Here's a "Nov. 6, 1940, letter to President Franklin D. Roosevelt from a 14-year-old admirer in Oriente Province, Cuba. In slightly fractured English, the author makes a simple request."
"If you like, give me a ten dollars bill green american . . . because never I have not seen a ten dollars bill green american and I would like to have one of them. . . . Thank you very much. Good by. Your friend. Fidel Castro."
Perhaps if FDR had actually sent that kid a sawbuck, the past 40 years would have been completely different for so many.
The letter goes on to say:
My Address is:
Sr. Fidel castro
Colegio de Dolores
Santiago de Cuba
Oriente, Cuba
I dont know very English but I know very much Spanish and I suppose you don't know very Spanish but you know very English because you are American but I am not American...
If you want iron to make your ships I will show to you the bigest(sic) (minas) of iron of the land. They are in Mayari, Oriente, Cuba.
Courtesy of U.S News and World Report
Posted by Val Prieto at September 25, 2003 11:21 AM
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Tracked on September 27, 2003 06:59 AM
Unbelievable! I think you're right, FDR should've sent him the cash.
Posted by: Sgt Hook at September 25, 2003 09:39 PM
Fancy that. 63 years and he hasn't changed. Or progressed.
Soon, he will take to his bed for the last time. He's close enough now to know what is coming cannot be cheated the way humans and humans systems can. But it's only right at the end that he'll know what a waste it all was.
Posted by: Stephen at September 26, 2003 06:03 PM
Stephen,
From your lips to God's ears.
Posted by: Val at September 26, 2003 08:08 PM
Wow, the hallmark of a true government leader so young. That is a jewel.
Posted by: Dawn at September 26, 2003 08:49 PM
If FDR had sent that little brat the ten bucks, Castro just would have been able to finance his rise to power that much sooner.
Posted by: Watcher at September 26, 2003 09:02 PM