Arroz con Mango

When I was a teenager.....a long,long, time ago, I began to get involved in anti-castro activities. In the mid-70's, while in college in the northeast, I became even more involved. I realized that one of our most important duties as exiles was to fight the leftist propaganda and debunk the castro myth. No easy task given the pro castro propaganda that even to this day, permeates the mainstream media outlets.

Within my own school, because of my demeanor, name, political views, friends and musical tastes I wasn't considered Cuban enough. That is heart-piercing. Sometimes in discussions I was also labeled a commie by family. Equally as heart-piercing. In 1980, while helping to organize a benefit for the people at the Peruvian embassy in Cuba, I became convinced that because of our inability to get along with each other, that we would never succeed in 1. Getting the American public to take our position seriously or 2. topple castro's totalitarian tyranny, because we were our own worst enemies. Sadly, At the end of that day, Cuba sank into the Caribbean for me.

A few events, like the downing of the Brothers to the Rescue cessnas, castro's visit to the UN, and the Elian saga , however, proved that at least younger Cubans were becoming more media-savvy, inclusive and unified. Hope.

About two years ago, some guy was in the papers all bent out of shape because the Burlington Coat Factory had an add where they were advertising shirts with the likeness of an Argentine mass murderer. Apparently this guy had something called a "blog". I typed in the address. Oddly enough we once had a pekingnese named "babalu" . I found a place where this guy railed against castro (no caps!), communists and democrats (hard to defend my party these days) . Gotta love it! Add to my favorites. To the right of the posts there are links. WOW! More zany guys. Some of these guys are definitely into Led Zep. Another add to Favorites. One guy has pictures that actually made me cry that show the complete and utter devastation that have resulted from the revolting "revolution" that started over 50 years ago and has only accomplished death destruction and despair. He should really put a warning on his pics as they are very upsetting. But they provide the best ammunition possible when some well meaning American who gets all of their knowledge from the Today Show or 60 Minutes gives you the tired line about free healthcare and education (read indoctrination). Another add to Favorites.

All these sites, all different yet with an unmistakable and undeniable common theme that binds them: CUBA LIBRE.

To me and the thousands of Cubans that visit ALL these blogs MANY times a day, It doesn't matter who was born here or got the scoop first or who got more hits. What does matter is that EVERYONE is working towards the common goal: CUBA LIBRE. What matters is all the great information and comments and different points of view. These bloggers don't blog for their own health the blog for the readers. Readers like me. So to steal a page out of KILLKASTRO:

Come Together

Here come old flattop he come grooving up slowly
He got joo-joo eyeball he one holy roller
He got hair down to his knee
Got to be a joker he just do what he please

He wear no shoeshine he got toe-jam football
He got monkey finger he shoot coca-cola
He say "I know you, you know me"
One thing I can tell you is you got to be free
Come together right now over me

He bag production he got walrus gumboot
He got Ono sideboard he one spinal cracker
He got feet down below his knee
Hold you in his armchair you can feel his disease
Come together right now over me

He roller-coaster he got early warning
He got muddy water he one mojo filter
He say "One and one and one is three"
Got to be good-looking 'cause he's so hard to see
Come together right now over me