Amen.

Yep. And we better realize, once and for all, that we have no one to depend on, except ourselves. Therefore, let us think and act accordingly. Take a page - or two - from the Israelis.

As for the congressmen involved in dealmaking with Cuba's bloodsucker, let's just say the bloodsucker is not the only political prostitute around - it's just kindred spirits gettin' together.

Amen is right, the world is happily whores itself for fidel. How many signatures are on that fucking petition to free those five murderers/spies? There will be a day of reckoning.

I'm not surprized at all. Nobody ever gives a shit what happens to the Cuban people. That is why c-ass-tro is still in power. And then after he dies and people of good will take Cuba back and turn it into the Pearl of the Antilles once again, then all the assholes that didn't lift a finger to help the Cuban people will be saying, "I didn't know it was that bad, gee I'm sorry." Well guess what, I would like to respond to all the Johnny-come-latelys, that will inevitably show of apologizing after the monster is dead. Fuck you.

That reason why? United State Government don't give a fuck is because they were "CUBAN-AMERICAN" not white Americans that's why they fuckin dragged their fuckin feets for 1o fuckin years...

When we say that "nobody gives a shit about Cubans," we should remember that that especially includes the current administration. Lots of pretty words; lots of fancy dinners and invites to the White House for bigwig Cuban-Americans; lots of righteous indignation; lots of fists smacking on the podium. But no action; no real attention to the problem - nada. That's what it is - lots of NADA.

We ARE on our own. NO administration is ever going to do anything of real value for Cuba. Not even when Castro dies.

I especially despise those that are trying to "free the five", yet say nothing about the victims.

Val, you really hit our spot today...

I am on an exceptionally short fucking fuse today.

Mujer Maravillosa,

While this administration isnt free from criticism, do remember that it was FUCKING BILL FUCKING CLINTON who let himself get fucked up the ass by fidel castro and took us along with him for the fucking ride. As I recall, there was lots and lots of fists pounding back then.

Criticize Bush all you want, but give credit where credit is due.

Oh for sure. I blame Clinton, too. Like I said, NO administration really cares or will ever really help. In the end, they will all fuck us in the ass!

Where's the media?
They are working on finding abuses at Club Gitmo.

Meanwhile, how many Cubans on the island would love to be treated like the Taliban inside of Gitmo?
You won't hear this, because it does not fit the agenda of the media.
Americans have a culture of stupidity, and frankly the medias goal of convincing Americans that Communism is something you choose and actually is preferred over our current system.
If the media did not have this as the ultimate goal, Americans would know about Cuba and Castro would have been long gone

Al,

I dont know if Id go as far as saying that Americans have a culture of stupidity. Insulated is more like it. With a short attention span and a very, very short memory.

I sort of agree with Val on this. Right after 9/11, America was really gung-ho in the fight against terrorism. Now, the support is kind of lukewarm.
I guess we're really not considered that important in the global scale of things - especially as compared to Iraq and the middle east. Yet right under America's nose Castro has a history of hob-nobbing with Iran and all the other hoodlum states bent on ultimately destroying the only REAL bastion of freedom left.

I know people who like Max said, were gung ho on the war on terror and now they're lukewarm and why? All the stories in the media. I don't understand it but I swear so many people are of the mindset that if they see it on tv, mouthed by some anchor person they like, then it's gospel. I hate to say it but they're like sheep herding back and forth in response to whatever the useful idiot story of the day is.

The empty suits reading que cards provided for them.
Typical reporter has gone thru years of Marxist indoctrination at some of America's finest universities.

What makes "News" these days? What makes it and what doesn't? These Marxists in the media practice self censorship in regards to Cuba.
The political left in this country would have no purpose if the "Ideal" place of Cuba did not exist.
You'll hear more of the Hollywood idiots crying to change the economics of the country on the next hard recession.

I agree with the short memory, that was the first thing my spouse noticed about the american culture, like Max says. I don't know if it is stupidity, insulated, or plain "no hay peor ciego que el que no quiere ver". It reminds me of a C&F cartoon were Iran's president has his eyes closed saying "it didn't happen" over and over, as to his right arms show up tatooed with the different concentration camps.

People don't want to see, because seeing means having to acknoledge, and having to acknowledge means taking responsibility. And people just don't want that burden.

It is really sad that the struggle for liberty is nowadays less important than Beckham's latest hairdo.

I thought you all might find this archive of this incident interesting.

http://www.hartford-hwp.com/archives/43b/044.html

Goes to show that the right still cant stand up to the left in this country.

