Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

My Adventure in Miami with President Bush
Myself | 5/20/02 | Me

Posted on 05/20/2002 3:03:50 PM PDT by walrus954

Today was an amazing day for I finally got to see President Bush speak in Miami. My day started at 9 am when my father and I set out for the office of Rep. Lincoln Diaz Balarat. I got tickets from the congressman on Friday and had to pick them up. Then, it was off to the Orange Bowl where were boarded a shuttle bus to the James Knight Center. For someone who's Spanish is very shaky (I am only partially Cuban), this was a baptism by fire. I am 15, and I was the youngest on the bus by fire. Not only that, but my 45 year old father was the youngest on the bus by far. The people with us on the bus consisted of old Cuban-Americans who, like all Cuban Americans, had a strong love for Cuba and a passionate hate for Castro. After about a half hour of singing the Cuban National Anthem and reciting poems about Cuba, we made it to the James Knight Center, where we had to wait for two hours in line to get through security.

After this two hours of waiting, we had another hour and a half of waiting. It was interesting, however, because we got to hear the stories of the man who sat next to us who was a political prisoner in Cuba for 26 years. Then, at three o'clock, it started. Our senators and congress men (Graham, Nelson, Ros Lehithn and Diaz Balarat) entered, and Gloria Estefan and John Secada sang the national anthems of Cuba and the US. Governor Jeb Bush came to the podium and spoke in flawless Spanish. Then, he introduced the President of the United States. It felt like a volcano erupting inside the auditorium. All 3,000 jumped to their feet clapping and waving flags and screaming "Libertad" (Liberty!) and "Viva Cuba Libre!" (Long Live a Free Cuba). The feeling of goosebumps doesn't even begin to describe it. The president began to speak in Spanish, but then said he didn't want to destroy a beautiful language and reverted to English. The President gave a great speech spelling out his Cuba policy. After every few sentences, the crowd would leap to their feet, waving their flags, and shouting "Libertad!" and "U-S-A."

It truly was an amazing experience. He challenged Castro to allow free elections and introduced a Cuban refugee kid who came here 6 years ago speaking no English. Now, he will be going to Harvard. It proves what can happen to capable people when they are allowed to prosper in freedom. He then discussed his conditions for lifting the embargo (freeing political prisoners, allowing elections, etc), which I agree with. The President really gave me strength to continue to believe that someday, Cuba will be free again. I hope that this day is soon.

Viva Cuba Libre y Presidente Bush!

Andrew


TOPICS: Breaking News; Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: bush; cuba; florida; miami
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 181-185 next last
Anyone else who watched the speech/ attended, please post your thoughts!
1 posted on 05/20/2002 3:03:51 PM PDT by walrus954
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: summer, clemenza, floriduh_voter
Here's the full story! Summer, when the motorcade passed by, guess who had his head hanging out of the surburban??? That's right, your governor and mine, Jeb Bush! Today was great!

Andrew

2 posted on 05/20/2002 3:05:57 PM PDT by walrus954
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: walrus954
Kewl post. Bump-tid-e-bump!
3 posted on 05/20/2002 3:06:43 PM PDT by isthisnickcool
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: walrus954
Congratulations! I heard the speech and it was awsome. I'm glad you got to hear it in person.
4 posted on 05/20/2002 3:07:56 PM PDT by kcvl
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: walrus954
Sounds like a great day! I look forward to the day when I can hear our President speak in person.
5 posted on 05/20/2002 3:08:42 PM PDT by Bigg Red
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: walrus954
What a great report!!! Thanks for giving us your first hand account.

I watched the speech on CNN, (wanted to make certain they televised it), and you really captured the electricity that was visible even on television. FOXNews said there were 10,000 people in attendance. WOW!!

Thanks again for a great report, very well written too.

6 posted on 05/20/2002 3:08:53 PM PDT by YaYa123
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: walrus954
You gave me chill's as I read this......I am very impressed with your young age and your desire for American freedom as we all want here on Free Republic.

Your post gave me hope today. Very rare in this hard america and world. Thankyou!!!!!

7 posted on 05/20/2002 3:09:48 PM PDT by alisasny
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Comment #8 Removed by Moderator

To: walrus954
Wish I was there. It appears you had a great time and that's what counts!
9 posted on 05/20/2002 3:10:08 PM PDT by Reagan Man
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: walrus954
Way Cool Post!

I felt I was there with your words!
10 posted on 05/20/2002 3:10:13 PM PDT by cmsgop
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: walrus954; Miss Marple; PhiKapMom; Lady In Blue; Amelia; Southflanknorthpawsis; Howlin;
Andrew... thanks for sharing your wonderful experiences of the day. It is something you'll remember for your lifetime and have the pleasure of sharing at some point with others as they shared their stories with you today.....
11 posted on 05/20/2002 3:10:34 PM PDT by deport
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Jimrob
Post of the day!!!
12 posted on 05/20/2002 3:10:51 PM PDT by alisasny
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: walrus954
Excellent post! Thanks for sharing your excitement with the rest of Freeperdom.
13 posted on 05/20/2002 3:12:10 PM PDT by dittomom
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: walrus954
An article from the paper

Posted on Mon, May. 20, 2002 story:PUB_DESC

(AP) -- President Bush said Monday he won't heed calls to lift the Cuban trade embargo unless Fidel Castro releases political prisoners, conducts independently monitored elections and accepts a list of tough U.S. conditions for a ``new government that is fully democratic.''

''Freedom sometimes grows step by step, and we will encourage those steps,'' the president said at the White House, outlining his new U.S. policy on Cuban Independence Day. He then flew to Miami, where he delivered a similar message and was raising $2 million for the Florida Republican Party, which will use it to boost the re-election campaign of his brother Gov. Jeb Bush.

