A co-worker copied me on an email today. They know my politics and enjoy goading me. At first I thought I would answer by saying I had suspend my political views until the bailout was completed but I truly do want to save my country. So I started writing...
This what was the email I received. Maybe you have seen it, too. For some reason I just could not let it go. My response is after...
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 Americas. 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.
My response...
I take my politics very seriously...maybe too much so. I grew up in a household with a German Republican dad and a mom who was a fightin' Irish Catholic Democrat. Needless to say we had some very lively debates around our kitchen table with all nine of us. My parents both went through the depression, my dad fought in WWII, my mother's family was persecuted by Cromwell's orange policies and emigrated to the US. I've lived through the Red scare, bomb shelters, Bay of Pigs, Birmingham, Vietnam, JKF, RFK and MLK and lately Iraq and Katrina. All of these events shaped my life and outlook and continue to push me to ask "why and how". It's probably why I ended up in market research.
I know that politics raises passions. We should be passionate about our country and about our role in the government because we the people ARE the government. I also know that people like to use fear to divide us. Especially fear of the "other" ...of the lesser known. But America's promise should be about our strength that we find together--what unites us--what we can be if we stop looking at what separates us and focus on what this country can and should be at its best. Not class systems or birthrights but all created and treated equally and looking out for each other. When we look at Katrina what should make us angry is that we let this happen to our fellow American citizens. We left them to die. We shot them on the bridge. That is not who we are. We take care of each other. We put people first--not business or corporations or stockholders--but people. This I believe.
Now I don't profess to know the dynamics of what all happened in Cuba...or Germany for that matter under Hitler or Cambodia, or North Korea or any other country with an "evil dictator" but to compare Barack Obama to Fidel Castro just shows me how fear has clouded our thought process. John McCain fought for our country and suffered five years as a POW because he believed in America's promise to its people. I do not doubt for a moment that he is a patriot. I would not even think to raise the question that he would put himself, his party or his politics before the good of our country.
If you follow a candidate blindly then shame on you! If you vote without knowing the issues--shame on you! If you do not vote--shame on you! If you do not take the time to get the information you need, then shame on YOU because both candidates have put their issues and beliefs out in plain view. There is no excuse for not knowing where these candidates stand on the issues as they have both been clear. The political parties published their platforms--read them Each party held a convention--review them. Each candidate has a comprehensive website--read both. There are multiple forums to ask questions--so ask. There are three debates--watch them. You should be perfectly clear about what each of these candidates will do and where they stand and where you stand as well.
I know why I support Barack Obama and why I am a Democrat. If you think for one moment that I, and the millions of other supporters, have not done our due diligence then I think that says more about you and your fears then it does about me,