Spanish border collapse, Dr. Fauci's "auto-pen" pardon and Nolan Ryan won # 300 in 1990.
Friday, July 31, 2026
A question for the ‘pardoned’ doctor
A question for the ‘pardoned’ doctor:
It’s likely that, even if he did take the Fifth, Fauci would be unable to explain the actual COVID science—because, for him, it was never really about science at all.
Click to read:
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2026/07/a-question-for-the-pardoned-doctor/
Happy # 81 Gary Lewis
We say happy birthday to Gary Lewis who was born in New Jersey on this day in 1945.
His father was Jerry Lewis, one of the superstars of movies and comedy.
In 1965, Gary formed a band and enjoyed several hits, such as "This diamond ring" a # 1 song. All together, Gary Lewis and the Playboys had 7 Top 10 hits.
P.S. You can listen to my show. If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.
We remember Milton Friedman (1912-2006)
My guess is that most of you read "Free to choose" or watched the TV series. Or, maybe you are familiar with Dr Friedman's work in Chile, the story of "The Chicago Boys" who turned that South American country into one of the best economies in the world.
Milton Friedman was born in 1912 and died in 2006. Rose, his devoted wife, research partner and companion of many years, died in 2009. They were always together and that was great too.
Stephen Moore of the WSJ wrote a great column about the life & times of Mr Friedman. I love Mr. Friedman's advice just before he died:
"I remember asking Milton, a year or so before his death, during one of our semiannual dinners in downtown San Francisco: What can we do to make America more prosperous? "Three things," he replied instantly. "Promote free trade, school choice for all children, and cut government spending."How much should we cut? "As much as possible.""
Thank you Mr. Friedman!
Happy # 72 Ellis Valentine
Ellis Valentine was born in Arkansas on this day in 1954. He was drafted by Montreal and broke with them in 1975. By 1976, he was the every day right fielder.
In the late 1970's, the Montreal Expos had one of the best outfields in modern baseball history. In fact, you could argue that it was the best in quite some time: Ellis Valentine, future Hall of Famer Andre Dawson & Warren Cromartie.
Valentine and teammate Cromartie had 24 assists in 1977. You simply could not take an extra base on that Expos' outfield!
Valentine survived injuries and retired with a .278 batting average and .288 in 7 seasons in Montreal.
Valentine was part of the Expos who came in second in 1978, 1979 & 1980. They lost the NLCS to the LA Dodgers in 1981. In today's game, Montreal would have clinched a wild card spot everyone of those years that they came in second in the NL East. Who knows what would have happened to that "wild card team" in the NL post season?
P.S. You can listen to my show. If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.
We remember Curt Gowdy (1919-2006)
We remember Curt Gowdy who was born in Wyoming on this day in 1919.
A few days ago, I caught an audio clip of Curt Gowdy doing a World Series game many years ago. What a treat to hear that voice again!
Most of us grew up watching the NBC Saturday afternoon baseball game of the week and listening to Gowdy's voice. I recall many World Series games, too. He was also the voice of the Super Bowl and the famous Heidi game, when NBC cut off the Jets-Raiders game to broadcast the Disney movie.
In '84, Gowdy was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1984. Curt Gowdy died in 2006. He was a gem calling baseball and football.
P.S. You can listen to my show. If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.
July 31, 1990: Nolan Ryan won # 300!
Where did the years go? Nolan Ryan won # 300 on his second try in Milwaukee.
As I recall from the TV broadcast, Ryan got a huge ovation when he left the game in the 7th inning. It was a classy move by the Brewers' fans. He added no-hitter # 7 to his resume the next season!
P.S. You can listen to my show. If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.
Thursday, July 30, 2026
Cuba and where is Raul Castro? Dr. Fauci and turning the virus into a political weapon. Happy # 85 Paul Anka.
Cuba and where is Raul Castro? Dr. Fauci and turning the virus into a political weapon. Happy # 85 Paul Anka.
Where are you, Dear Raul?
Did Raul get a note from his doctor?
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s my late father used to say, July 26, 1953, turned out to be an ugly day for Cuba. He was a young banker, recently married, and the couple were settling down to start a family.