Its time for a change and WE need to make it happen. We need Bay of Pigs II done the right way!

Dittos, Val -- we all agree, but calm down ... we can't afford to have you with a stroke.

Let's see .... we have the '60's media ruling the roost, leftist educators who have braiwashed a generation here and abroad, the usual Latin American/anti-USA suspects with their genetic hatred for freedom, a lot of retread Commies who eat jamon en la Yuma while hanging Castro posters in their offices, the whole entrenched mafia of foreign investors who fleece the island with impunity, a bunch of cowardly quasi-leaders in the exile community que HABLA-BLA-BLA-BLAN Y NO HACEN NADA..... and, oh yes, there's no oil in Cuba.

So should we think we're going to get any support?

CP anything that hartford-hwp publishes is SOOOO to the left, that it's lying down.

Please don't cite those people here, specially not on a day like today. That site would probably give Fidel a medal for the shootdown.

Yeah, Val, drink a mojito and calm down. We need Babalu Blog, ok? Que no te de una sirimba.

I don't know enough to make a political commentary. I've been living under a rock for a long time. But I do want to share this:

When I was in academia world, getting a PhD in literature, there was this whole leftist side of literary theory that really poked me in the ribs. There were fellow colleagues discussing Cuba/Marxism/Deconstructionism/Blablablaism in the classroom as if it were the cold-blooded dissection of an earthworm in Biology 101 (which I also did, by the way). And I just wanted to say, "Academic snob-snot, your analysis is all fine and well, all opinions accepted, but it's one thing to read books and another thing to live history in the flesh."

(Reminds me of Simone de Beauvoirs WW2 memoir, The Blood of Others.)

While I was spared the direct exilio experience, in flesh and blood, my parents and siblings endured it and there is just something *not quite right* with the isolated, far-from-the-trenches academic analysis of the situation, which as a PhD candidate, I was supposed to accept and understand from a *disinterested* perspective.

Now, how is that possible?

So, by analogy, I feel the same way about the cover-up, sins of omission and the press, you know? I could never just sit there and read Marxist Literary Theory without twitching in my library chair. Yuck! But, at least I got a good sweeping profile of how far the ivory tower is isolated from the real world. And I wonder, is it not the same with the press?

I have Armenian friends whose relatives died in the genocide. They tell me, "Why doesn't anyone acknowledge this? Why doesn't anyone listen?" Insurance companies now denying claims for Armenians ... crazy stuff, mis hermanos. All swept under the rug. If there's any solace, our cause is at least not alone in the search for justice.

And my Jewish neighbor, a most darling 94-year old Holocaust survivor who has more spunk and joie de vivre than my spring-chicken-late-thirties self, she is also an example of survival.

I think Cubans fall into this category. Survival of the fittest. Determination of the misunderstood. No atrocity shall befall us that we can't surpass.

I consider myself one of the lucky ones. I was born in the aftermath. I have the comforts of not having a personal past in exile, just a product of it. But that doesn't make me any less unsympathetic and compassionate toward all human rights, even if Cuba is closer to my heart.

Tomorrow, after the memorial, after mourning, I shall also raise my cocktail in honor and celebration of those four brave men who died and reminded us of everything that a gringa-born like me might take for granted. I hope that everyone else shall do the same.

We are very fortunate to not be indifferent. Their memories live on.

M

Is this what it’s come to? Am I really reading this in Babalu blog?

“And we better realize, once and for all, that we have no one to depend on, except ourselves”

Sounds like an old Santana song

“Nobody ever gives a shit what happens to the Cuban people”

Right - that’s why America has welcomed 15% of Cuba's population and made it easier for Cubans than anyone else I can think of to reside here. I suggest you all read (or re-read pp. ix-x and pp. 176-177 in Umberto Fontova’s book. You’ll find that not everyone is in agreement with you.

“Fuck you”

You too.

“United State Government don't give a fuck is because they were "CUBAN-AMERICAN" not white Americans that's why they fuckin dragged their fuckin feets for 1o fuckin years”

Are you quoting Ray Nagin or Kanye West?

“In the end, they will all fuck us in the ass!”

No comment

“Americans have a culture of stupidity”

Who are the geniuses that elected the governments in Spain, Venezuela, Bolivia, Brazil….I don’t have to name them all; you get the picture.

