"Once our eyes are opened, we cannot pretend we don't know what to do. God, who weighs our hearts and keeps our souls, knows that we know, and holds us responsible to act." Proverbs 24:12



“There are no strangers here; Only friends you haven’t yet met.”- William Butler Yeats





Friday, October 24, 2008

Would We?




A friend just sent me a letter that was sent to the Editor of the Richmond Times-Dispatch on July 7, 2008. I know many of you know that I am Cuban and still have lots of family there. (You can click HERE to read about my trip there in 1997). I digress.

In relation to this letter, just last week I had this same exact conversation with my father, who is now 68 years old. As a young man, he lived the transition of a country being moved from false dreams into what quickly became a despairing communist regime. With a sad tremble in his voice, he shared with me how, with these elections, he is reliving Castro's reign into power back in the 50's. This sentiment is shared by thousands of Cubans who fought against the revolution and are now living in exile.

These elections downright fill my heart with fear, especially for my children, two of whom have been already been blessed to escape a communist country once.

I pray daily that our Lord please spare this great country from what has happened to so many innocent people who now live with shattered dreams stolen by communism.

If you're not familiar with communism and you're thinking this could never happen in the United States, please think again. Cubans in 1958 had the same exact thoughts.



A volunteer worker answering phones with a picture of Che Guevara (Castro's idol and mentor) and the American flag in the background.



Here's the letter:

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. They never demanded answers. 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.

Here's the description of the word communism as described by Merriam-Webster dictionary:

COMMUNISM - A system of government in which the state plans and controls the economy and a single, often authoritarian party holds power, claiming to make progress toward a higher social order in which all goods are equally shared by the people.

12 comments :

Lisa said...

I stopped by your blog I love it! I have 4 children the picture of your daughter? reminds me of my 13th year old (on the phone)...lol
I discouraged voting for obama on my blog and deleted everything because I was cyber bullied. I am praying so hard in Jesus name we bind all his votes. We cannot afford this man for president, oh Jesus be merciful to us there are so many ignorant people out there who will justify him winning for the most stupidest reason, I have to put the whole thing in the Lord's Hands because I am scared for this nation. Nice to have met you.

Lisa said...

PS, My husband is named Tito and I have a son AJ.....lol

Mom Of Many said...

Awesome letter to the editor by your friend! (We used to pastor in the Richmond area.)

Last night Senator McCain and his wife Cindy were in our little city for a rally. It was awesome! I will be posting on my blog about it later today, but here and now, let me just say, Senator McCain's sincerity and transparency was so apparent. Although Dw and I have already committed to fasting for his election, we left committed to doing anything to help - even more!! Too much is at stake!

Thank you for, once again, being a beacon of light in blogland! You rock!

Katie@ThisCrazyLife said...

What an amazing post! It scares me to think that this is what our future might hold. I also read you psot about your visit to Cuba. What an amazing and yet heart wrenching experience that had to have been. My MIL is from Peru and though I have never been, my husband has gone back with her many times. True the conditions are noe like those in Cuba, but it is very different from the US. I dream of taking our childeren there one day to show them their heritage and teaching them about where they come from.

Terynn said...

Hope you don't mind, but I have reproduced the letter this gentleman wrote onto my blog. It is important that people "Wake Up!".

Also, I thanked you, linked you and added you to my blogroll (which I should have done ions ago, since I've lurked around forever!). lol

Happy weekend!

Val said...

It's so amazing to me to see how it's started already. One guy happened to be in his own front yard, and asked the "wrong" questions to The One. And now Joe the Plumber's entire background has been gone through via gov't computers!! Where are the outcries from FISA proponents and the ACLU? ::crickets:: It sends shivers up my spine to see history repeated--and nobody cares. I've never seen such manifestations of blind obedience: the Obama Youth choirs, no hints of curiosity about his alliances, no attempts to find missing pieces of his background. And Biden the Gaffer...well it's only going to be funny until he's the real VP.

Ok, I'm done taking over your comments section. ;o) I found you though Teri, and I'm definitely bookmarking you! Blessings...

Tammy said...

Ohlida,

I too am scared to death of what will happen to this country if Obama is elected. It literally makes me sick to my stomach.


Praying for our country.........

Jewels of My Heart said...

Thank you for being a voice of truth in the darkness... what a blessing you are... May I please copy and paste or link some of your posts to my blog.... you are so elequently speaking the cries of my heart for our unborn children, for our freedom, for the truth of God All Mighty and for the future of our children....

2China4Ayla said...

O. I too cannot understand or fathom how people do not see or grasp the ideals in Obama's plans. It is communist....socialist if nothing more. It is NOT hard to see, and it is scary. Big government, little people....not what I want for my country and my children...not a bright future! Thank you for posting this, thanks for being you! love you! Smart to approve all messages too!

Doug and Terrye said...

"By the time everyone was equal, they were equally poor, hungry, and oppressed"
All, except the big guys running the country!

Thank you for your bravery to post this important message, and take a stand. I am behind you 100% sister!

Terrye in FL

Unknown said...

Ohilda,

Thank you so much for being honest and trying to educate us about the choices in the up coming elections. I am with you girlfriend!!! Keep up the good work...

Novemeber 4th is a very big day in our house in many ways not only is it the day where our country faces the biggest decision ever, it is also the day that my oldest son turns 16 and is getting his drivers permit. This is such a grey hair inducing day that I to am going to have to make an emergency appointment with my hairdresser.

We love you!!!

Tracey

RamblingMother said...

Thanks for posting this!! keep going- 200%

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