On that day, Fidel Castro led a group of followers and attacked the Moncada Military base in Santiago, Cuba. The attack was a disaster -- most of the followers were killed and Castro, who avoided the attack, was arrested, convicted, and sent to prison. A few years later, Pres. Fulgencio Batista issued an amnesty, and Fidel was out, traveled to Mexico, and the rest is very sick history.
Anyway, the so-called revolution has turned this day into the beginning of Cuban history. For years, Fidel and Raul Castro showed up, filled the place with government workers cheering on cue, and blaming the U.S. for everything. As a kid, I remember one of these days.
This year, Raul Castro was missing.
Cuba held a traditional rally on Sunday to commemorate one of the revolution's most important anniversaries but former President Raúl Castro was conspicuously absent.
It was the first time in at least three decades that 95-year-old Castro did not attend the event, and no explanation was given. President Miguel DÃaz-Canel read a congratulatory message from Castro to his compatriots at the rally, held in the eastern city of Pinar del RÃo.
The annual event commemorates the July 26, 1953 assault led by brothers Fidel and Raúl Castro on the Moncada and Carlos Manuel de Céspedes barracks in Cuba's eastern region. The military action against former dictator Fulgencio Batista failed, but it marked the beginning of the revolutionary struggle that culminated on Jan. 1, 1959.
Raúl Castro's last public appearances were in June, during an event to establish the Ministry of the Interior, and on May 1 to celebrate Labor Day.
He no longer holds any formal positions, but his symbolic presence is strong, and he was recently identified as one of the negotiators in talks with the United States following the imposition of a U.S. energy embargo.
Facing a crowd of hundreds of people waving Cuban flags early Sunday, DÃaz-Canel rejected a report that the U.S. State Department published last week that accused Cuba of running a leftist espionage and influence network against the United States and Latin America for decades.
"Every day they issue a threat against the revolution, and every week they announce a new punishment for Cuban companies and officials," the president said.
In May, Castro was charged in a U.S. indictment with murder and other crimes for his alleged role in the downing of two civilian aircraft operated by Miami-based exiles in 1996 off the coast of the Caribbean island.
Indicted for murder? Yes, maybe Raul was afraid of being picked up by U.S. Special Forces in middle of the speech. I wouldn't discount that reason.
Maybe he was doing something else, sort of like that Sunday afternoon that Raul was too busy to greet President Obama at the airport. Imagine that. Obama goes to Cuba to celebrate the end of the embargo, take a photo at the new U.S. embassy, and Raul Castro was too busy to show up. (Candidate Trump tweeted about this!)
I was at the hospital at that time talking to my late father, who was recovering. He looked at me and said: "Why didn't Obama get back on the plane and show some outrage over such an insult?" On the contrary, Obama and Raul watched a baseball game and did the wave together.
Maybe Raul is sick and not able to attend. This is a good reason, and it may explain the absence.
Of course, the featured speech was the same as before. Cuba is a victim, and the U.S. is responsible for everything. Same old lying speech, but Raul was missing.
P.S. Check out my blog for posts, podcasts, and videos.
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Click to read: https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2026/07/where-are-you-dear-raul/
"In God we trust" signed into law in 1956
President Eisenhower made it legal in 1956:
"On this day in 1956, two years after pushing to have the phrase “under God” inserted into the pledge of allegiance, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signs a law officially declaring “In God We Trust” to be the nation’s official motto. The law, P.L. 84-140, also mandated that the phrase be printed on all American paper currency. The phrase had been placed on U.S. coins since the Civil War when, according to the historical association of the United States Treasury, religious sentiment reached a peak."It was a good day for the US.
P.S. You can listen to my show. If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.
Happy # 85 Paul Anka, great vocalist and songwriter!
Wonder how many people know that Paul Anka was born in Canada? He was born on this day in 1941. Paul is from Ottawa and enjoyed big hits by the time that he was a teenager.
Anka is one of the few pop artists who had Top 10 songs in the 1950s, 1960's & 1970's! Who else but Elvis can say that?
Anka's formula? Romantic and catchy songs that filled Top 40 play lists in the era of AM radio stations. I'm sure that lots of our parents have Anka 45's among their belongings and souvenirs.
I learned in the 1970's that Paul Anka composed "My Way" and several TV songs, such as The Tonight Song theme song! How would you like to collect those royalties?
A few years ago, Paul wrote an autobiography. He also left us an amazing collection of hit songs, available now on digital.
P.S. You can listen to my show. If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.
