Change

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 ?
"C H A N G E" Would we?


Manuel Alvarez, Jr. Sandy Hook