Cuban community that had managed to make their way to Florida over the years had grown into a political force. A force that hoped one day the Castro regime would fall, but their dreams were never realized.

In 2004 Cuban-American politics took a turn towards the left-wing. Former President George W. Bush extended the period for which Cuban-Americans were allowed to visit relatives on the island. What was a previous one-year limit had turned to three, severing ties between families that were already becoming thin. Like the politicians before him, Bush would not relent unless Cuba made change first.

After 47 years, the failed hard-line Cuban foreign policy that was set in place under John F. Kennedy in 1962 is finally coming under scrutiny. Moving forward with his campaign promise to review United States Cuban policy, President Barack Obama and his administration, have taken the first steps towards a brighter future for Cuba and it's families. On Apr. 13 the Obama Administration announced the end of travel restrictions and the return of gift packages for the 1.5 million Americans that have relatives in Cuba. The move on policy also allows US based telecommunication companies to seek business in Cuba.

While the trade embargo remains in place, the next move in Cuban policy has moved into Cuban President Raúl Castro court. While on his way to the Latin America summit President Obama said, "Having taken the first step I think it's very much in our interests to see whether Cuba is also ready to change." And so far the shift in policy has brought the possibility of Cuban relations back on the table. Cuban President Castro has replied to Washington that Cuba is ready to engage in talks, even on issues such as human rights, freedom of press and political prisoners.

Republican Florida Senator Mel Martinez, who originally helped in the creation of the 2004 travel restrictions has jumped on board with the Obama Administrations new policy. Sen. Martinez said, "As a Cuban American with family still in Cuba, I commend the administration for wanting to get government out of the way of family reunification." Sen. Martinez still remains unconvinced that Cuba is ready to change until they abolish the 20 percent remittance on aid sent to the country.

Although the changes in policy have brought the possibility of talks to the table, the Obama Administration needs to be careful with a give-to-get policy. We have already seen how this kind of policy can crumble over night in places like North Korea. The road ahead for Cuban-American relations remains rocky, but both sides are eager to engage in dialogue. Even former Cuban President Fidel Castro has hopes for the Obama Administration policy, posting on an online column he wrote, "The conditions are in place for Obama to use his talent in a constructive policy that ends something that has failed for nearly half a century."

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