Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Nevilledog

(50,659 posts)
Tue Sep 15, 2020, 05:37 PM Sep 2020

'I'm a Cuban American who loves our democracy. I'm voting for Joe Biden'




https://www.miamiherald.com/opinion/op-ed/article245715145.html

I was 11 when Fidel Castro came to power. I vividly remember the triumph of the revolution and the upheaval it caused. I remember my father coming home one day to tell my mother that his company had been confiscated and they had lost everything. I remember how my sixth-grade class became divided, and former friends started calling me “gusano” or “latifundista,” when I still barely understood what was happening.

I also remember the early exile days, in Miami, and a community of struggling Cubans, all doing their best to help each other. I remember my father working at the refugee center while trying to start over as a door-to-door encyclopedia salesman. I don’t believe he ever sold one. Years later, I had the honor of becoming head writer for the series “¿Qué Pasa, USA?” in which we portrayed the assimilating Cuban community in loving terms.

All this to say, I am not a communist, a socialist or a “tonto útil” (useful fool). And I will be voting for Joe Biden on Nov. 3.

Seeing the heated exchanges among Cuban Americans on social media, and in person, I keep reminding myself that we came to this country to have the option to differ and to express our opinions without fear of insult or recrimination. When we label someone we disagree with a communist, a fidelista or a reactionary, we only echo the intransigence of the regime we fled.

*snip*




5 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
'I'm a Cuban American who loves our democracy. I'm voting for Joe Biden' (Original Post) Nevilledog Sep 2020 OP
That's great. J_William_Ryan Sep 2020 #1
From what I read when Obama was winning FL TheRealNorth Sep 2020 #2
We should have used someone like that prominently at the convention Awsi Dooger Sep 2020 #3
I used to watch that as a kid. nt Guy Whitey Corngood Sep 2020 #4
I honestly do not understand Cuban-Americans who despised Castro but support 45. LonePirate Sep 2020 #5

TheRealNorth

(9,435 posts)
2. From what I read when Obama was winning FL
Tue Sep 15, 2020, 05:53 PM
Sep 2020

The younger Cuban-Americans are not as entrenched in cold war ideologies as the older generations. The difference is the older Cuban-Americans were okay with dictators so long as it was "their" guy.

Lets hope the younger folks realize the dangers of dictatorships regardless of which side is in power.

 

Awsi Dooger

(14,565 posts)
3. We should have used someone like that prominently at the convention
Tue Sep 15, 2020, 05:55 PM
Sep 2020

Republicans did that, we did not. That's seemingly always the problem in Florida, failure to anticipate and get the upper hand.

Patchwork can only fix so much.

The losses among Florida Hispanics won't be as dramatic as some polling suggests. But all this last minute scrambling can be prevented if we simply find a Hispanic messaging coordinator years ahead of time instead of 2-3 months ahead of time, and fund/sophisticate fully.

LonePirate

(13,386 posts)
5. I honestly do not understand Cuban-Americans who despised Castro but support 45.
Tue Sep 15, 2020, 06:41 PM
Sep 2020

Aren't the reasons for hating Castro almost identical to some of the reasons one should hate 45?

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»'I'm a Cuban American who...