May 20, 1902: Happy Cuba Independence Day

(My new AT post.  See the post for links and references)

It was 119 years ago today that the Cuban flag went up in the island after the four-year U.S. occupation and 400 years of Spanish rule.   By the way, both of my paternal grandparents were born in 1892, and their birth certificates showed that they were citizens of the Spanish Crown, or whatever was left of it by that time.  Let's just say that the late 19th century was not the highlight of Spain's history.  They lost most of Latin America to independence and hung on to Cuba by a bit.

This is also a good day to remember what my late parents told me about Cuba.  

They recalled the elegance of Havana and how nice the country was. 

They never said that it was perfect, but certainly not "the underdeveloped country" narrative that Castro & the left have been preaching for years.  

That was pre-Castro Cuba, as Mark Milke wrote:   

Of the many myths that some offer up about Fidel Castro's Cuba, one tale is that despite Mr. Castro's repression, he improved a few social programs.

Thus, in his statement on Mr. Castro's death, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau asserted "significant improvements" in Cuban health care and education under the totalitarian tutelage of Fidel Castro.

An inconvenient fact: Pre-Castro, Cuba was already better off than most Latin American countries on such indicators. 

Also, Mr. Castro's rule knocked Cubans to the near-economic bottom of all Latin American countries, with subsequent negative effects on Cuba's much-vaunted social model.

In other words, pre-Castro Cuba was a much better place to live than post-1959.

On behalf of the many who have died in political prisons or were executed by the Castro regime, let me say that we are looking forward to another independence day.   

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March 2012: Robert Kent's amazing Cuba story

Guest: Robert Kent, NY City librarian. He told us the story of his trips to Cuba to support the independent library movement in the island. Robert was arrested in 1999 in Cuba.

Click below for the show.



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Nat King Cole died on this day in 1965

We remember Nat King Cole, who died on this day in 1965.

He started with a trio but became one of the most popular vocalists in the world.  His hits included "Unforgettable", "Mona Lisa" and "Nature boy".

He also recorded a Spanish album in Havana in 1957.  It is one of the nicest Spanish albums ever recorded.  

Cole died in 1965 from cancer but his music lives on.

Frankly, no one can sing a love song like Nat King Cole.    His music is now available in a digital format:  The Very Best Of Nat King Cole & Spanish album.

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.

1809: Abraham Lincoln born in modern day Kentucky

This is how Abraham Lincoln remembered his birthday:

"I was born Feb. 12. 1809 in then Hardin county Kentucky," wrote Lincoln in June 1860 for Thomas Hicks, "at a point within the now recently formed county of Larue, a mile, or a mile & a half from where Hodgin'sville now is. My parents being dead and my own memory not serving, I know no means of identifying the precise locality. It was on Nolin Creek." [Thomas Lincoln possessed 348½ acres of land when Abraham was born. Abraham's birthplace is approximately three miles south of present day Hodgenville, on Nolin River.] Memorandum Concerning His Birthplace, 14 June 1860, CW, 4:75-76."

The Lincoln Log is a wonderful website. It is a day by day log of the president's life.   

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Abraham Lincoln was born on this day in 1809

Abraham Lincoln was born in 1809.

We will have many celebrations across the land.   Lincoln was a great man.  The Lincoln monument was the highlight of my visit to DC many years ago.

It's hard to pick a favorite quote from Lincoln. I like this one from the 2nd inaugural speech, about a month before his assassination:

"With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation's wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan – to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace, among ourselves, and with all nations."

PS: You can listen to my show (Canto Talk).   There are many books about Abraham Lincoln.   Let me recommend this one:

Pres. Ford and those current historians

Pres. Ford's funeral was a big history lesson: Don't bet your farm on current historians because they usually get it wrong.

Pres. Ford is now the great leader who inherited a constitutional crisis, made the difficult but correct decision to pardon Pres. Nixon and had to deal with a tough recession in 1975-76.

Back in '76, cynical Democrats accused Pres. Ford of making a deal with Pres. Nixon on the pardon. In fact, the pardon was not about Pres. Nixon. It was about the US and putting the Watergate scandal behind us.

Maybe he wasn't a Lincoln but he was a very good Ford!

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.

Remembering President Ford who was born on this day in 1913

President Ford was born on this day in 1913.  He died in 2006.

The 38th president spent much of his post presidency enjoying a well deserved retirement.  He made a few appearances but generally stayed home and enjoyed his wonderful wife and family. 

President Ford often smoked a pipe in public. He may have been the last president to smoke in public.   

Who remembers this from the day he became president:

"I am acutely aware that you have not elected me as your President by your ballots.   So I ask you to confirm me as your President with your prayers."    

I remember Pres. Ford making that statement. I think that it went over very well with much of the country.

 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.

ABBA's "Waterloo" wins top song at Eurovision 1974

We've posted about ABBA a couple of times before.  

Back in 1974, ABBA won a European prize and it launched the group.

It took a couple of years for ABBA to click in the US.  However, they did in 1976 and the rest is history.

My first exposure to ABBA was listening to the radio in 1976 and hearing a song called "I do, I do, I do".  Again, I was convinced that they were the best two looking girls in Sweden.  

Click here for ABBA's "Waterloo".  It wasn't really about Napoleon & Waterloo but no one was angry with the girls for their view of history: 

1974: "Eres tu" by Mocedades became a favorite for people learning Spanish

"Eres tu" was the best thing that ever happened to Spanish class teachers.  

In other words, what could be better than a pop song in Spanish that every student wanted to learn?

Mocedades from Spain hit US radio this month and the results were a Top 10 hit called "Eres tu".    It was a great pop song.

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.

1974: Mickey Mantle and Whitey Ford selected to the Hall of Fame

Two great Yankees were selected to the Hall of Fame on this day in 1974.

Mickey Mantle was one of the great power hitters in history:   .298 career batting average, 536 HR and 1,509 RBI.   He was also a 3-time MVP and played in 12 World Series.   He had a career .421 On Base Average.

Whitey Ford was one of the best lefthanders in major league history:  236 wins, 156 complete games and a 2.75 career ERA.   He played in 11 World Series and won 10 games.

Mantle and Ford were part of the great Yankee teams that dominated baseball from 1949-64.   They were great teammates and it was great to see them go into the Hall of Fame together.

P.S.  You can listen to my show (Canto Talk).  If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column.