In response to Rob O’neils photo of Raul Castro in Sundays, Dec, 28th of 08 edition of the key west citizen.
 
As it was once said a picture is worth a thousand words.
 
Rob’s photo inspires me to pen a few.
 
Firstly, when do you suppose the seemingly never ending treatise on the demonising of the sovereign Island nation of Cuba will cease?
 
The way I perceive it Mr. O’Neil is promoting better relations between our seperate nations, or at least between Key West and Cuba.
 
I feel a common perception of Cuba that is shared by many is that it is surrounded by barbed wire fences and machine gun nests with emaciated people standing in the background.
 
This is simply not so, well I could not find it, suffice, I did find children in clean clothing playing marbles at the base of a tree in a schoolyard.
 
Secondly: I have serious doubts eleven million supporters of the Revolution, whos primary slogan is Socialismo O Muerte ( socialism or death) would be willing to hand over there rich in family and culture values, albeit it with meager wordly possesions, to us or anybody in the future, paticularly for a six dollar  an hour job at a Holiday Inn , somewhere in Americas frozen heartland.
 
Thirdly: It has been my experience in the few times ive visited their nation, of having been treated with great respect and meeting with a peoples of pride and dignity, yes, even the man in the photo.
 
Fourth: Cuban born elected officials in Miami weild a powerfull propiganda machine to wich they hold shiney keys handed to to them , that were made in America.
 
They look across the Gulf stream with $ dollar signs for pupils in there eyes.
 
Cuba makes for an interesting observation platform from wich we see although not perfectly, we see what has been accomplished in its 50 year independence project.
Low crime rate, abscence of crack monkies , medical care for all, go to college, ride a bus, free parks and beachs, ride a train, no homeless, yes life there is frugal, product scarcity etc…
 
When I asked the raven haired Cubana seated next to me her reply: “we have what we need, we dance we sing, we drink rum and go swimming at the river”
 
So in closing Id like to give my nose ring away, and say I choose not to follow, but choose to think for myself, and I send thanks for my right to freedom of speech, and in the spirit of learning and not of hatred.

This photo is controversial for some people, maybe even all people

Youlanda’s Rebuttal

A yet to be published response to Yolanda.

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Dear Editor,

In response to Yolanda Maloneys letter Cubans are still fleeing from Castro’s paradise. In our thought melding process I am wanting to remark on a couple of points you were making.

You remark ” here we are before a dictatorship thats been going on for 50 years with hundreds of political prisoners and executions under its belt. May I remind you of a few all American as apple pie counter points?

Do you remember Kent state? or Waco? or Ruby ridge? Our prisons are overflowing and how many lethal injections are conducted annually? By our Christian loving country.

Your insinuation that the raven haired Cubana seated next to me was a Jinetera may or may not have been true, I don’t know, she was not for me, although she was lovely.

I am glad you have a happy relationship with your dog, and do see the parallel you were drawing, about being led around by a leash,  however I am not totally convinced that the picture you paint with words is the reality, for what I  am assuming are some of your distant relatives.

I guess what truly is the million dollar question, what are the true sentiments of the eleven million people in Cuba? I don’t know.

If I am to believe you, all Cuban nationals would cast the revolution into the trash, and flood here given the opportunity. Me I am not so sure, as I am not impressed with Sam’s Club. Thank you for sharing your thoughts as they are valued.

It will be interesting to see as you say if given a choice what  the people of Cuba would rather be doing, especially if they know the streets here are not paved in gold, and that money not family values, serve  the majority as lord and master, so bienvenidos, and heres to  hope to meeting with resolve.
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Less personal version
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Dear editor and readers,

I am wanting to know what the true sentiments of the majority of the eleven million Cubans living in that island nation are? I suspect that is the million dollar question. I have heard it said that they live before a dictatorship for the last fifty years that has been harboring political prisoners and commited executions.

I am reminded of a few all American as apple pie counterpoints.

Does anybody remember Kent State? Waco? or Ruby Ridge? Interesting how our prisons are overflowing and how many lethal injections are performed anually, by our loving christian nation?

Am I to believe that given the opportunity, that all Cuban Nationals would throw the revolution into the trash can and flood here to the U.S.

Is Cuba’s fifty year social experiment meaningless and fruitless?

I am not personally impressed with Sam’s club, and wonder if the people living in Cuba knew that the streets here are not actually paved in gold, and money not morales and family values, that function as dictator, lord and master, and how many here are tethered with an invisible dog leash a lifetime of economic slavery in fifty year mortgages, struggling to make ends meet, little free time etc…

all this while pursuing the proverbial carrot, would they still be anxious to come here? If indeed the majority of Cuban nationals are even wanting to come here at all?

Well, at any rate BIENVIENIDOS to those souls that trickle across as the south winds blow,
in pursuit of a dream ? or a fallacy?

Thank you for sharing your thoughts and perspectives, as they meld with mine, they are valued and in hopes to meeting with resolve and keeping our existing liberties as Americans in tact, like freedom to travel where we choose and when we choose,

Such as Cuba.

As published