Change!!!

[cfell]

From Richmond Times-Dispatch, Monday, July 7, 2008 ~

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

[Moot]

Wow. Has this been documented? Is this a true account from a real individual? Its powerful indeed, but I'm just a tad suspicious regarding authenticity.

[cfell]

Moot.. dunno.. it was published in the "Richmond Times-Dispatch"... that's where I copied it from.

Here's Snopes' view:
http://www.snopes.com/politics/soapbox/castro.asp

I personally know people who have escaped that island hell...

Where will we go? Who will open the door for us?

[jayjacobson]

....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?...
Great story, Channing! The answer to the question is: OF COURSE WE F'G WOULD!

Hell, 78 degree thermostats, run away inflation, 18% interest rates and FAILING to deal with terrorists: who says that was so bad!

BUT, I digress. The writer is missing the whole point of "the change." Finally, we will all be equal! It's so unfair that one person be any richer, or better looking, or smarter, or have any better medical care, etc., etc, than anybody else. As long as we are all equal, what else matters? :eek:
Wow. Has this been documented? Is this a true account from a real individual? Its powerful indeed, but I'm just a tad suspicious regarding authenticity.
As well you should be! I'm a little suspicious of all that Hitler nonsense also. After all, none of us where actually there, right? :confused:

[Moot]

Thanks for the Snopes link. If Snopes can not challenge the authenticity, that's a fairly strong recommendation. I wanted to send the letter to several folks and thought I'd try to verify it first. Unfortunatly, as with most such messages, only those who are already believers will get the point. BTW (but still on point) things are heating up here in Denver in anticipation of the nomination of BHO.

[Moot]

Ok, I did a bit of further checking. The letter is real and the RTD requires a return address and checks the identity of the author of letters such as this before they post them. There is a blog on it.

http://barticles.mytimesdispatch.com/index.php/barticles/comments/welcome_to_cyberspace/

[cfell]

Ok, I did a bit of further checking. The letter is real and the RTD requires a return address and checks the identity of the author of letters such as this before they post them. There is a blog on it.

http://barticles.mytimesdispatch.com/index.php/barticles/comments/welcome_to_cyberspace/


Whew! My reputation is still worthless!!!! Yes!

I forwarded this to my Pop. He took it to one of our friends back in Morgan City who was a Physician in Kuba... and he verified that is probably a "good" letter. Of course, our friend, seeing the Execution Squad drag his Mother and Father into the street in broad daylight and shoot them while making the kids watch was just his imagination.... I dare anyone to tell that to his face.


Thanks, Moot! hope ya have a great weekend.

[cfell]

BTW... this was an interesting post in that link, Moot....

"We know that Castro was and is a hard core Communist but you have got to start somewhere?

“The American people will never knowingly adopt socialism but under the name of LIBERIALISM they will adopt every fragment of the socialist program until one day America will be a socialistic nation without ever knowing how it happened.”

NORMAN THOMAS-AMERICAN SOCIALIST "

You think Catholic School was bad.. wait...

[Moot]

“The American people will never knowingly adopt socialism but under the name of LIBERIALISM they will adopt every fragment of the socialist program until one day America will be a socialistic nation without ever knowing how it happened.”

NORMAN THOMAS-AMERICAN SOCIALIST "

This is exactly the quote I honed in on when reading the RTD blog. I've never heard it said better.

[jayjacobson]

....“The American people will never knowingly adopt socialism but under the name of LIBERIALISM they will adopt every fragment of the socialist program until one day America will be a socialistic nation without ever knowing how it happened.....” You think Catholic School was bad.. wait...
Well Channing it's tough having to make all those choices and ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY for ALL OF THEM! Isn't it much easier to let someone else run YOUR LIFE for you? No choices--no responsibility. Also, this just in: the sun will be raising in the morning!

A Catholic education puts a big government socialist education to shame. I mean, other than those knee rides! :eek: :D

[grifscoots]

I personally know people who have escaped that island hell...

Where will we go? Who will open the door for us?Why Texas will secede from the Union. We won't have to go anywhere, they can try to come and get us.