Crossposting... Beware Men Who Preach Change

[TGO David]

Crossposting this from elsewhere...

Beware Charismatic Men Who Preach 'Change'

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

or 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.

Sandy Hook.

[G27]

Sobering...

[Guest canynracer]

Wow...good read...Thanks!!

[Guest superslacker]

Amen.

[Magiccarpetrides]

Great post.....sobering read...

[memphismason]

Bravo!!!

Why have we never stuck our noses in Cuba's business and set them straight?????

Oh I know, Cuban cigars are not worth what oil is......Duh! How stupid of me.

Edited July 22, 2008 by memphismason

[BrasilNuts]

... there are no words...

[Volzfan]

If only the people that needed to read that WOULD! I am not convinced that they would be able to see what the real message in that is. They are drinking the

[Guest abailey362]

any way to get that read on CNN?

[skipsfirearms]

I wish...

[Paletiger13]

.......it would not be so important. It moved me, look where we are at now. Thanks for the eye opening read.

[molonlabetn]

Sooo... the rhetorical question is, what should/could have been done about 'Castro', to prevent the outcome in 'Cuba'?

[fizik]

Sooo... the rhetorical question is, what should/could have been done about 'Castro', to prevent the outcome in 'Cuba'?

nice point. unfortunately i'm not old enough to remember anything of it, and whatever research i've done on revolutionary cuba is limited. someone should have an idea here.

anyway, i should email that to my friends who support obama. i think they're intelligent enough too see the meaning if they're not blinded by rhetoric. besides, it isn't saying 'don't vote for him', which would 'offend' them. it's just saying, 'be aware of what this will really change.' i think they could grasp that.

[Guest abailey362]

Sooo... the rhetorical question is, what should/could have been done about 'Castro', to prevent the outcome in 'Cuba'?

well, when the new change-riden government was going around taking weapons, the citizens should have taken up arms. The question is will we do what is right if a situation like this ever comes about?

I try and obey every law that my country sets forth for me, but history has made great men of those who can see when laws are in favor of the lawmaker, and not the citizens that they affect.

[Paletiger13]

Very well spoken abailey