Wednesday, July 29, 2026
Ken is only a part of the problem
Ken is only a part of the problem:
Ken Martin walks the plank.
Click to read: https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2026/07/ken-is-only-a-part-of-the-problem/
Summer 1967: The Beatles and "All you need is love" on the radio
This is a summary of "All you need is love", a Lennon-McCartney song that hit # 1 all over the world back in August 1967:
"It was first performed by The Beatles on Our World, the first live global television link. Broadcast to 26 countries and watched by 400 million, the programme was broadcast via satellite on June 25, 1967.
The BBC had commissioned the Beatles to write a song for the UK's contribution.
Rolling Stone magazine ranked it at #362 in their 500 greatest songs of all time."
Later, the song was added to the movie "Yellow submarine".
"All you need is love" was the first single released after the "Sgt Pepper's". It was eventually included in the US LP "Magical Mystery Tour" and the animated "Yellow submarine".
My favorite part of the song is the last minute when John & Paul go back and forth.
Tuesday, July 28, 2026
The Democrat mess. Do something or shut up about stolen land.
The Democrat mess. Do something or shut up about stolen land.
Give land back to ‘original owners,’ or shut up
Give land back to ‘original owners,’ or shut up:
Give the keys and title of “the stolen land” to the original owners.
Click to read:
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2026/07/give-land-back-to-original-owners-or-shut-up/
July 28 1991: Dennis Martinez and a perfect game
Where did so many years go? Dennis Martinez was perfect on this day in 1991.
Dennis was born in Nicaragua and came up in the Orioles’ farm system in 1976.
Before signing with Baltimore, Dennis caught the eyes of scouts with masterful pitching against Cuba and the US in 1974. He beat the US, 1-0, pitching 10 innings. Then he beat Cuba, 4-3, by throwing 7 strong innings.
Dennis won 108 games with Baltimore, including playing in the 1979 and 1983 World Series. In 1987, he was traded to Montreal and that was really the prime of his career, including an ERA title and the aforementioned perfect game.
Dennis finished with 245 wins and a 3.70 ERA in 3,999 innings!
P.S. You can listen to my show. If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.
July 28, 1994: Kenny Rogers and the perfect game in Arlington
As they say, I heard it on the radio! Kenny Rogers pitched a perfect game before a sellout crowd at the ballpark in Arlington. He beat the Angels with one great catch by Rusty Greer in center field.
Kenny played with Texas, New York Yankees, Oakland, New York Mets, back to Texas and then Detroit. He won 219 games and 133 of those were with Texas.
P.S. You can listen to my show. If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.
We remember Vida Blue (1949-2023)
Vida Rochelle Blue, Jr. was born on this day in 1949 in Louisiana. He died in 2023.
He broke with the A's in 1969 at age 19 and then became the pitching story of 1971: 24-8, a 1.82 ERA, 8 shutouts & 301 Ks. It earned him a Cy Young Award & MVP!
Overall, he won 209 with 143 complete games and pitched with the A's in the postseason, 1971-75.
I saw Vida shutout the Orioles in game 3 of the 1974 ALCS, a dominating 2-hit shutout! He beat Jim Palmer, 1-0 with Sal Bando hitting a home run for the only run of the game.
P.S. You can listen to my show. If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.He broke with the A's in 1969 at age 19 and then became the pitching story of 1971: 24-8, a 1.82 ERA, 8 shutouts & 301 Ks. It earned him a Cy Young Award & MVP!
Overall, he won 209 with 143 complete games and pitched with the A's in the postseason, 1971-75.
I saw Vida shutout the Orioles in game 3 of the 1974 ALCS, a dominating 2-hit shutout! He beat Jim Palmer, 1-0 with Sal Bando hitting a home run for the only run of the game.
We remember Jackie Kennedy (1929-1994)
Jacqueline Bouvier was born in New York on this day in 1929.
We remember her as the very elegant First Lady Jackie Kennedy.
She died in 1994.
P.S. You can listen to my show. If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.
Monday, July 27, 2026
Illinois and "in state tuition" for illegal immigrants. A US Senate preview. Democrats short on cash but GOP is loaded.
Illinois and "in state tuition" for illegal immigrants. A US Senate preview. Democrats short on cash but GOP is loaded.
