SIGNIFICANCE OF MAY 20, 1902 TO CUBA / by Jorge E. Ponce

May 20, 1902? What’s commemorated on this date? Is it Cuban Independence from Spain? Should only Cubans be concerned about this date?

To determine the answer to this question, one must delve into the history of Cuba.  But this becomes a difficult task for most Cuban-Americans who emigrated at an early age to the United States since 1959. 

Take, for example, someone like me.  The Cuban Communist Government forced parents to enroll their children in government-run schools to instill in them Marxist propaganda.  Private and religious schools were closed permanently, and the teaching staff was either laid off or forced to emigrate mostly to Spain.  This created a shortage of teachers with credentialed backgrounds – which undermined the teaching of basic subjects.  Therefore, my three years spent in these schools centered on learning about the Cuban, Bolshevik, and Mao revolutions.  History about Cuba BC (Before Castro) was banned for being bourgeois and unimportant. 

After coming to Arlington, Virginia, my focus was on learning the history of the United States.  As time went by, English became my primary language.  Although I was fortunate to attend lectures on Cuban history in Spanish by distinguished Professor Herminio Portell Vila and his assistant Ms. Isabel Pruna, my language proficiency and retention-ability became less and less.  To make matters worse, there were not many books in English pertaining to the history of Cuba BC.  This is why I have praised Cuban-American Professor Alfred J Lopez for penning recently the first book in English about Cuban National Hero Jose Marti.  

So, let’s delve back into the real significance of May 20th for Cubans – but before doing so, let’s review some background events in Cuban history.

Multiple U.S. President had wanted to annex Cuba as a U.S. state.  Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the United States, wrote to James Madison in 1809 about the fact that Cuba was only ninety miles from Key West, Florida and located at the mouth of the Gulf of America.  Democrat Presidents James Polk in 1848 and Frankling Pierce in 1854 offered to buy Cuba from Spain to add the Caribbean Island to the Southern slave-owning states.  Slavery was abolished in the United States by the 13th Amendment in 1865, and in Cuba in 1886.  Democrat President James Buchanan also favored buying Cuba from Spain, but the Ostend Manifesto of 1854 allowing the U.S. to seize Cuba by force if Spain refused to sell it was voted down by the U.S. Congress.  After 1865, calls for Cuba annexation by U.S. congressmen decreased significantly.

Venezuelan-born adventurer and former Spanish Army General Narciso Lopez led several expeditions from the United States in the 1850’s to liberate Cuba from the Spanish rule and annex Cuba to the United States.  Many sugar planters and members of the Cuban business establishment were concerned with the weakening of the Spanish Empire after the liberation of most of South America by Simon Bolivar and supported Lopez’ forces as a way to retain the institution of slavery. Many planters in New Orleans supported Lopez’ plans — as they favored adding Cuba as another slave state of the South.  In 1851, the Spanish forces captured Lopez and executed him in Havana.

It helps to get a feel for the mood of most Americans concerning the annexation of multiple Caribbean Islands during this time.  Republican President Ulysses S. Grant supported a treaty drafted in 1870 to annex the Dominican Republic as a way to reinforce the Monroe Doctrine and find a haven for African Americans fleeing persecution in the Reconstruction South. Abolitionist Frederick Douglass supported this annexation as a way to uplift the island from poverty.  But the U.S. Senate defeated this measure because many believed that non-white people in the Caribbean were unfit for American citizenship and feared that the United States would absorb “degenerate races.”

It was thanks to Cuban National Hero Jose Marti that the character of Cubans was safeguarded after he challenged in writing a defamatory column that was published in the Manufacturer of Philadelphia and reprinted in the New York Evening Post on March 25, 1889.  The column labeled Cubans as “destitute vagrants or immoral pigmies,” “petty talkers, incapable of action, hostile to hard work,” “an effeminate people,” “people of defective morals … unfitted by nature and experience to discharge the obligations of citizenship in a great and free country,” and “our lack of manly force and of self-respect is demonstrated by the supineness with which we have so long submitted to Spanish oppression, and even our attempts at rebellion have been so pitifully ineffective that they have risen little above the dignity of farce.”