“and, oh yes, there's no oil in Cuba”

There’s also no oil in Korea, Vietnam, Haiti, Bosnia, Kosovo, or Afghanistan either. But there is the blood of well over 100,000 Americans dead from fighting there.

In this country, people that we disagree with – even completely disagree with – can come to power by winning elections. That’s the way it’s done here. So if you’re going to blame Americans for something, expend the energy to place the blame on the people with whom it lies. But right now you’re all blaming “America” and “Americans”, and that means you’re blaming me. And that really, really pisses me off.

Does the secret pact between Khrushchev and Kennedy guaranteeing the non-invasion of Cuba after the missile crisis mean anything today? Once both left power did it hold over? I mean technically, besides the fact that nobody in thee US seems to care what really goes on in Cuba anymore and total apathy, is there anything stopping the US from going down there and kicking some commie butt?

Claudia

Hey Scott maybe you are too young to have voted for John F. Kennedy. But it was the American people that elected him. And indirectly, or directly , in my opinion, he and the people that elected him are responsible for the Bahia de Cochinos disaster. Pulling out at the last minute and stranding Cuban heros, men of action (that were actually doing something about c-ass-tro) after saying he would support them is an example of the kind of support we can expect. The immigration issue you bring up is a weak argument. (Wet foot - dry foot, what the fuck.)
Arguing among ourselves about nit picky tangents like, whose Cuba's best friend, is a waste of time and fruitless.The "ourselves" being Cubans, Cuban-Americans, and anybody else that believes in freedom. The kind of freedom that has been impossible in Cuba for so many years. We do not need to bully each other about c-ass-tro and his illegitemate regime. We need to recognize our differences of opinions while holding together a united front against the beast.

Scott, your points are correct and well taken. What you are witnessing here is a nuclear explosion of frustration. Don't take it personally. Every once in a while we cubiches vent our anger and we blame everyone. It's not personal, and it doesn't happen often. When it does, we explode. Today's anniversary is very painful for us. Nothing has been done about it. Even you have to admit that. Remember that we have lived through forty-eight years of this shit. Practically all of my life, and 100% of Val's.

So just give us a little room when you see these explosions and don't take it personally, a capito?

Scott,

I'm sure they didn't mean to generalize to all Americans, or had the intention of blaming all Americans. Although in my experience, most Americans I've met fit the above descriptions in regards to Cuba, I know they are a whole other set of well meaning, Cuba and Cuban loving, fight for freedom Americans - I've met those too.

I think George expressed it best, it's a lot of frustrations being vented here, for some (as old as George ;-)) it's been longer than others and it adds up. And today is a touchy day.

I'm sure all here agree in that we love this country we live in, and we are forever grateful for taking us (or our parents) in.

Scott,

George is correct. And I apologize for any offense. None was meant. This post was me venting sheer frustration.

I searched to the end of the internet for something - anything - on the Brothers to the Rescue anniversary and found nada. Nothing of consequence save for a few local media outlet pieces. Nary a blogger commented or posted on this or linked except for the ones you see in the post below. I was pretty desvastated. Today is a solemn day for me personally as I am sure for the rest of the community and I lost it.

I apologize on behalf of myself and the commenters whom I am sure realize that their emotions took over as well. You are the reason this blog exists. babalu isnt here to talk to Cubans, it's here to reach Americans like you that truly care. And forgive me for generalizing but on some days, it seems to me folks like you are the exception to the rule.

Scott,

Please allow me to join in with George and LV and say that this is a release of frustration and sadness. This is not a good day for those of us who experienced the pain and eventual disappointment.

The sad truth is, a lot of Americans really don't care. Here in Miami, where you would think Cuban-Americans would feel the most comfortable, there were people running around on February 25th, 1996 and justifying the shootdown of the planes because poor Cuba was "provoked" by 2 unarmed Cessnas. How do you think that made us feel?

I can't and won't speak for Val, but I'll go out on a limb and state that he's not talking about all Americans, just those that don't give a crap.
As a regular reader and contributor, you should know by now that this blog couldn't be more pro-American.

Scott, don't take it personally, you have shown that you do indeed care. Thanks.

Thanks, Ventanita. Thanks a lot. A new liver spot just popped up...

Victor - let's make something clear: JFK was elected by the people that VOTED for him (and I remember his administration very clearly) - and ONLY those who voted for him, but the comments on this post are blaming ALL of us (and since we're apparently hyphenating our nationalities now, I'll call myself an American-American). And I didn't bring up any imigration issues. The Cubans were refugees and we took them in by the hundreds of thousands. That's not a weak arguement that a shitload of Americans do care.

