Wake up America!

Beware Charismatic Men Who Preach 'Change'

Editor, Times-Dispatch:
(Richmond Times Dispatch)

Each year I get to celebrate Independence Day twice. On June 30 I celebrate my independence day and on July 4 I celebrate America's. This year is special, because it marks the 40th anniversary of my independence.

On June 30, 1968, I escaped Communist Cuba and a few months later I was in the United States to stay. That I happened to arrive in Richmond on Thanksgiving Day is just part of the story, but I digress.

I've thought a lot about the anniversary this year. The election-year rhetoric has made me think a lot about Cuba and what transpired there. In the late 1950s, most Cubans thought Cuba needed a change, and they were right. So when a young leader came along, every Cuban was at least receptive.

When the young leader spoke eloquently and passionately and denounced the old system, the press fell in love with him. They never questioned who his friends were or what he really believed in. When he said he would help the farmers and the poor and bring free medical care and education to all, everyone followed. When he said he would bring justice and equality to all, everyone said "Praise the Lord." And when the young leader said, "I will be for change and I'll bring you change," everyone yelled, "Viva Fidel!"

But nobody asked about the change, so by the time the executioner's guns went silent the people's guns had been taken away. By the time everyone was equal, they were equally poor, hungry, and oppressed. By the time everyone received their free education it was worth nothing. By the time the press noticed, it was too late, because they were now working for him. By the time the change was finally implemented Cuba had been knocked down a couple of notches to Third-World status. By the time the change was over more than a million people had taken to boats, rafts, and inner tubes. You can call those who made it ashore anywhere else in the world the most fortunate Cubans. And now I'm back to the beginning of my story.

Luckily, we would never fall in America for a young leader who promised change without asking, what change? How will you carry it out? What will it cost America?

Would we?

Manuel Alvarez Jr. Sandy Hook.

original url: http://www.inrich.com/cva/ric/search.apx.-content-articles-RTD-2008-07-07-0033.html

Bike Ride

Hello All,

Ian and I haven't gone many places so far, because I've been a bit under the weather for the past couple of weeks. I keep getting sick with some kind of sever cold that keeps letting me get better for a day or two and then I get sick again. But I've been feeling much better the last few days, so hopfeully I'm getting better this time for good!

On that note, I went for a bike ride today around the surrounding villages and took some great pictures of the country-side and of the village that we live in and other villages that are near by. So I thought I would post some of the pictures here to share how beautiful it is here! The leaves are starting to turn and the "fall colors" are beautiful and vibrant. This is a picture of the Vil's River.

The village of Schönlind from a distance. This is where we live!!


Another picture of our beautiful town and the beautiful fall colors.


It's hard to explain where this picture was taken, but it was basically taken on the property that we live on. I just thought it was so beautiful, I had to snap a quick photo of the old wagon wheel with the stones and etc.


At the edge of every village, they locals cut fire wood all throughout the year and store it all together on the edge of every town or village. So in the winter time, they already have all this fire wood already cut that the whole village will share to heat their homes in the winter. Kinda a neat idea. So here's a picture of the cut wood that the village we live in is saving for the winter season. I decided I had to take this picture because of the beautiful yellow trees.

This is the road that I normally ride my bike on. To the right in a corn field, to the left is the Vil's River, and straight a head is Schönlind.

That's it for now. Don't forget the other pictures I have posted on my other website. (www.myspace.com/ashsteggie) These pictures will also be posted there, along with others that I didn't include in this blog. Well, I gotta run for now. Ian is taking me to dinner and to see the new movie Eagle Eye that's out. Yay! :o) Have a great weekend every one! Please feel free to comment!

Love,
Ashley & Ian