Marti was prophetic in advocating against the annexation of Cuba — as it was unwise to do so with a country that thought so poorly of its patriots (men who had fought for so long a European country with no help from the civilized world). 

Cuban patriots fought three wars to gain their independence from Spain – the ten years’ war lasting from 1868 – 1878, the little war from 1879-1880, and the war of independence from 1895 – 1898.  During the 1895 war, the Cuban population was approximately 1.8 million. According to the Library of Congress Research Guide, 20% of the Cuban population perished during the wars – including combat death and the effects of Spanish General Weyler’s reconcentration policies. This amounts to 360,000 Cuban casualties!  I don’t think that anyone with an iota of intelligence and moral fortitude would label these patriots “effeminate people!”

After the sinking of the USS Navy Ship Maine in Havana Harbor in February 1898, which the jingoistic media outlets blamed Spain for it, Republican President William Mckinley received a Congressional joint resolution on April 20, 1898, to intervene militarily to secure Cuba’s independence.  U.S. troops landed at Guantanamo Bay on June 10th, and a cease-fire was reached on August 12, 1898 – followed by the end of the Spanish-American war by the signing of the Treaty of Paris on December 10, 1898. The treaty also ceded Guam and Puerto Rico to the United States — as well as Spain agreeing to sell the Philippines for $20 million.  Teddy Roosevelt and the Rough Riders gained fame and recognition for their participation in multiple battles — like the one in San Juan Hill.

Despite the fact that Cuban patriots had fought valiantly for fourteen years to gain their independence and that they had lost 20% of their population in these efforts, the United States delegates — whose military had participated in the Cuban wars for a mere two months – prevented Cuban representatives from participating in the signing of the Treaty of Paris.  Moreover, U.S. General William Shafter refused to allow Cuban General Calixto Garcia and his rebel forces to participate in the surrender ceremonies in Santiago de Cuba.

You may ask what prevented the United States from invoking the Monroe Doctrine and annexing Cuba prior to the U.S. declaration of war against Spain in 1898? Senator Henry Teller of Colorado succeeded in having his amendment passed by the U.S. Congress in 1898 that stipulated: “The United States hereby disclaims any disposition or intention to exercise sovereignty, jurisdiction, or control over said island except for the pacification thereof, and asserts its determination, when that is accomplished, to leave the government and control of the island to its people.” It turns out that the Senator’s motives were not necessarily altruistic but were triggered by his efforts to protect the beet industry from cheap Cuban cane sugar imports. In fact, Senator Teller went on to support the Platt Amendment.

So, we are ready now to answer the question about the significance of May 20, 1902.

If Spain ceded control of Cuba via the Treaty of Paris, what happened in Cuba between 1898 and 1902?

On January 1, 1899, the United States commenced the formal military occupation of Cuba – in strict violation of the Teller Amendment.  The majority of Cubans agreed with the warning of Jose Marti regarding his quote that “to change masters is not to be free.”

From 1898 to 1902, the United States controlled the government of Cuba. President Mckinley had always wanted to have strong control over Cuban affairs.  After his assassination in 1901, Vice President Theodore Roosevelt took over the presidency and continued Mckinley’s policies towards Cuba. 

With the signing by President McKinley of the Platt Amendment in 1901 – which President Franklin Delano Roosevelt abolished in 1934 — the United States abrogated Cuba’s right to make treaties with other nations and restricted Cuba’s ability to conduct foreign policy and commercial relations.  It allowed the United States to intervene militarily to theoretically preserve Cuban independence, although realistically it was to protect the U.S. investments on the Island. It also allowed the United States to lease the Guantanamo Naval Base.   

