Babalu: “2 Cubanitos” remember growing up Cuban in the US!

(My new Babalu post)

We love reminiscing about our experiences of growing up Cuban in the US.

We were all inspired years ago when our friend Carlos Eire wrote his Pedro Pan memoirs.    I think that Carlos' work reminded all of us that there was a Cuban past to be discussed and stories to be shared.

Furthermore, we all have parents who made great sacrifices to come here and start anew.     I can assure you that sharing these Cuban stories has made me appreciate my parents very much.  I appreciate their sacrifices, or what they were willing to do so that their kids could grow up in freedom rather than the communist tyranny in Cuba.

Check out my chat with Jorge Ponce, a contributor to Babalu and good friend.

Jorge has posted often here about his Cuban American experience.   

He recently posted "The trials and tribulations of becoming an American":   

"I soon learned that there was a more diverse world out there.  I met Bolivians, Ecuadorians, Puerto Ricans, Argentineans, etc.  We all shared our Hispanic heritage and our Spanish language.  I was exposed to different dances, variations of idiomatic expressions, and fantastic food.  To my great surprise, some of my Hispanic friends did not share my same anti-communist views.  In fact, some thought that Fidel, El Che, and Ho Chi Minh were visionaries who had improved the standards of living of the proletariats in their countries.  Some even wore Che T-Shirts as a fashion statement or as a sign of protest against the “American Empire.” I realized that it was time to expand my network of friends."

In contrast to Jorge, I grew up in Wisconsin and there were no Cubans or Latin Americans in my circles.

My "trials and tribulations" were simple:  "Ingles o no comes"!

I spent most of my early years in the US hearing about Cuba from my parents.  We had no friends from Latin America in school or neighborhood.  In fact, it was a "thrill" when my father, now working at a bank, would bring home a colleague from Chile or Colombia.  It was rare but enjoyable.

Let me say it again:  Share your Cuban stories with your kids.  Tell them about your Cuban past.  It will make you very proud of being Cuban American.

Please enjoy my chat with Jorge this weekend:

New Politics Podcasts with Silvio Canto Jr on BlogTalkRadio

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Tags:  Growing up Cuban in the US  To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the My View by Silvio Canto, Jr. Thanks!

How can a person here illegally get a a driver's license?

(My new American Thinker post)

Let me briefly say that I am a naturalized US citizen.  My family came here from Cuba when I was a boy.  

What's next?  When will illegal immigrants have the right to vote?  Or serve in juries?  Or run for president? Wonder why people are leaving California's insane politically correct zoo?   

The latest is offering driver's licenses to illegal immigrants as we read in news reports:   

"The new California licenses will have special markings that show they aren't supposed to be used as identification for federal purposes, but they will allow illegal immigrants to drive legally and, advocates said, to own cars.     Those advocates say allowing illegal immigrants to become licensed means better safety and lower insurance rates for all drivers, since those illegal immigrants who choose to go through the legal process will have to take a driver's test and follow the rules for obtaining insurance coverage."  

Go through the legal process?   How can you go through the legal process when you are in the country illegally?    

Are these people paying any penalties for being in the country illegally?  or proving that they've paid their state or federal taxes?    

Am I the only one a bit stunned by California's decision?  What message are we sending to people who have followed the law, and that includes immigration laws?   

A driver's license is a legal document reserved for US citizens or those here legally.  It makes no sense to grant these licenses and mock the rule of law.   

California is headed in the wrong direction.  When will it go so far crazy that it literally falls into the Pacific Ocean?     

You can hear CANTO TALK here.

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Tags:  California and drivers licenses for illegal immigrants  To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the My View by Silvio Canto, Jr. Thanks!

ObamaCare blues: Why aren't they signing up?

(My new American Thinker post)

The long awaited first week of ObamaCare registration is starting to look like the Cleveland Indians of 2013:  The team is playing but where are the fans?

ObamaCare is ready but how many are signing up?  Nobody knows and that's not good in many ways.   

Do you seriously think that the Obama administration would be this silent if thousands were signing up?  Aren't these the same people who couldn't stop talking about the killing of Osama Bin Laden?  

Somebody did sign up, according to news reports.    He's become a bit of a national celebrity, especially to a media desperately looking for someone who successfully enrolled.  

Here is the catch:  Chad is not a good example, unless you think that someone who is actively involved in OFA is typical of the many millions of young people who must sign up to pay for this program.   

My question is this:  Where are the other "Chads" and "Chad-ettes" who were screaming "yes we can" at the sight of the candidate?   

Frankly, week 1 has been an embarrassment.  I don't think that this is what they expected when they said that there was a lot of pent-up demand for ObamaCare.  

So good at getting people to vote....so bad at getting them to buy ObamaCare!   

You can hear CANTO TALK here.

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Tags: ObamaCare week 1  To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the My View by Silvio Canto, Jr. Thanks!

“El bobo de la yuca” will let some other “bobo” sign up for ObamaCare

(My new Babalu post)

Beny More's legendary Bobo de la Yuca "se quiere casar" but won't be signing up anytime soon for ObamaCare.

According to news reports, Obama Care is off to a rather difficult start.    In fact, The Washington Post is literally looking for someone in a nation of 300 million people who has enrolled:  

"If you have purchased health coverage on the federal government's new Obamacare marketplace, about a dozen or so reporters would like to speak with you. 
We promise we won't take up too much of your time! We just need to find you first. The federal government has said that somewhere out in this vast country of 313 million people, where 48 million lack insurance coverage, someone has managed to sign up for health insurance on the federally-run marketplaces. As of yet, we haven't tracked this person - or these people - down. 
This is not for lack of effort. Reporters here at The Washington Post and at other publications have been on the hunt for this mythical creature."

Dios mio!  Didn't we hear that everybody was just ready to sign up and get their affordable care?

According to other news reports, it is more like a "trickle rather than a wave".

Apparently, one fellow did show up and posted on his page that he enrolled.

His name is Chad, a young man, or precisely the kind of new member that Obama Care will desperately need to pay the "higher premiums" to support the older participants.

What's wrong with Chad?  Nothing, unless you think that being a volunteer for Organizing for America makes him a typical young man in the US.

Good for Chad!   However, the problem with ObamaCare is that there are millions of "Chads" & "Chad-ettes" who are not enrolling.

They are not buying online because ObamaCare is going to be very expensive rather than the affordable option that they heard about at the "yes we can" rally.

The Affordable Health Care Act is not affordable, as many are learning.

Also, ObamaCare: one size fleeces all!   The beauty of a private insurance market is that you have choices.  The nightmare of ObamaCare is that you are stuck in plans designed by congressional staffers.  It was eventually passed by representatives and senators who did not read what they voted for.

Have you signed up?  Call the aforementioned Washington Post!  They will put you on their front page!

We know that "El bobo de la yuca  se va casar y invita todo el munco a la capital".

He plans to let some other "bobo" sign up for Obama Care!

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Tags: ObamaCare first week  To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the My View by Silvio Canto, Jr. Thanks!