On tuition, a little common sense from Illinois
On tuition, a little common sense from Illinois:
A federal judge in Illinois has finally made it clear that in-state tuition isn’t a come-on to the world.
Click to read:
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2026/07/on-tuition-a-little-common-sense-from-illinois/
2014 podcast: "The Vikings" with Leslie Eastman & friends
Perhaps you've been watching "The Vikings" on The History Channel. It is a challenging and complex topic but the series is very entertaining. The series was written by Michael Hirst of Elizabeth & The Tudors.
Back in 2014, Leslie Eastman joined me for a discussion of "The Vkings". Barry Jacobsen discussed the history, myth, and legends based on The History Channel's new series, focused on famed raider Ragnar Lothbrok. Then, Thrand Godfrey discussed the weapons, tactics, battles and his video projects on the subject.
Leslie wrote a great post about the show and the series. Check it out!
P.S. Check out my blog for posts, podcasts and videos. If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.
Click to listen:
Listen to "The story of The Vikings" on Spreaker.
July 27, 1940: Hello Bugs Bunny
We take a minute today to say happy birthday to Bugs Bunny:
“The Warner Bros. icon everybody knows and loves first appeared on July 27, 1940 in “Wild Hare,” a cartoon short directed by Tex Avery. The clip features a wily Bugs Bunny outsmarting Elmer Fudd, who hunts for a “silly wabbit” in vain. Warner Bros. made several rabbit cartoons in earlier years, but they were not the same as the distinctive cotton-tailed “Bugs” featured in July of 1940.Bugs Bunny was an “instant star,” He became one of the world’s best-known cartoon characters, starring in more than 175 films, receiving three Oscar nominations, one Academy Award, and appearing in comic books, TV specials, and video games, as Parade Magazine reported.”
Happy birthday to the most famous rabbit of the 20th century!
P.S. You can listen to my show. If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.
P.S. You can listen to my show. If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.
Sunday, July 26, 2026
Red better than blue
Red better than blue:
At least from an economics perspective, the data show.
Why are they moving? It’s not the weather, because our summers are pretty bad. Well, I can’t speak for all of them, but they tell me things like lower taxes, school vouchers, a sense of more personal freedom, and not so much government regulation on business.
Click to read: https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2026/07/red-better-than-blue/
Happy # 83 Mick Jagger
We say happy to Mick Jagger, one of the greats of rock. He was born on this day in 1943.
Mick, along with Keith Richards, turned The Rolling Stones into one of the greatest rock bands ever.
Rolling Stone magazine, no connection to the rock group, has Jagger at # 16 of the top vocalists ever.
P.S. You can listen to my show. If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.
In the early hours of July 26, 1960
From 1954 to 1960, Havana had a AAA franchise in what they used to call the International League. It included Toronto and Montreal. The Havana team was the Reds' AAA franchise at the time. Therefore, Cuban fans had a chance to see young future Hall of Famer Frank Robinson, who broke into the majors in 1958.
It's worth noting that having an AAA franchise in the late 1950's meant more than a passion for baseball. It was further evidence that the island's economy could support a minor league team with ticket sales, radio and TV programming. Remember that Havana had to compete with other U.S. cities for that franchise.
In the early hours of July 26, 1960, my father and lots of Cuban fans were caught up in an extra inning game between Havana and Rochester. The game included future major leaguers like Mike Cuellar, Luis Arroyo, Leo Cardenas, Elio Chacon, and Cookie Rojas.
This is what happened:
It was over for the Havana Sugar Kings. They eventually moved to Jersey City. The professional league played one more winter season but professional baseball ended that night.Shortly after midnight the morning of July 26, while the Sugar Kings and Rochester Red Wings were in the 11th inning of a game at Gran Stadium, demonstrations began in the streets of Havana, marking the anniversary of the 1953 attack on the Moncada army garrison in Santiago de Cuba by a band of rebels led by Fidel Castro, an event viewed as the conception of the eventual revolution.
During the course of this observance, a wild burst of gunfire broke out, and a pair of stray bullets found their way into the ball park, striking Rochester’s Frank Verdi, who was coaching third at the time, and Havana shortstop Leo Cardenas.
Neither Verdi nor Cardenas were seriously injured, but the incident nearly ended professional baseball in Cuba. The Red Wings left the country immediately, refusing to play the final game of the series, and they and other International League teams expressed fear and reluctance at returning to Cuba.