May 20th, 1902 was the date when the Cuban Republic was established and Tomas Estrada Palma became its first president.  While symbolically this date represents the end of the American military occupation, the U.S. military did intervene multiple times in Cuban affairs until the abrogation of the Amendment in 1934. 

Now that we’ve dealt deeply into Cuba BC’s history, it becomes obvious that the U.S. interventions in Cuba affairs from 1898 to 1934 did a lot of harm to the development of Cuba as a free and independent republic. 

Some say that the Cuban Republic lasted from 1902 to 1959 with the rise of the communist regime of Fidel Castro.  I and I’m sure others think that the Cuban Republic lasted only for 24 years – from the ending of the Platt Amendment in 1934 to 1959.  This is not enough time to reach maturity as a free country and differentiate between governments that uphold the inalienable rights of life, liberty, private property, and the pursuit of happiness from those that suppress these rights by making its citizens slaves of totalitarian ideologies.

Had I lived in Cuba BC as an adult, my political affiliation would have sided with the Cuban nationalistic aspirations.  A young republic deserved to have a “government of the people, by the people, and for the people” to quote President Lincoln’s famous quote – without any foreign interference.  Cuban politicians deserved an opportunity to make the right decisions and to learn from its own mistakes.  Denying Cubans this trial-and-error transition prevented the maturity it needed later to maintain its adherence to democratic policies and fend off their sequestration by totalitarian ideologies. 

The history pertaining to May 20, 1902, should not be limited to Cubans.  Peoples from all over the world will learn from it and ensure that it’s not repeated.  What happens to the least of all is important to all – as we are all part of the human history.

Presidential messages may muddle the significance of this date.  For example, the 2025 message states: “This Cuban Independence Day, we honor the courageous patriots who broke free from Spanish colonial rule …”

Does this history lesson mean that I am anti-American? Absolutely not. I am an American citizen and love this country.  But to quote the late Spanish philosopher George Santayana, “those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it.” The difference between the United States and communist countries is that the former has corrected its past mistakes while the latter holds on to them to keep themselves in power.

Now, you know the rest and the real story!

VISITING EGYPT / by Jorge E. Ponce

I recently took the Viking’s Nile River Cruise to visit Egypt.  Many of my friends have asked me to narrate my views on this country, which I’ll share below.

The capital Cairo has a population of 23.1M.  Its overpopulation becomes evident in the traffic patterns of the city.  It’s common to have a third car drive in-between two cars at high speeds — which results in a very unsafe habit as well as many dented car doors.  Traffic congestions are common at all hours of the day. 

Temperatures ranged from 103 to 105 degrees Fahrenheit during my June 2-14, 2025 stay — with no rain.  While the air was dry – as compared to the humidity prevalent in the Tampa Bay Area where I live – these high temperatures required tourists to wear sun screen, hats, and sun glasses daily while venturing out. Staying hydrated was a must.

While neighborhoods near the airport – like Heliopolis – were beautiful and modern, other areas left a lot to be desired.  Egyptian President al-Sisi issued an edit recently requiring homes near major thoroughfares to be freshly painted.  But this edict represented only a half-measure, as many homeowners leave their buildings and homes unfinished with rebars exposed at the top in order to not pay excessive taxes to the government.  This practice gives Cairo a very unpleasant look. 

Abortion is unlawful in Egypt except when done to protect the life of the mother. 

LGBTQ is also illegal, and those who come out are subject to stiff jail sentences.

85% of the population is Sunni Muslim, with 15% being Coptic Orthodox Christians. 

Polygamy is still legal in Egypt.  Islamic law allows men to have up to four wives – provided that he can afford them and treat them equally.  Nevertheless, because of the rise of women’s rights and high cost of living less than 1% of Egyptian Muslim men practice it. 

In ancient Egypt, most men were monogamous except the pharaohs — who had multiple wives and concubines.  The word “queen” was given to the “King’s Wife” – who would be featured in official records and religious ceremonies.   The expectation was that she would become the “King’s Mother” after producing an heir.  If she failed in this task, another lesser wife might receive the title.

