Ronald Reagan, E.P.D.

Posted at the Command Post OpEd section:

I'm sitting here at the office surfing the web, checking various Cuba related sites as I do so often when I come across something that just completely nails me. Something that at the same time wrenches my stomach and pains my heart and touches my very core. I'm angry and sad and frustrated and hopeless and detached and proud and hopeful and brave all at the same time.

Last month, it seemed as if all of America mourned the loss of President Ronald Reagan. This country paid its solemn respects to a great man. Condolences accompanied tears for the one man many believe brought about the end of communism in Europe. Ceremonies, rites, flowers, salutes, services and prayers... it was an all encompassing display of admiration for our former President.

The whole world paid its respects. Letters of sympathy were written, world leaders flew in, speeches were read aloud and solidarity with the Reagan family was shown through visits and attendance to ceremonies and church services from people all over the globe.

Some countries and world leaders weren't as sympathetic at the former President's passing. Cuba's remarks were: "He, who never should have been born, has died." This statement makes today's find on the net all that much more important.

This is a link to a letter of condolence for the Reagan family (pdf format) from Cuba. It has no fancy letterhead or graphics, no official government seals. It is made up of a cover page, one page of text, and six pages of signatures.

The letter is from the "Biblioteca Independiente Jesus Yanez Pelletier", one of Cuba's few remaining independent libraries. These "independent" libraries are nothing like the libraries we are accustomed to here in the U.S.. They consist usually of a small collection of banned books and are run out of private homes. There are no computers, no internet access, no card catalogues, no Dewey decimal system, just a few well worn and probably tattered books.

That's one of the reasons this letter is all the more endearing. It comes from a place where there is a lack of everything. From a country so entrenched in the backward ideology that is communism that not even an old Smith Corona could be mustered to offer a typed letter to one of the world's most revered leaders.

Here's the text of the letter, roughly translated:

Cover page:

Independent Library Jesus Yanez Pelletier Silvio Herrera Nuñez, Director carme #324 & Esperanza Y Vives La Habana Vieja, Havana

Condolences at the death of former President Ronald Reagan

R.I.P.

Text, page two:

I heard a voice from heaven say, "Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on." "Yes," said the Spirit, "let them find rest from their labors, for their works accompany them." Apocalypse 14:13

We the undersigned would like to offer our most deepest sympathies to the widow, and family members of former President Ronald Reagan, and to the people of the United States, on the passing of this eminent man. To whom we are thankful for the disappearance of communism in all of Europe and for the democratization of all of those countries who lived under its misfortune.

We men and women who are lovers of liberty; representatives of political parties; independent libraries; religious authorities; members of civil and humanitarian organizations and family to political prisoners and prisoners of conscience, raise our eyes to God and offer our prayers for the eternal peace of Mr. Ronald Reagan, and we ask God to keep him near and shine on him His eternal light.

The just shall be in everlasting remembrance; he shall not fear the evil hearing.
Ps. 127. 3

It took over a month to clandestinely collect the 109 signatures found on this letter and then smuggle it out of Cuba to the US. These one-hundred nine men and women signed their name to this letter at great risk to themselves and their families. There must have been many whispered conversations, secret meetings and back channel communications. This hand written, smuggled note of respect, admiration and condolences for a former President of the United States could very well get each and every one of these people encarcerated, tortured, starved and even killed.

In Cuba, people are persecuted for much much less.

Posted by Val Prieto at July 16, 2004 09:41 AM

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Comments

Posted by: WB at July 16, 2004 05:52 PM

Posted by: your brother in the law at July 17, 2004 06:12 AM

Posted by: pbird at July 17, 2004 08:41 PM

Posted by: Denita TwoDragons at July 18, 2004 02:33 PM

Posted by: digit at July 18, 2004 09:09 PM

Posted by: michele at July 19, 2004 12:15 PM