Published Sunday, May 14, 2000, in the Miami Herald

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Open Letter To Cuban-Americans From An Anglo- American Born And Raised In Miami, Florida

Dear Cuban-Americans:

It is important that the Cuban-Americans in Miami understand that not all "Anglo" Americans are against them. In fact, most Anglos with whom I relate have a deep respect, appreciation, and empathy for Cuban-Americans, and the immense contributions they have made to our great city. It is sad that our American flag has recently come to stand for hatred, bigotry, and intolerance in the way that it has been abused by a handful of people who have shamelessly participated in the so-called "pro-USA" rallies on South Dixie Highway and elsewhere. What is more disturbing simultaneous waving of confederate flags and other hateful banners with slogans such as "one down, 800,000 to go," and "go home." This is not the way the general population of Anglos feel about our Cuban-American brothers and sisters.

Last Saturday, as I drove down U.S. 1, I saw a couple hundred flag-wavers chanting their slogans. I gave the thumbs-down sign as I drove past them, showing my non-support for their insensitivity, and was the recipient of hateful screams such as "go home" and "go back to Cuba." I had to laugh. Here I am, a blonde, third generation American of Irish, German, and Greek descent, who was born and grew up in Miami and is sworn as an attorney to uphold the constitution of a country whose principles I cherish, and I'm being told I should go back to Cuba? It defies logic how these flag-wavers somehow think they are more American and have some superior right entitling them to tell other Americans to leave, and think that only a Cuban could disapprove of their display.

The disturbing irony is that these "pro-USA" hate-mongers are condemning people who have struggled to uphold the very values of liberty and justice that the American flag symbolizes, and which Cuban Americans have sacrificed to  uphold. Cuban-Americans have proven their dedication to American values in many ways. First, by rejecting an oppressive, totalitarian communist dictator, and giving up everything they once had to live in freedom and democracy. Then, more recently, by trying to save a little boy from that same political oppression after his courageous mother died tragically in h arch for freedom. Sadly, most Anglo Americans do not fully appreciate this fact, because most of us have 'been fortunate enough not to have lived under political oppression.

These Cuban-Americans have also proven their dedication by fighting for the U.S. in Vietnam and the Persian Gulf. They pay taxes, have worked hard to help  build a prosperous city, have taught their children the principles of democracy, and generally have been decent, productive law-abiding citizens. They have become our legislators, judges, attorneys, doctors, accountants, teachers, elected officials, celebrities, police officers, firefighters, scientists, and construction workers. In short, they have been every bit as dedicated as American citizens who can trace their ancestry to  the Mayflower, and they have shown great passion in their strong democratic beliefs by vigorously rejecting and fighting against a declared enemy of the United States of America.

Lately, it has become "politically correct" to say that Cuba is not such a bad place, "it's just an alternative political ideology." That is yet another reason why Cuban-Americans are justifiably outraged. They have lived it. They know first hand that it is not "just an alternative political ideology." They have suffered from seeing tens of thousands of people executed by firing squads for daring to speak out against "the revolution." They have suffered from seeing family members jailed for months or years for merely telling a joke about Fidel. They have experienced their every move scrutinized by secret police on every street corner. They have had all of their personal belongings inventoried and nationalized by the government, and have been outlawed from attending church. They endured the heartache of having family members trapped in Cuba with no hope of escape or reunion. Indeed, thousands of them, in their search for freedom, have drifted at sea for days, and many have even seen loved ones perish in the journey. If any group of Americans have proven their dedication to the American ideals and rejected non-American principles, it is the Cuban-Americans.

(To be continued)

Copyright 2000 the Miami Herald.
Republished here with the permission of the Miami Herald. No further republication or redistribution is permitted without the written approval of The Miami Herald.