Sunni Muslim women typically wear the abaya, a black body covering, and the shayla, a black scarf covering their heads.  Men wear the galabeya, an ankle-length loose-fitting garment.

The Coptic Orthodox Church emphasizes that its followers should focus on their internal character rather than on their outward appearance.  Dress attire should be modest in church and secular life – with proper covering of the arms as well as long pants covering the legs.  It’s easy to identify Coptic Christian women as they don’t wear any head covers.

Shopping is quite an experience.  The City Stars Mall is connected to the Intercontinental Cairo Citystars Hotel, where I stayed.  This is a beautiful mall with all the amenities that you would find in a western shopping mall.  I purchased several linen shirts and a pant at one of the stores at great prices.

The current exchange rate is 50 Egyptian pounds equal one dollar.  Vendors preferred the U.S. dollars, so there is no need to purchase any Egyptian currencies.  10% gratuity is the accepted rate at restaurants.

Local shopping is an experience that most westerners are not used to – as vendors are used to selling their wares in a way that can be intimidating and bordering on bullying.  Rather than attracting customers to the shops, these selling practices have the opposite effect.  Never accept the first prize for an item and always negotiate for a lower price. 

I had a very unpleasant experience when purchasing a galabeya at a market in Esna – a city on the west bank of the Nile River and near Luxor.  When I saw one that I liked, I went inside the shop to negotiate the price.  The vendor insisted in having me wear the 2-piece galabeya and a turban.  When I asked for the price for the ensemble, he quoted me $85.  When I told him that I was unwilling to pay that price and proceeded to take off the garment and turban, he would not let me.  When my wife saw the dilemma that I was in, she walked to the shop and demanded that the vendor let me go as I was not interested in the items.  When she yelled at him, he gave in.  Once outside, he followed us and apologized for his rudeness — and proceeded to bring down the price from the original $85 to $10.  When I agreed to the latest price and gave him $10, he wanted to give me only one piece – not the original 2 pieces.  I needed my wife’s help again who grabbed the second piece from his hands, and we completed the sales transaction.  It was not a pleasant experience at all.

I encountered another surprising incident when visiting a Nubian village in the Aswan region in southern Egypt.  Scheduled in our Viking itinerary was a visit to an elementary school.  My wife had prepared bags with school supplies to give out to the students.  Arriving at the school, we were told that classes were canceled – probably because of the high temperatures.  The tour guide suggested to give out the bags to the children when we visited other villages.  When disembarking at Kom Ombo, my wife ran into a multitude of children, and she handed out school bags to some of them.  The word “some” could be defined as including approximately ten children.  In a matter of seconds, she was surrounded by a large crowd of adults who demanded that my wife give them school bags for their kids.  Some must have confused my wife with being Italian, as they claimed to have three “bambinos.” My wife was resolute in telling them that the bags were only for the children, but they would not listen and started to get aggressive.  At this juncture, the tour guide and I had to stretch out our arms and tell everyone to back off.  It was certainly a scary moment.  I learned that when visiting Egypt, it takes a “village” to stay safe!

Middle class families have an average of 2 children, while poor families range from 4 to 5 children.  Contraceptives are highly encouraged for population-control purposes, but poor parents view children as workers to increase the family finances.   

With the Egyptian population at 118M and growing, this presents a challenge for a country where water and jobs are scarce – plus schools and hospitals are overcrowded.  President al-Sisi indicated that two of the biggest threats facing Egypt are terrorism and population growth.

One of the world leaders whom I admire that most was the late Egyptian President Anwar Sadat – who was assassinated on October 6, 1981 by members of the Egyptian Islamic Jihad (a terrorist group that allied itself with the al-Qaeda network in the 1990s).  The main reason for the assassination was the signing of the Camp David Accords between Egypt and Israel.  Sadat was an extraordinary statesman of great vision and guts, and Egypt honors his memory with his burial site at the Unknown Soldier Memorial in one of Cairo’s main thoroughfares.   The inscription on his grave reads: “The hero of war and peace.” I was able to pay my respects to Sadat by asking the bus driver to stop the bus in front of the memorial to say a prayer and take a photo.

