Posted on 11/02/2008 12:19:48 PM PST by TheShaz
I took my family this past Saturday to the Palin rally in Polk City, Florida. It was held at the Fantasy of Flight main hangar off of I-4. It was packed, upward to 10,000 people were there. It was my 1st rally this political season and I really wanted to see Palin. For starters it is so nice being surrounded by likeminded people. The few hours waiting and standing flew by as you chatted up with the people around you. I wish my brother could have made it, he has a nice digital camera, I only had my cell phone and those images are not even worth posting.
When Palin’s bus caravan arrived the media got off and had a area behind me. I was off left stage to the podium and about 40ft from the stage and had a good view. As I was chatting with somebody we noticed the media with their camera’s and laptops setting up station. On some of them we spotted a VOTE FOR CHANGE button, one had a Obama sticker on her laptop. So I was unable to contain myself and walked over to the fence and asked “You guys are part of the media pool covering Palin, correct?” They confirmed so my follow on question (the one with the Obama sticker on her laptop was ignoring me) “So, have any of you been thrown off the McCain/Palin plane or buses?” – I asked loud enough that several people heard and those behind me had a chuckle. The only answer I got be was a dirty look. It made my day. I finished with “I didn’t think so”. And walked back to wait for Sarah Palin.
When she arrived I was very impressed. She is very engaging and at several times left the stump speech. There was a family there who were from Alaska but spend their winters here in Florida, she acknowledged them. The best when a guy near the front held up a hand drawn sign, Sarah read it aloud to the cheers of the people there. “TO OBAMA, PALOSI and REID: You can’t take my guns, my religion and my bulldozer. Corey the Contractor”. When the Rally was over we headed back to the van. We had our kids and they wanted to eat. There was only one way into the Fantasy of Flight and the State Troopers were blocking the exit for the Bus caravan to leave 1st. So out in the parking lot, allot more of the same, chatting with likeminded people around you.
And now for the real reason for my post….While in the parking lot, and we were there for about an hour before cars started to move at all. A elderly man walked up and handed me a sheet of paper. I posted the contents below. In short he is a Cuban-American and it was a letter to the Editor he sent in. I call it a eye-opener. About 6 of us were chatting and Mr. Alvarez joined us, all of us had read his article and was impressed. I asked him if he knew the general feeling of most Cuban-Americans who have a sizable voting block in south Florida. He stated he can really only vouch for his generation by saying that Obama scares the crap out of them.
TheShaz
I tried to scan and OCR this but it was photocopied too much....I typed in manually....Yes I was that impressed.
From Richmond Times-Dispatch, Monday, July 7 2008
Dear Editor, Times-Dispatch:
Each year I get to celebrate Independence Day Twice. On June 30th I celebrate my independence day, and on July 4th I celebrate America’s. This year is special, because it marks the 40th anniversary of my independence.
On June 30th 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 1950’s, most Cubans thought Cuba needed a change, 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 when 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 in America would never fall 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.
I like that...speaks volumes.
Great post!
Spot-on. Tears of anger in my eyes.
Thanks for posting. You’re a good reporter!
Wonderful editioral by Mr. Alvarez. Thanks for posting it.
JH2, will be of interest to you. :-)
I still have that paper from Mr Alvarez....showed it friends at church this morning.
Outside of seeing Palin and our Govornor. I got the chance to speak to Adam Putman my Rep in Congress.
But still my favorite moment was when I asked those reporters if any of them got kicked off the McCain/Palin buses or airplanes and the dirty look response.
Made my day :)
BTTT!
Interesting.....When we were in the parking lot. The group of us talking asking if this was him and he said yes. He was Cuban he spoke on his journey our of Cuba. My mother and older brother were in Cuba working when Castro took over and he sounded very legit. The guy looked like a successfull retiree enjoying winter in Florida. He was driving a Caddy.
I was inpressed. The YOUTUBE video was good. “Pictures worth a thousand words” putting those images to those words really make them hit home.
TheShaz
Geez, not a single mention about the warbird collection at Fantasy of Flight? Shame on you! ;-)
Saw a bunch of aircraft engines against the wall. When we were waiting to get out of the parking lot - somebody hopped into a P-51 it looked like and gave a free AirShow. That person was haveing way too much fun.
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.