George - I've heard this stuff before about "we're so mad that we can't control ourselves", but I remember during the Elain Gonzales thing seeing Cubans holding American flags upside down. You all want Americans on your side, but how do you express it?

You're right, 10 years and nothing's been done about the shootdown of these guys. But when you point your fingers and blame America and Americans, you're also blaming all the people who would be very much in favor of a different set of policies.

How would you all feel if I said, "Cubans suck -- oh, but don't take it personally." A family from my home town lost a fortune in property confiscated by castro. But I'm not blaming "Cubans" - I know who to blame.

ahhh come on George, you can take a joke can't you?

I have a friend who says "when you're talking about Cuba, what/where and which Cuba are you talking about?"

It's a day for mourning. Actually, it's the whole weekend.

Bottom line, four people who could've had full lives, are freakin dead. They risked their lives, unknowingly, for the sake of others. What does opinion matter? We're all smugly alive to tell the tale and make their memories live on -- regardless of where we stand. (Personally, I'd never have the balls to go on such a mission.) Understand, honor and respect the dead who were doing something for humanity, please. No matter what side you're on, where you live, or what you believe in. Gringo, Cuban or otherwise. When it comes to human compassion, leave politics aside. This is a basic human courtesy. A cease-fire for mourning.

M

Scott, if any of my comments offended you, I too apologize. Making generalizations is never good. I have to wonder at one of your last comments,"The Cubans were refugees and we took them in by the hundreds of thousands. That's not a weak arguement that a shitload of Americans do care." I agree with that, there are a lot of Americans who care, myself and you included but I have heard, read and seen first hand a lot of prejudice against Cubans and suggest to you that the welcome the government extended was not always shared by US citizens. If there were a poll taken, I don't think we'd like the numbers. Just something to think about.

Scott, without turning this into a pissing contest and with all due respect, you're not getting it.

Who do we blame? We should, first and foremost, blame ourselves for putting the beast into power. But the US has had a sorry, pathetic history vis-a-vis Cuba and they bear a tremendous responsibility for what Cuba has become. I don't need to go into particulars because you know them as well as I. However, when you get pissed at us for getting pissed at you, you are forgetting all of the promises and all of lies and all of bullshit we have been fed since 1961 when JFK promised to plant the Brigade 2506 flag in a free Cuba.

We are still waiting to plant that flag.

You see why we get pissed? 45 years, dude. All we hear is lip-service and then, when four of our brothers are murdered in what can only be classified as a terrorist act bordering on an act of war, what do we get? A bit fat nothing. Ten years on, what do we get: a big fat nothing.

You can get mad at us all you want, but we have a right to be pissed. The US was involved with Cuba long before fidel and she owes us, at a minimum, the freedom that she indirectly took away from us because of conspiracy, ineptitude, and apathy.

George - don't tell me I'm not getting it. It wasn't ALL of us that are responsible for the conspiracy, ineptitude, and apathy. When you say "America" does this or "Americans" are responsible for that, you're pointing your fingers at all of us, not just the ones responsible. The 1960 election was a virtual tie, and when someone blames America for a JFK policy, they are also blaming the equal number of people who voted against JFK. The Kennedys are three generations of bumbling, no-talent boobs (no offense meant to boobs). Blame the Kennedy administration, and if you must, the people that voted for it, but not all of us. Blame the Clinton administration if it makes you feel better, but when you blame America, you're blaming all of us who wanted to see the Clinton administration respond much differently, just like you.

Getting angry at all of America does not help get that flag planted. Neither battles nor elections are won by getting angry and flailing around. They are won by identifying objectives and designing strategies to obtains those objectives - oh yeah, and enlisting allies.

Val said earlier that this blog is meant to reach people like me - Americans. But the earlier comments on this post have reinforced every stereotype that many Americans have of the Miami Cuban community.

So George - of course you have a right to be pissed, but when someone aims all their wrath at all of us - what are we supposed to think? Get mad at the ones who are responsible, not the ones who are on your side, man.

Scott,

I think plenty of folks here have gone out of their way to apologize and explain what they mean. You quoted me, too, yet I very clearly stated that no administration really cares and will fuck us in the ass. And I stand by that. The "American people" - which part of me proudly belongs to, may in the majority be well-meaning, understanding and supportive of our cause, but in my eyes, the American government - regardless of the party - does not in any real way give a shit about Cuba.