Jehan Sadat, the wife of the President Sadat, also played an important role in reforming Egypt’s civil rights during the late 1970’s in a patriarchal society.  The Jehan’s Laws granted women many new rights – including those pertaining to alimony and custody of children in the event of divorce.

According to the Saint Augustine of Hippo, an early Christian theologist and philosopher, “the world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page.” There are some who dispute the origin of this quote to Saint Augustine, but I’m not going to get into this polemic as it’s the meaning of the quote that matters.  

When comparing the 249 old history of the United States to the Egyptian civilization that historians dates back to 3150 BC, it is obvious that Americans have a lot to learn by visiting Egypt.  

JORGE’S BOOK RE-ISSUED

Author Jorge E. Ponce, a Cuban American who came to the United States with his family as political refugees via the Freedom Flights in 1966, has re-issued a new edition of his most recent book, “Examining the Past to Understand the Present: The Journey of a Cuban-American Refugee and What Led to His Conversion from Democrat to Republican”: a powerful memoir that follows the author through his immigration to America as a political refugee, and his eventual turn to the political right after years of disappointment from Democrats and witnessing the dangers of communism.

The new edition has additional articles and an updated/ expanded introduction.  The good news is that while this edition has more material, it also has a cheaper price tag.  More for less – an enviable combination for today’s consumers. 

Born in Havana, Cuba, Jorge grew up in Arlington, Virginia, and retired to the Sunshine State of Florida. He has used his pen prolifically to write his views about issues that needed to be aired so that others in the media and diverse communities got the other side of the story. The author’s letters to the editor have been published frequently in the Washington Post, the Washington Times, and the Tampa Bay Times. Ponce has worked for the Federal Government for his entire professional career and has received multiple awards for his civil rights work. Now that he’s enjoying his retirement, he considers himself lucky to be able to write about topics that move his soul.

“This book will be helpful to those who have made the decision to leave their homeland,” writes Jorge. “It will not be an easy transition at first. The younger you are when you become an immigrant or a refugee, the better you will be able to adapt to a different culture and language. But you must embrace a frame of mind that you are in a new country to assimilate into its culture; not to change it.  Achieving the American Dream proved that the journey was well worth it!

Jorge continues, “This book will also be helpful to politicians who wonder how to get and keep a big chunk of the Hispanic vote on their side, as well as those who wonder how they lost it. It will be an eye-opener to those who can’t figure out why it’s so difficult to get Cuban Americans to vote for Democrats. Past experience living an arduous life under a Communist regime leaves indelible scars about the Left that can never be erased.” More importantly, you’ll be able to assess this political transformation from the mouth of a Hispanic — not from someone who claims to know the Hispanic culture. The latter makes a big difference to establish authenticity.

Jorge’s book brings the challenges, disappointments, and victories that destiny threw in his path to the forefront, revealing all the events that shaped him and his views on the nation’s political climate. Thought-provoking and deeply personal, Jorge provides answers to the ultimate questions of why the recent exodus of Hispanics to the Republican Party has taken place and the urgent need to keep this group in their tent to win future elections.

Parts 1-4 narrate Jorge’s life story in Cuba BC (Before Castro), Cuba AC (After Castro), United States, and his retirement in Florida.  After learning Ponce’s life history in the previous parts, Part 5 has sixty-seven articles on a myriad of subjects that have moved Jorge’s soul deeply ranging from politics, philosophy, religion, civil rights, Hispanics, and Cuban Americans. It is in Part 5 that Jorge discusses the reasons that led him to his conservative switch.  

Readers who wish to experience this enlightening work can purchase this book on the Amazon.com portal in multiple editions: hardback, paperback, and Kindle here.

