Babalu Blog: Message to the Cuban People by President Bush

January 13, 2009

Message to the Cuban People by President Bush

Today, President Bush made the following statement for the people of Cuba:

As much of the world celebrates the dawning of a new year, Cuba marks 50 years of one of the cruelest dictatorships this hemisphere has witnessed.
To those who yearn for liberty, all is not lost. The world has witnessed other instances of dictatorship but has ultimately seen those regimes fall and formerly enslaved countries embrace their birthright of freedom. One day, the people of Cuba will enjoy this same blessing.

This message of hope is directed especially to those who have made pleas for freedom only to be silenced by tyranny and oppression -- individuals like Oscar Elias Biscet, Luis Enrique Ferrer, Ricardo Gonzalez, Jose Luis Garcia Paneque, and many others. It is equally intended for the families of such prisoners, who dearly miss their loved ones and continue to suffer oppression at the hands of the regime. The American people admire the courage of these families and the emerging civil society movement, reflected in the existence of groups like the Damas de Blanco, who stand up for the fundamental human rights bestowed by our Creator.

As long as there are people who fight for liberty, the United States will stand with them and speak out for those whose voices have been temporarily silenced. All Cubans have the right to be treated with dignity so that they can rise as high as their talents and hard work will take them. This is the standard my Administration and past Administrations - regardless of political affiliation - have expected from the Cuban government as the condition for improved relations.

My Administration has continually challenged the Cuban Government to bring genuine political and economic changes and improve human rights, and has made it clear that the United States stands prepared to respond to any request for assistance from a Cuba that transitions to democracy. The Castro regime's response to our offers has been continued repression of the Cuban people.

Throughout my presidency, the plight of Cuba has been close to my heart. My sincere wish has been for the proud people of Cuba to take their rightful place in the community of democratic, freedom-loving nations.

Laura and I send our Cuban hermanos y hermanas a message of peace and love. May God Bless you and continue to give you the faith and courage to fight for the day when the light of liberty will shine on the people of Cuba.

While in the Capital last month for the meeting with the President, I had the honor of having a one on one sit down with Daniel W. Fisk - Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Western Hemisphere Affairs. We talked for almost two hours and covered a range of Cuba related topics - which I am writing about and will post when finished.

Yet there was something Mr. Fisk said to me that has stayed with me and which I believe - after having met with the President and sat down with him - to be true:

Many people in his administration refer to President Bush as the first Cuban-American President, as his dedication to the cause of the Cuban people's freedom has always been strong, steadfast and unwavering.

Say what you will about the man, but his convictions vis-a-vis Cuba have always been crystal clear. No other US president in the history of this country has done as much to help Cuba's prisoners of conscience and political prisoners than President George W. Bush.

Gracias, Mr. President. To me, you truly are the first Cuban-American President.

Posted by Val Prieto at January 13, 2009 02:22 PM

Comments

Any President who provoked the Cuban regime to display posters of him as a bloodthirsty vampire--just HAD to be doing something right.

Ahhhh!...for such a President during 1960-63!!

That, and some obscure Latin American bandit named "Fidel Castro" would merit two inches in Wikipedia today.

Posted by: Humberto at January 13, 2009 03:06 PM

Do you think the reason for his awareness of Cuba is because of his upbringing? He has fondness for the Mexican culture, and therefore has more of an understanding for Spanish-speaking cultures (obviously, there's not much similiarities between the two countries, but their language. Still people see much in common with Latin American countries)? It could also be because of Jeb Bush.

What do you guys think the reason for his passion for Cuba is?

Posted by: j2tharome at January 13, 2009 03:23 PM

j2,

I think the President is a man of conviction and one who truly wanted to use the power of his office to help those in need dire of assistance.

Posted by: Val Prieto at January 13, 2009 03:35 PM

That's true, Val. One can't forget his contributions to Africa. His dismantling of nuclear weapons in North Korea. The topple and execution of Saddam Hussein.

Posted by: j2tharome at January 13, 2009 06:06 PM

Bush's words are so beautiful.

You ask why he has this passion for Cuba. I think it is clear. He has also been the best President for Israel in our history.
Just look at the Bush Doctrine. He believes people should live in freedom. He is mocked continually.Yet he is a President who has fought and spoken out for individual freedom consistently.

I was listening to Air America for a short while today. They crack themselves up thinking they are so original and hysterically funny. They are outrageously wrong in whatever they say. But they are so full of themselves in their scorn for American values. And their contempt for Bush is angry and unwitty. They have not one word to say about his good qualities. There is definitely something wrong if you can find nothing positive to say about this good man.
I am waiting for after Obama has his turn to try to "fix" all that's wrong these days. If he stumbles or if things don't improve, will they be angry with him? Perhaps, yes, if he does some sensible conservative things.

Posted by: honey at January 13, 2009 06:55 PM