What was my father thinking that night? He was not thinking about leaving Cuba and settling in the U.S. Like most Cubans, he thought that the storm would pass and things would settle down.
A few years later, we landed in the U.S. My brother and I then started collecting baseball cards, including many of those who were playing that night.
P.S. You can listen to my show (Canto Talk).
2013 post: Your Cuba 101 course
(My new American Thinker post)
So why go out of your way to shake the hand of the leader of 'the island of lies"?
Cuban-Americans like me are very passionate about the truth of the communist regime, especially the political prisons and repressive climate of Cuba. We've all had experience with it so that's where the passion comes from. My dad's cousin spent 14 years in a political prison without a trial so forgive me if I get irritated when we greet a dictator with a handshake.
The battle continues even on the day that President Obama shook Raul Castro's hand: CUBAN DISSIDENTS DETAINED ON HUMAN RIGHTS DAY
A couple of years ago, my Canadian friend Brian Lloyd French wrote a novel about Cuba, "Mojito". It is a very entertaining story that tells you what life is really like in the island, from the "mask" that most people wear to coexist with the regime and the survival techniques that keep 1950s cars running.
Brian explained his impressions of Cuba in a great article: "The island of lies"
"A few weeks ago I clicked a Facebook ad for luxurious "Boomer Tours" in Cuba. Being somewhat interested in that topic, I clicked a little deeper. I noticed that one of the local guides proudly made a claim to be a personal friend of Che Guevara - who, of course, wasn't exactly a role model for those interested in human rights. Except perhaps for those interested parties that wish to learn how to execute and imprison political opponents and get away with it. A click later I learned that the organizer of the tour is a self-confessed Trotskyist. Which is fine - our society allows anyone to pursue any philosophy they wish. And any party, if it gets a sufficient share of the votes in an election, can receive federal funding for their party. I have many friends within the entire spectrum of philosophical positions - and we get along because we have more in common that we have in differences. Which is the way that democracies act. But it's not exactly that way in Cuba. Down there if you speak up you risk a term of re-education in a resort called Villa Marista. Which ain't five stars. To the organizers' credit, they don't try to hide their beliefs. A click and a Wiki search and it's all there. Cuban propaganda is alive and well, and the internet does set us free. It's easy to discover a bias that a writer of an article might have or, like Yoani Sanchez, to actually blog from Cuba about government abuses of the governed. Lenin described those westerners who support communism as "Useful Idiots" and he would be smiling in his hereafter about this if he hadn't been such an atheist. A few years back, I was encouraged to write a novel as a sequel to one written by a famous friend of mine. We decided that Cuba would be a terrific place in which to place the plot and characters. Since then, I've spent a lot of time in Cuba with lots of Cubans, and I think I have a pretty good understanding of how they live day-to-day, even though I will never have to worry about what I say in public, or whether my family will eat protein at least once this week. When does a revolution stop becoming a revolution and start being recognized as a misguided philosophy with a status present that is an insult to all those who believe in human rights? Lies are a permanent part of life on the Castros' island paradise lost. Younger Cubans have to lie about their opinions of the government, its leadership and their opinion of the United States. Old Cubans lie about Fidel Castro because those lies are the only opinion they've ever been allowed to have. The Cuban politburo lies about everything it does, and just about everything everyone else does; especially the USA. The Castros spew lies constantly but are so absent from reality that they seem to believe them. Fidel has always lied about his form of democracy. It started with his "temporary" suspension of free elections soon after he took power. Lie. While every few years Cubans are forced to go to a ballot box and vote for Socialist Candidate tweedledum or Socialist Candidate tweedledee, this temporary suspension is older than I am, and not likely to really become temporary any time soon. Another great lie is that Cuba is an egalitarian paradise; where all are equal and everyone gets a great education and has tremendous health care. But as in Animal Farm, the pigs are more equal than others. In Habana, for example, loyal Fidelistas, virtually all of Spanish extraction, are rewarded with pleasant accommodations in nicer areas like Vedado and Miramar. Those who unfortunately are not in favour, who are mostly black, live in tenements in Central City on narrow streets filled with rubble that serve as both sewers and playgrounds. There is only way to survive in Cuba. Theft. At least Fidel considers it theft. It's participation in the black market. A typical family stipend is between 10 and 20 dollar equivalents per month. Families are provided with housing (of a sort), a ration booklet that provides rice, beans, potatoes, milk (if you're a pre-schooler) and a few other staples. The ration coupons have some value as they that can be used for items to trade. Sick looking green onions and tiny garlic bulbs can be purchased at markets for a pittance. But meat isn't on the menu and eggs are treated like they are laid by a golden hen. But what a family really has to do to survive is to somehow scrounge for something, anything of value that they can trade. It might be a coupon for a pair of shoes (size 11, men's black). They might be given chintzy curios and mass produced Cuban art to sell to naive turistas. Every month workers in tobacco factories get a box of cigars to smoke (but really to sell to gringos). The young and old share the responsibility to come up with stuff to trade. Grannies dress up in Santarian priestess costumes to have their picture taken by tourists for a fee. Children look for kind foreigners who will give them a buck because they're cute. Some young Cubana's dream of having a child with a rich tourist and, if the Dad has at least some ethical standard, an annuity by way of child support. Yes. There is prostitution. And yes many "northerners" from Canada, Germany, Italy and England conduct the most heinous of all acts of economic imperialism; they travel to Cuba to have sex with young people, mostly girls. White haired Decembers from the north are often seen with dusky Aprils from the South. I try to show my disdain any way I can when I see this. I'm hardly a moralist, but these guys feel rich and handsome in Cuba by throwing ten dollar bills around like man-hole covers and I don't like it. A key source of income for families is to have at least one family member that somehow has access to tourists. They may work in a hotel, restaurant, drive a taxi (legal or illegal), or act as "tour guides". Almost all the official jobs that are tourism related are given to those of the Spanish persuasion. The "tour guides" are almost all black and risk their freedom if they get noticed doing the wrong thing by the wrong people. You will know them by their furtive catch phrases as they pass you in the streets of Old Havana, "Chica, Senor?" "Cigar, Senor?" "Restaurant, Senor?" Trust me. Chances are almost 100% that the cigars are fake, the girl is somebody's daughter who despises her source of income, and the restaurant will be over priced. (Private restaurants - paladares -were the only way to go up to a year or so ago when Fidel started taxing them to death and dropping the prices at government restaurants. He has succeeded in pricing these entrepreneurs out of business. But I'd not be the least bit surprised that even if they're without customers that they are still forced to pay protection money to the boss.) Public Health? Cubans have admirably healthy people at least partly because their lifestyle prohibits them from enjoying the goodies that make us die prematurely. They pretty much can't help but avoid obesity - they can't get their hands on enough food to get fat. Rum, even at a CUC (dollar equivalent) a bottle is really beyond their budget. Drugs? Really, really beyond their budget. They don't die in car accidents because no one has cars (but the few vehicles there do put out an admirably unhealthy quantity of exhaust). Cuba brags about it's low level of infant mortality, and the lack of unhealthy life choices helps this, but so does abortion on demand which isn't reported in any of their stats. And as far as drugs, ordinary Cubans do not have access to any, from Lipitor down to Aspirin. I had a friend die last year - a great musician - who died of a staph infection incurred when he was having his back scoped. But if you're down there doing a documentary, they'll invite you to have a kidney or cornea transplant. Schools are pretty good but all the kids are members of Fidel's version of the Young Pioneers, which was such a rousing success in great democracies like the USSR. Fortunately, around about the time that testicles start dropping and breasts lifting, the political indoctrination of the Communist Party on Cuban youth is forgotten and replaced by a huge desire to have nice clothes and a moto to drive your sweetie around in style. Safety? Cuba is a police state, so tourists are likely as safe there as in, say, the guest lounge in a Canadian penitentiary. There is at least one para-military on every street corner that tourists frequent. So we're safe. The entire Cuban security apparatus, including their neighbourhood spies, are there to protect Cuba from Cubans, not to be a significant factor in fighting Bahia de Cochinos Dos. For locals, nobody has anything so there really isn't very much to steal. But I do have a friend in Havana who runs an organized crime organization, and there is crime. Just not on an Ocean's Eleven scale. Cuba's "friends" in Canada and the USA brag about how well Cuba manages through a fairly regular procession of hurricanes and tropical storms. But they fail to mention that there is very little in property value there to