Bush declared to a boisterous crowd of Cuban Americans in Miami: ``We are here today to proclaim loudly and clearly to the entire world ... that the Cuban people's love of liberty cannot and will not be denied.''

Seeking to balance his hard-line policy with a sensitivity to Cuba's grinding poverty, the president outlined administration actions designed to make life better for the Cuban people. One initiative would resume direct mail service to and from Cuba.

Bush's speech, which aides said has been in the works since January, came a week after former President Carter traveled to Cuba and urged the people to embrace democracy while calling on the United States to lift the 40-year-old trade embargo.

Carter and other critics argue that the restrictions have failed to end Castro's regime while making life tough on ordinary Cubans. Critics also note the United States maintains trade and diplomatic relations with other nations that hold political prisoners and prevent free speech and elections, such as China, Malaysia and Saudi Arabia.

Bush also has been accused of shaping his policy to win support of Cuban-Americans, a force in Florida politics and thus a key to his re-election hopes. Indeed, Bush was traveling to Miami later in the day to address Cuban-Americans eager to hear his anti-Castro rhetoric.

The Cuban government did not respond immediately to the Washington speech. But some leading Cuban dissidents did not approve of Bush's hard-line stand.

''Changes have to be made but changes have to be made on both sides,'' said Vladimiro Roca, who was released from prison earlier this month. ``The prickly relationship between the two countries ... can hurt our hopes for advancing a transition to democracy.''

Another human rights activist, Elizardo Sanchez, praised Bush for his support of the Varela Project to get a national referendum on civil rights. ''The rest of (Bush's) speech was more of the same, the same prickly rhetoric from the time of the Cold War that has characterized the relationship between the countries for 40 years,'' Sanchez said.

''U.S.-Cuban relations are held hostage to a small minority in each country,'' said Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., one of several congressmen who criticized Bush's new policy. Dodd called for ``a fundamental change in the way we look at Cuba.''

Speaking in Spanish at times, Bush said Cuba's legacy of freedom ``has been insulted by a tyrant who uses brutal methods to enforce a bankrupt vision. That legacy has been debased by a relic from another era who has turned a beautiful island into a prison.''

If all his conditions are met, Bush will support lifting the congressionally mandated trade ban -- even if Castro is still in charge -- said two senior White House officials, speaking on condition of anonymity. But they said Bush does not envision Castro's making the necessary changes, prompting the new policy designed to foment change from within the country.

''If Mr. Castro refuses our offer he will be protecting his cronies at the expense of his people and eventually, despite all his tools of oppression, Fidel Castro will need to answer to his people,'' Bush said.

Last year, Bush proposed aiding Cuban dissidents, strengthening the impact of Radio Marti and TV Marti broadcasts and enforcing travel restrictions.

''Well-intentioned ideas about trade will merely prop up this dictator, enrich his cronies and enhance the totalitarian regime,'' he said Monday. ``It will not help the Cuban people.''

To win his approval of easing restrictions, Bush said Cuba must:

--Allow opposition parties to speak freely and organize.

--Allow independent trade unions.

--Free all political prisoners.

--Allow human rights organizations to visit Cuba to ensure that the conditions for free elections are being created.

--Allow outside observers to monitor 2003 elections.

--End discriminatory practices against Cuban workers.

''Full normalization of relations with Cuba, diplomatic recognition, open trade and a robust aid program will only be possible when Cuba has a new government that is fully democratic, when the rule of law is respected and when the human rights of all Cubans are fully protected,'' Bush said.

Citing the spread of democracy throughout Latin America, Bush said: ``With real political and economic reform, trade can benefit the Cuban people and allow them to share in the progress of our times.''

He voiced support for a referendum in Cuba asking voters whether they favor civil liberties, including freedom of speech and assembly, and amnesty for political prisoners.

Bush called for the resumption of mail service and promised assistance to nongovernmental organizations that aid Cubans. He also pledged to create scholarships in the United States for Cuban students, family members of political prisoners and professionals trying to build civil institutions in the communist regime.

Money still needs to be found for the scholarship program, White House officials said. They said the initiatives can be carried out without congressional approval

Last week, a 40-member, bipartisan group in Congress announced support for easing the embargo. The private Human Rights Watch called for the same, saying the embargo ``imposes indiscriminate hardship on the Cuban people and impedes democratic change.''

The public is evenly divided on ending the trade embargo, according to a recent CBS News poll that shows no change on that issue from four years ago. Sentiment for continuing the embargo has dropped from the mid-1990s. Republicans were more inclined to want to continue the embargo.


14 posted on 05/20/2002 3:12:30 PM PDT by deport
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: walrus954
Thanks for the bump. Now I must go back and read this and bttt. KEWL...
15 posted on 05/20/2002 3:12:40 PM PDT by floriduh voter
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: walrus954
Thanks for a wonderful account of your experiences....wish I could have been there.

........ ............

16 posted on 05/20/2002 3:12:47 PM PDT by JulieRNR21
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: walrus954
Thanks so much for posting this report! I watched on television, and it was electric! I am so glad you got to go and see him!
17 posted on 05/20/2002 3:13:34 PM PDT by Miss Marple
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: dog
bump, love this kid ...i hope mine are just as good!!!!
18 posted on 05/20/2002 3:15:04 PM PDT by alisasny
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: RJayneJ
My nomination for Essay of the Week is right here! :)
19 posted on 05/20/2002 3:17:15 PM PDT by summer
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: deport
a "boisterous" crowd of Cuban Americans in Miami

The reporter obviously couldn't stand to use the real term: "jubilant" or even, "enthusiastic".

20 posted on 05/20/2002 3:18:30 PM PDT by Inspectorette
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 181-185 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson