Saturday, July 26, 2008

A Cuban Writes about Change --Obama Another Fidel?

: Letter to the Editor from a Cuban . . .
> From Richmond Times-Dispatch, Monday, July 7, 2008 ~
>
>
> Dear 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, Jr.
> Sandy Hook






"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible

6 comments:

Eli the Betta said...

Have you heard Ludacris' new disgraceful rap song about Obama? I bet he's one of his speech writers.

Rob R said...

I have. Evidently, Obama has condemned the lyrics. That was prudent of him.

steve said...

What if I were to write a disgraceful rap song about yankee doodle called "The KKK will save us from the Race of Cain"?

I just loves me some guilt by association!

But digressing:

There's a great song by the hardcore punk band black flag called "White Minority".

Were gonna be a white minority
We wont listen to the majority
Were gonna feel inferiority
Were gonna be white minority

White pride
Youre an american
Im gonna hide
Anywhere I can

Gonna be a white minority
We dont believe theres a possibility
Well you just wait and see
Were gonna be white minority

White pride
Youre an american
White pride
Anywhere I can?

Gonna be a white minority
Theres gonna be large cavity
Within my new territory
Were all gonna die

Henry Rollins, the singer for Black Flag regularly makes USO trips to Iraq and Afghanistan and has spoken out for Human rights.

Rob R said...

Steve, the insinuation of racism of yankee doodle are baseless cheap shots and they are not welcome at this forum.

But I'm sure when you release your song about the KKK saving us from the race of kane, it will be all the rage amongst the skin head teenagers, and yet delicious vengence against their parents getting their kids to enjoy a style of music that has origins largely from a minority population that they don't advocate. Then you will have a stroke over the delemma of whether to enjoy your new found celebrity amongst small minded people or to delight yourself in undermining the white old timey aesthetic of the skin head family. You don't believe me now, but once your target audience goes nuts over your latest lyrics, you'll be going to all the white power carnies and parades wearing heavy gold chains and grills shouting "yo, what's up my peeps!"

At any rate, you can take your weirdly racist lyrics from Mister Rollins elseshwere. It's no wonder the skinheads aren't what they used to be now that they can't decide whether they want to have white pride or inferiority.

steve said...

Rollins is being sarcastic against "White Pride". He's saying that eventually caucasions are going to be a minority, so the time is now to make a choice and either be accepting of the inevitable and work toward a harmonious society.. Or coninute down the road of hate and separation. I admit the lyrics are vague but I think they are vague because Rollins, at the time, wasn't optimistic that white folks can overcome predispositions toward knee jerk racism and embrace multiculturalism. The evidence is everywhere that this is somewhat still the case. Read the plaque on the statue of liberty.. "give me your tired, poor... blah blah blah.. then apply the American idea engraved on the plaque to our reaction to Hispanic immigrants. So Rollins is saying that multiculturalism isn't going to happen so he's running to the hills.. metaphorically..

But this song was written 20 something years ago and I do believe that multiculturalism and harmonious coexistance will be the norm. I have a pretty good feel that Obama is going to win the Presidency. That is an earth shattering occurance. It means that Rollins was wrong, that white America has come a long way in a very short amount of time to embracing multiculturalism and the multiracial disposition of our society.

I don't think Yankee is racist, but he comes off sometimes in an over the top fashion that sort of implies racial motivations for the things he says, so I react in an over the top fashion myself. Read between the lines of what he's implying. Ludicris is a black rapper who pens objectionable songs.. Obama is a black candidate for president.. since they are both black, that is their association.. therefore Ludicris and Obama share the same outlook making Ludicris Obama's speech writer. How does that not have racial undertones? If he had just stated his displeasure with Ludicris's song, and not made the association with Obama.. then OK. But he's making this unfounded association strictly based on skin color (the only association between Ludicris and Obama). So I'm making a similar association. I'm white, yankee's white, I'll pen a racist ditty making myself a racist, because yankee's white he must be a racist as well...

OK, sorry, sometimes I get a little carried away with the satire.

Rob R said...

Rollins is being sarcastic against "White Pride".

yes I know. I was just giving you a hard time. ;>

Read between the lines of what he's implying... since they are both black, that is their association.

I can't read yankee's brain, but I really don't see the wisdom in going for the worst possible interpretation of his comment when that also includes a little mind reading. Yes, Obama and ludacris are black and have that association. But Obama and ludicris are also associated by a goal, to see Obama elected president. That's really the only association you need here to understand Yankee's comment. Ludicris' lyrics can potentially reflect poorly on Obama supporters and are not good for the Obama campaign. But of course, it doesn't necessarily reflect anything bad about Obama since Obama doesn't actually control ludicris and although, sometimes these things are best ignored, Obama's statements about the rap were in fact wise.