"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free." - President Ronald Reagan
The Bee Gees released "Size isn't everything", one of their best CDs, on this day in 1993. It was their best studio LP since "One" from 1989. It featured some good tunes, like "Blue Island", "Paying the price of love", "Kiss of life" and "For whom the bell tolls".
We remember that Abraham Lincoln married Mary Todd on this day in 1842. Molly, as she was known by family and friends, met Lincoln in 1840 when she was 21 and he was 31. They fell in love and accepted his proposal of marriage. She endured the loss of a baby child and then Willie who died in The White House at age 12. Of course, President Lincoln was assassinated when they were watching a play at Ford's in Washington DC. She died in 1882 at age 63. Only Robert, their first son, was alive when she died.
On this day in 1956, the Soviets crushed the Hungarian revolt. It was a long time ago but the bravery of the Hungarian people is worth remembering. Like many of you who escaped communism, I am a strong believer in reminding the younger generation that freedom is not cheap. In fact, many have paid the ultimate price to fight for it. Many Hungarians paid the price this month in 1956! Before Prague 1968 or Poland 1980, there was Hungary, one of the great chapters of human valor of the 20th century. From mid-October 1956 until the Soviet tanks crushed the revolution, the people of Hungary stood tall against overwhelming odds and indifference from the West. One of my heroes was the late Cardinal Mindszenty, who was imprisoned for 8 years and then given asylum at the US embassy. He died in Vienna in 1975 and never saw the collapse of the Soviet bloc. We Cubans have a special place in our hearts for anyone who stood up to communism. We salute the brave people of Hungary and how they fought for freedom many years ago.
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