CELEBRATE! CELEBRATE! DANCE TO THE MUSIC! / by Jorge E. Ponce

April 17th. What major events happened on this day?

1790: Founding Father Benjamin Franklin died. 1961: A CIA-sponsored paramilitary group of Cuban exiles land in the Bay of Pigs. 1964: The Ford Mustang is introduced to the North American market.

MY NATALITY DAY!

Anyone born in April has the Diamond birthstone. Diamond comes from the Greek word “adamas,” which means “invincible” or “unbreakable.”

As diamond is the hardest naturally occurring substance on Earth, it is a perfect fit for my personality. I am laser-focused on the views that I hold. I don’t follow the herd on what I believe or rely solely on social media outlets on what I embrace. A good example of this character trait is how firmly I’ve written letters to the editors on the devastation that communism has brought to the once prosperous Cuba BC (Before Castro). My political affiliation never played a role on these views. The 2009 letter that I penned for Cigar Aficionado magazine shows that I tell it like it is.

As a son of the Aries horoscope sign, I’m energetic, independent, action-oriented, loyal, confident, impulsive with a strong belief in carpe diem or seizing the moment, fully aware that while you can always earn more money, you can never get back more time.

I put more emphasis on living the “now” – as “someday” or “mañana” is not a day in the calendar.

The ruling planet for Aries is Mars — whose name comes from the Roman god of war. The ruling element is “fire.” Both of these contribute to make me a person who doesn’t shy away from standing on principle and arguing with passion and logic my views and values.

Red is the color of Aries, and it represents energy, initiative, and power. It is also the color that best represents conservatives in the United States, and it fits me well as I’ve always had conservative values.

When it comes to libations, my favorite beer is “Blue Moon” that I drink once in a “blue moon.”

I often ask myself what would the world look like without Aries people, and my answer is very depressing — “a total eclipse of the planet.” (LOL).

Among the Aries luminaries are Willy Chirino of “Nuestro Dia Ya Viene Llegando” fame, Leonardo da Vinci, Thomas Jefferson, Toshiro Mifune, Aretha Franklin, Celine Dion, Sandra Day O’Connor, and, believe it or not, Juan Ponce de León

As a reminder of my Ponce surname with the 16th century Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon, I claim that my youthful look has something to do with the secret of the “fountain of youth” – which is currently located in St. Augustine, Florida. But when I visited it, it looked like a pond with dirty water with no magical attributes. Having a youthful spirit is what counts the most.

Subsequently, I found solace in the following quote from wise “Italian” Sophia Loren: “There is a fountain of youth: it is your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring to your life and the lives of people you love. When you learn to tap this source, you will truly have defeated age.” Amen to this!

I learned during my fall season that life is no longer about “chasing things” but about “choosing better.” Although during my earlier seasons, I was quite careful and picky about the things that I chased.

I try to aim my decisions and conduct by placing “self-respect” on a pedestal. I achieve this task by relying on the Judeo-Christian values found in the Bible and the Ten Commandments. While very difficult to follow at times, they serve as my compass to do the right thing.

I’ve been getting my hands on all the vitamin supplements that I could find and exercising regularly after reading the wonderful prediction by American computer scientist, author, inventor, and futurist Ray Kurzweil. He claims that humans will have the option to choose immortality by the year 2030! I have four years to consider whether I want to take advantage of this option or not. LOL!

Had Ray Kurzweil lived during the time that Egyptian pharaohs reigned, imagine how much money and stress he would have save them by convincing them of the futility of building the Giza pyramids as a repository of all the things that they needed to take to live comfortably in the afterlife. 

And to those who wonder whether I’m related to the Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon, I respond that I am who I am: Jorge Ponce de La Habana. I’ve lived 60 years in the United States, but my Cuba BC (Before Castro) roots are very strong.

I want to thank in advance all those friends and acquaintances who offer me their best wishes on this day.

Cheers, Dale, and Pa’lante (Forward)!!!
Photo taken in 2022 in Greece.