Scott, I don't want a fight with you. The truth, however, is the truth, regardless of how painful it is to you or to me.

All we CAs have left, after almost fifty years of disillusionment, is our righteous anger at what was done to Cuba, by our own and by your own. You and Ziva are in a unique class of Americans, Americans that give a shit about Cuba. However, as Ziva wrote above, you won't find many like you two, no matter how hard you try.

Explain to me why should I forgive and forget when Oscar Biscet languishes in 4x6 cell without a peep from the State Department? Why should I forgive and forget when three US citizens and one legal US resident are murdered with impugnity and nothing is done about it? May I remind you that this happened during an election year and Bubba was reelected. What does that say? Why I should forgive and forget when many states in this great Union are doing business with this murderer as though he were just another business client? Why I should forgive and forget when we, the single most productive group of immigrants this country has ever seen, were excoriated on a daily basis in the local and national media during the Elian crisis simply because we did not want the boy to go back to communism?

I am not aiming my wrath at you, Scott, but if you do not realize that America bears some responsibility for what has happened in Cuba then you are simply not being honest with yourself. A lot happens (or doesn't happen) under the radar, not just in elections. We begged forty years ago to be allowed the tools to free Cuba ourselves. The responsse: A tightening of the Neutrality Act and many Cuban patriots in jail who were willing to fight and die to free Cuba. Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan -- yes, even my hero Ronald Reagan -- Bush 41, Clinton, and now Bush 43 have done ABSOLUTELY NOTHING toward freeing Cuba. How do you think that makes us feel, Scott?

You seem to forget that I'm an American too. I'm a taxpaying, registered-to-vote, honest-to-goodness American -- who happens to have been born on that island. I care because it's the right thing to do. But if you scratch the surface, nobody really cares about a free Cuba.

And that has been our curse for almost a half-century.

Scott, and the rest of the babaluers,

Scott is mostly right...

First and foremost, America, with all its faults has been our best friend that took us in with open arms and allowed us and our children to live in freedom.
I am proud to say I am equally American and Cuban - and love both countries the same. America has truly been our best and ONLY significant friend, and we MUST remember that.
Ultimately it WAS us that was responsible for screwing up Cuba and believing some Caudillo and putting him in power.

Scott is right, blame Kennedy, and blame the lack of keeping promises on those in charge.

Its true that Kennedy's administration went so far as to deal with the Soviets by promising an invasion would not be launced from these shores.
But we can't blame America as a whole.

I shudder to think where we would be without this country.

Scott, most of us do not believe in holding the flag upside down, and I have contempt for those that do. I may be upset with a segment of the population that in reality is not in line with most of America. America is a conservative country, by and large.

The only thing I take issue with Scott is the way he generalized that Cubans habitually hold flags upside down and are anti-American.

Nothing could be farther from the truth. I too feel badly if someone such as you was offended.
Even the best of friends have arguments at times.

God bless America - even with all its ills and its leaderships failure to adhere to promises we all heard.

I was going to make a long comment, but George pretty much said what I wanted to say.

Scott - believe me when I say that NONE of the anger people are feeling today toward "America" is being directed at you personally. It is being directed at the people in power who represent us. Notice I said US. As George so succinctly put it, we are all Americans here, whether Cuban-Americans, Irish-Americans, Jewish-Americans, or Georgia-Americans. If we didn't feel American, we wouldn't bother with the second half of the hyphen and just call ourselves Cubans.

We must accept our leaders' share of the blame for the utter and complete failure that has been U.S.- Cuba relations. We have every right to complain about our leaders and their actions. Thank God that America allows us that right.

It's not individual Americans' fault, and we have made that point loud and clear.

How stunningly ironic that Cuban-Americans' patriotism is being questioned just because we are critical of our country's policies vis-a-vis Cuba. Kind of makes me feel like some liberals must feel when conservatives accuse them of being anti-American for questioning our presence in the Middle East.

I thought I'd never see the day when Cuban-Americans on this blog and anti-war liberals would share something politically in common.

