Posted by
meg on Monday, August 04, 2008 12:17:01 AM
From Richmond? Texas Times-Dispatch, Monday, July 7, 2008 ~?
Dear Editor, Times-Dispatch:?
'Each year I get to celebrate Independence Day twice.? On June 30 I
celebrate my independence day, and on July 4? I celebrate? America 's. This year is special, because it marks the 40Th anniversary of my independence.?
'On June 30, 1968, I escaped Communist Cuba , and a few months later, I
was in the? United States?to stay.? That I happened to arrive in Richmond?on
Thanksgiving Day is just part of the story, but I digress.?
'I've thought a lot about the anniversary this year.? The election-year
rhetoric has made me think a lot about? Cuba?and what transpired there.? In the
late 1950s, most Cubans thought? Cuba?needed a change, and they were right.?
So when a young leader came along, every Cuban was at least receptive.?
'When the young leader spoke eloquently and passionately and denounced the old system, the press fell in love with him.? They never questioned who his
friends were or what he really believed in.? When he said he would help the
farmers and the poor and bring free medical care and education to all, everyone
followed.? When he said he would bring justice and equality to all, everyone said,
'Praise the Lord.' And when the young leader said, 'I will be for change and
I'll bring you change,' everyone yelled, 'Viva Fidel!'?
'But nobody asked about the change, so by the time the executioner's
guns went silent, the people's guns had been taken away.? By the time everyone was equal, they were equally poor, hungry, and oppressed.? By the time everyone received their free education, it was worth nothing. By the time the press noticed, it was too late, because they were now working for him.? By the time the change was finally implemented,? Cuba ?had been knocked down a couple of notches to Third-World status.? By the time the change was over, more than a million people had taken to boats, rafts, and inner tubes.? You can call those who made it ashore anywhere else in the world the most fortunate Cubans.? And now I'm back to the beginning of my story.?
'Luckily, we would never fall in? America?for a young leader who promised change without asking, what change?? How will you carry it out?? What will it cost? America ?? 'Would we?'?
Manuel Alvarez, Jr.
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