Change?

[HBarlow]

Received in an e-mail, veracity unknown.

"An editorial to the "Richmond Times Dispatch by Manual Alvarez, Jr."

"Each year I get to celebrate Independence Day twice. On June 30th I celebrate my Independence Day and on July 4th I celebrate America's Independence.

This year is very special to me because I get to celebrate my 40th year of 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 that Cuba needed a change and they were so 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 for all, everyone said, "praise the Lord." And when the young leader said, I will be for change and I will bring you change", everyone yelled, "viva Fidel."

But nobody asked about the change. So by the time the executioners 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 working for him.

By the time the change was finally implemented, Cuba had been knocked down to a 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 to anywhere else in the world the most fortunate Cubans.

And now I'm back to the beginning of my story, I hope you will pay attention.

Luckily, we in America would never fall for the rhetoric of a young, charismatic leader who promised change, at least not before we asked what change, how it would be carried out, and what it would cost America.

We wouldn't, would we?"