be lost in a killer storm and Cubans are savvy enough to get out of the way of hurricanes. Unlike more wealthy Americans. The big lie, or course, was the first one. Fidel Castro, according to himself and his Bolshie buddy, Che Guevara, took over Cuba to rid it of a torturous tyrant in Fulgenio Batista. To let his people go. But, history does not absolve Fidel, as he predicted in his legal defence when jailed for fomenting rebellion in Santiago de Cuba in 1953. History has proven that he is a whole lot worse than his predecessor. Cubans traded one despot for two; either and both of whom are at least as nasty as their predecessor. First off, Batista was mulatto, not "pur laine" Spanish, and mixed race and black Cubans had lots more opportunities to get ahead under Batista than ever under Fidel. Pictures of the time reveal that Batista's Havana was a true jewel - among the most civilized of all Latin American cities with the highest standard of living and a thriving middle class. The architectural look of the place was spectacular and photos of Cubans on the main shopping street, San Rafael, reveal an eclectic population of well dressed, multi-hued and happy people shopping and having fun. And in terms of treating political opponents badly, Batista only sent Fidel to jail for 3 years for starting a bloody rebellion. Fidel throws drunkards in the slammer for complaining about not having food to eat. And he provides vacations for newspaper journalists who don't appropriately honour him with praise. The next big lie is everything about Commandante Ernesto Guevara de la Serna. And the one after that is the myth of Fidel ever ceding power to his younger and much dumber and meaner brother. But those are tales for another day. Meanwhile, Fidel has a lotta esplainin' to do."
So why go out of your way to shake the hand of the leader of 'the island of lies"?
My chat about Moncada 1953 with Jorge Ponce
A few years ago, we discussed Moncada 1953 with Jorge Ponce, Cuban American writer and contributor to Babalu Blog.
Jorge and I came to the US in the 1960's with our parents.
You can hear the show here.
July 26, 1953 turned out to be an ugly day for Cuba
Growing up in a Cuban-American home acquainted me with a lot of the island of Cuba's history.
I guess that's normal in immigrant homes, but my parents were the type committed to teaching us how communism destroyed what they lovingly called "la patria" or homeland.
Conversations at our family dinners were always about Cuba. My parents would often warn us about leftists by saying "cuidado" or "be careful" because they always tell you what you want to hear.
Every time a Third World politician came on TV preaching "injustice," my parents would say one of their favorite lines about the movie that they saw already and didn't end well.
Once a year, the topic would be about what they would refer to as Moncada. On this day, July 26, 1953, Fidel Castro and his followers attacked the Moncada Barracks in eastern Cuba.
The attack was a disaster since more than 60 of the 185 "rebels" involved were killed. Castro and the survivors escaped and were eventually discovered and captured. Castro was tried a few months later and sentenced to fifteen years in prison. He defended himself and turned it into a book.
While imprisoned on Isla de Pinos, he wrote letters and continued to plot the Batista regime’s overthrow.
After having served less than two years, he was released in May 1955 due to a general amnesty. After that, he carried on with his "revolution."
My guess is that Batista regretted that amnesty to the end of his life.
Castro left Cuba and went to Mexico, met Che Guevara from Argentina, and the rest is the history that we are all too familiar with.
Our family conversations about Moncada would often try to answer one question: Why did Batista release him?
My parents felt that it was a PR move and a bit naive. At the same time, my father said that no one thought that Castro would harm anyone.
I guess that most people thought that the talk of revolution was finished and the Cuban economy was booming with prosperity.
A few years later, my father said that it would have been better if Batista had left, too, and the country could have been put back on a democratic track.
Today, Cuba is a dictatorship: Thousands of executions, millions have taken flight and no one knows for sure how many died leaving the country in leaky rafts, while many are still sitting in political prisons.
The Castro regime never allowed fair trials, free elections or had a general amnesty to empty the prisons.
In short, Castro devastated a beautiful country and a prosperous island.
What are Cuba’s political prisons like? Read Armando Valladares “Against all Hope”. You will learn all you need to know about the legacy of July 26.
By the way, you will read that Armando spent years in Villa Maristas, or the name of the political prison that used to be the Catholic school that my brother and I went to.
Turning a Catholic school into a political prison to torture political prisoners? What else do you need to know about that regime?
In retrospect, July 26 turned out to be a very bad day for Cuba.
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