George, I completely agree, finding someone who even wants to hear about Cuba is like beating a dead horse. I've written countless letters to publications. I think two were published and every single response I saw was in defense of the "myth" of Cuba. I talk to people all the time, ditto, blank faces staring back or oh that’s nice, or worse. I blame the media, and I blame the government, and I blame my fellow citizens who either don't give a shit, actively support castro, or who are too apathetic to take five minutes out of their life and send an email, which is the same as not giving a shit. Am I pissed? Yes, I have family from Cuba, I have friends from Cuba, and I have all that "Cuba" has given me. There was a “myth” of Cuba before castro took over and destroyed the country. Unlike castro’s tourist only version, it was real, no it wasn’t perfect, (look at the how the rest of the world was at that time in history, which is how you have to judge) but it shared with the world a culture that is so wonderful that fucking fidel is still cashing in on his fake theme park version of it after almost a half century, and it damn sure is worth doing whatever it takes to get rid of him. The majority of Americans don’t give a rat’s ass about Cuba or Cubans, that’s the unhappy truth. If some of my fellow country men don't like my saying it, tough shit.

Scott,

I fully understand where you are coming from and your reaction to some of these comments. Even if they are the result of anger ... there are no excuses to generalize and make assumptions. I'm glad to see the apologies.
I'm sorry!

There's a Texan proverb that comes to mind. "When you throw dirt, you lose ground."

It's interesting to see how at times, we don't realize that we become like those we often critize. We get very upset when we hear remarks, or generalizations relevant to our ethnicity, etc.; yet we don't hesitate to turn around and do the same. I refer to it as part of "the circle of life" ... it's done to us; and we deplore it,but it does not deter us from turning around and doing the same to others without regard. We forget to follow the "Golden Rule".

It's rather easy to play the "blaming game" which will not solve anything.

Before pointing fingers ... as a Cuban-American, what's quite disappointing to me is the existing apathy and indifference displayed by many fellow Cuban-Americans on these matters. It's unrealistic to expect others to become active and concerned about issues that may not be relevant to them (or perceived as such by them)... in one way or another we are all guilty of this ... Let's face it! ... this is all part of the "pragmatism" exercise in our lives ... we tend to react and get involved only when we or someone we know are directly or indirectly impacted in one way or another by the events or situations.

Let's remain focused in honoring the tragic death of these 4 brave Cubans by not forgetting why and how they died.
I wish you well/ Melek :)

Mujer Maravilla - I did say "no comment" to your comment. We could tone it down a little...

George - you should not forgive and forget!! I never suggested anything of the sort. You think that most Americans don't care about Cuba - but hell, man, most Americans never heard of Bosnia or Kosovo, and then most enthusiastically supported getting rid of Milosevic. You've gotta make your case - that's where NOT alienating your friends really helps. Bosnia and Kosovo had Bill Clinton marketing their cause - what more could you ask for? Castro has had American academia and much of the media marketing his cause - that's a huge thing to overcome, but it can be done. It's not that America doesn't care about Cuba - it's just that not enough have been told the whole story by someone influential enough to convince them. And a small number in very influential positions have a vested interest in castro's success.

Max - Thanks for your comments, but I didn't state that Cubans *habitually* hold American flags upside-down. I said that I saw some doing it during the Gonzales affair. This did not help Elian's fate, BTW. And I know that most Cubans are very pro-American. That's why this thing today kind of kicks me in the groin.

Robert - It's not just me. There may be more people than you think on your side. And when an elected leader (like Ken Lay, for instance) is held accountable for something his administration did, we don't blame all the stockholders, even though they elected him - we blame him - and the stock holders do not need to share his blame. And by the way, I NEVER said anyone was anti-American here. And of course we can complain about our leaders - that's exactly my point. Complain about the administrations - not our country.

Ziva - I like the theme park analogy. One writer (PJ O'Rourke, I think) described Minsk as a "communist theme park". But anyway, but regarding your comment that Americans don't give a rat'a ass about Cuba - I'm tempted to believe that where you live, that may be true. But over here - I'm not so sure. But I would refer back to my comment above - you gotta make your case. Who is making the case?

Look - the American left stepped in the second castro took power and has owned the narrative ever since. So what's next? Complaining that America doesn't care doesn't accomplish anything. Explain why American *should* care - that's what you need to do. That's what Bill Clinton did regarding Kosovo. Nobody ever heard of it before, and it's much smaller than Cuba, no immediate threat, no rafters (obviously). But yet look what he managed to get approved by Congress.

All apologies accepted - no hard feelings - no harm done!!

Melek - I love your Texas proverb. I love Texas and I love Texans. Here's something Kinky Friedman said on a talk show a couple weeks before the 2004 elections. He's big friends with both George Bush and Willy Nelson, so must be a pretty amicable guy:

"You can pick your nose, and you can pick your friends. But you can't wipe your friends off on your saddle."

Scott, on that rather stark visual note I'd like to say 'all's well that ends well.'