REAL MEN.  REAL FRIENDS / by Jorge E. Ponce

I’ve wondered lately what it takes to have “real” friends where I live.  Real ones are the ones who know you deeply and care about your wellbeing – not the ones who greet you with “how you’re doing without listening to your responses” or those who act like weathermen.

When I go to Miami, I get a chance to socialize with my sister’s Cuban American friends.  I did not know these people when I was growing up.  I met them just a couple of years ago.  And yet, I feel a camaraderie with them that speaks of authenticity. 

Could “real” friends be limited to a subset of people who share your nationality? In my case, those who are Cuban Americans? Or is the net cast much wider to include people of all nationalities, races, religion, and political affiliations who share common personality traits and values?

Jeffrey Marx addressed this question in his outstanding book “Season of Life” as he describes the exploits of former NFL football star for the Baltimore Colts and volunteer coach for the Gilman High School football team – Joe Ehrmann.  

After reading this book, I now expand my answer to this question based on my own life trajectory.

Joe attributes many of society’s problems to the misguided perception of what “real” boys, teenagers, and men are like.  Since Marx’s book was published in 2004, there have been a lot of societal changes.  With women joining the labor force in greater numbers and many receiving college degrees, the issues that Marx and Joe addressed now apply to women as well. 

Author and coach opine that the inability of males to find “real” friends has its origins in society’s paradigm of always been in a marathon.  If your aim is to win a race, singing Kumbaya with others is not in your arsenal.  Getting first prize becomes the ultimate goal!

Coach Joe said that the race starts in elementary school when our athletic skills are first tested, followed by our romantic quests in high school, and ending with wallet considerations as adults. 

Boys in elementary school who excel in sports are treated like royalty for their masculinity.  They can do no wrong, as everyone protects their backs.  Those lacking in athletic prowess are relegated to lesser humans – even if they are straight A’s students. 

Upon reaching puberty and getting their hormones activated during the high school years, teenagers who score the prettiest and sexiest girls get to wear the new crowns.  With inflated egos, teenage boys don’t care much about getting to know the girls whom they hang out with.  They think it’s a privilege that they grant these girls to go out with them.  This mindset turns the boys’ brains into dominating/power wielding machines.  

Finally, these men join the labor force.  Success is measured by job titles, cars, designer clothes, bank accounts, neighborhoods lived, and lived-in houses. 

When I was part of the federal workforce and took part in after-hour social events, the first rule of protocol when meeting someone new was to exchange business cards.  The job title printed on the business card determined most of the times how long the new acquaintance spent talking with you.  It was not unusual to have a follow-up question regarding what your salary was.  The answer to this question sealed the deal for the impromptu exchange.  If your salary was lower than the questioner, you would get a mere 2-minute conversation about insignificant matters.  If both shared the same salary, the conversation was extended to 5 minutes that might include political issues that impacted the bureaucracy.  But, if you had a higher salary, you were rewarded with a 30-minute conversation only if you were willing to discuss your game plan that led to your current salary and share high rollers who might be help them reach your same salary level or exceed it.  There is nothing wrong with the questions raised in the last sentence, if they were not limited to them.  But they were the majority of times. Curiosity about your hobbies, your family, or your happiness were not important.

With the above personality traits, there is no way that you could make “real” friends.  Others don’t get to see the real you.  They are only exposed to your façade, your mask.  This prevents others from opening to you – as they recognize that your priorities are totally misguided.  In other words, they might think: “why waste our time with such a narcissist?” They see you as someone who is me-oriented with no room for others’ feelings.  And this explains why at the end of their journey, the pets become their only friends.  Animals react well to command-and-control orders. Not to imply there is anything wrong with having pets, only that you need to expand your circle of friends.

So, what’s the secret to procuring “real” friends?

This concept is not limited to one’s nationality.  It has everything to do with people who know what really counts in life!

