Days are passing quickly as various politicians campaign in our country, often stumbling,  in their quest to become respective party nominees for the office of President.   To date, the verbal warfare involved has been, at times, derisive and downright ugly, a sad demonstration of textbook politicking at its very worst.  The rhetoric is quickly becoming stale and fingers poised to direct one accusation after another are becoming tired.  The banter spewed out various debates or town hall gatherings has sounded more like a schoolyard brawl involving bullies, not supposedly intelligent adults.  Of course, the sometimes patronizing speeches from both Democrats and Republicans have focused on how each will bring forth desperately-needed change to America.  Then, the dialogue quickly spins out-of-control into a reprehensible whirlwind of slurs and guttural insults hurled in every direction.   Depending on where people stand politically, all will agree to disagree, and much like recent local elections here where I live, most people will be left with the dreadful choice of choosing just who will be the lesser of two evils, this time for a new White House resident in November.

That is where I stand at this very moment and will remain in the troubled months ahead.  Writing and sharing my thoughts here seems to be the best approach while I avoid any deep discussion with friends. Doing so either in person or on social media finds many acquaintances taking adversarial stands and I’m attempting not to lose friendships during this explosive political process.  Emotions are running high, fueled by the twisted media’s daily reporting of facts both pertinent and purely opinionated.  

But, me being me, I will step over any acceptable line and state my personal criticism of our current President and his visit to Cuba, the first one of an American leader since 1928.  Was this trip really necessary?   What is honestly to be gained by this visit?  What will the Cuban regime give to the United States in return?  Let me think…maybe the possible extradition of Joanne Chesimard aka/Assata Shakur, a highly dangerous, murderous, fugitive granted political asylum since 1984? Highly unlikely. Cuba has existed under a blanket of Socialism since the late 1950’s and regardless of the lifting of any travel or trade sanctions, the overall attitude from Cuba’s leaders and people living there will not magically welcome any change from the United States.   There will be no change for the better where human rights are concerned, no rescue of those imprisoned in Cuba.  Life, as it has been since the overthrow of Fulgencio Battista, will continue under communistic rule and Cubans so deeply indoctrinated into this political theory will sadly never emerge from its hold.  

In my husband’s extended family, several moved from Italy to Cuba in the 1930’s, establishing themselves as successful business and land owners until Castro and his rebels came into power.  The Castro revolution rapidly seized everything owned by thousands of island residents,  leaving them nothing but each other and the shirts on their backs when they fled Cuba. They were the lucky ones, having escaped years of imprisonment or execution from Castro’s guerrillas.  Now, as the world looks on and remarks at this “historical” visit to Cuba by an American President, I wonder if it will be better remembered more as a “destructive” event as our history unfolds.  It remains to be seen.

There is a Chinese curse which says ‘May he live in interesting times.’ Like it or not we live in interesting times. They are times of danger and uncertainty; but they are also more open to the creative energy of men than any other time in history.   Robert Kennedy