The following appeared in the Times-Dispatch on Monday, July 7th, Richmond, Va. (Snopes Verified)
"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 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?
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?
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