For one, men have to be willing to show their emotions.  When a situation moves you to tear up, do so.  When someone needs a helping hand, give it.  When a fatherless person seeks fatherly advice, offer it.  When going out of your way to fight for freedom, fight for it. 

It can’t always be about you.  It helps to get “real” friends to your orbit when they see that you fight for a cause that is bigger than yourself.  For example, regardless of my political orientation at any particular time in my life, I’ve always done my grain of sand to write letters to the editor to expose the oppression of the Cuban people by a communist dictatorship that has been in place for sixty-six years.  This oppression of Cubans has been the best kept secret for Americans who rely solely on the fake-news media outlets.

I don’t know any of these Cubans, but I fight for them because I believe that every individual is entitled to live a life that guarantees life, liberty, private property, and the pursuit of happiness. If they were to speak out against Cuban government officials, they would get unjust and long jail sentences.  I speak out for the voiceless from the land of freedom!

My Miami friends have become “real” friends because we are bonded by the fact that we faced political persecution when we lived in communist Cuba.  Our parents lost all their material possessions so that we could live in freedom.  My friends know that material things can be acquired and lost in a matter of seconds.  What counts for them is to know you for who you really are – your victories, your failures, your values, how you treat others who are less fortunate, what you do to make a better world for all.  They are not concerned with competing with you or outdoing your achievements.  They celebrate you for being their friends and for sharing the true, authentic You with them!

Ancient Greek Philosopher Aristotle recognized that “man is by nature a social animal.” But to live a rewarding and meaningful life, man needs the company of “real” friends. 

JUDGING THE MEANING OF LIFE / by Jorge E. Ponce

A recent event in my family made me ponder on what makes a virtuous life.  How the people who knew you will remember you after you are gone?  Reading Richard E. Simmons III’s book “The True Measure of a Man” provided some insightful ideas.

I came up with three attributes that will make someone into a virtuous person and be well- though-out by others.

The first attribute is to have a good “character.” The best way to summarize what this entails is the ability to do the right thing based on sound logic.  This comprises decisions that are made on moral grounds – as well as those made on sound judgment, like those on how to deal with teenage sons and daughters or which are the factors to keep in mind when considering career choices or career changes. 

The second attribute deals with making decisions that are based on “wisdom” or sound logic. In other words, seeing things and situations as they really are rather than as they appear to be.  Wisdom is measured not on the quantity of knowledge that we have accrued but rather on the quality of what we have garnered.

The third attribute is to have compassion and to have quality relationships.  It comprises the ability to love and be loved by others.  Some people make the mistake of leading their lives based on comparing and competing with friends and coworkers.  Doing the latter leads to lives of isolation where, at the end of the day, the only friends they have are their pets.  Real friends are those that you feel comfortable tearing down your defense mechanisms and exposing your fears, failures, disappointments, and views on controversial/political subjects without being concerned with their rejection of you. 

But reflecting on leading lives of isolation, are you one of those persons who solves everybody’s else challenges without stopping to give them an opportunity to know you for what you are like? If you are one of these people, you’ll find yourself in a very lonely place after you no longer are able to render these services. Playing the role of a concierge will make you popular while you are serving in this capacity. These people are not your real friends because they want to use your talents — not value you for who you are. Real friends are those who know you for what you are really like — what moves you, what your victories and failures have been, how you’ve overcome your challenges, what lessons have you learned in your life’s pilgrimage.

As we consider our legacy that we leave behind, Stephen Covey in his book “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People” suggests what it would be like if we attended our own funeral.

“As you take a seat and wait for the services to begin, you look at the program in your hand.  There are to be four speakers.  The first is from your family, immediate and also extended – children, brothers, sisters, nephews, nieces, aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents who have come from all over the country to attend.  The second speaker is one of your friends, someone who can give a sense of what you were as a person.  The third speaker is from your work or profession.  And the fourth is from your church or some community organization where you’ve been involved in service.

Now think deeply.  What would you like each of these speakers to say about you and your life? What kind of husband, wife, father or mother would you like their words to reflect? What kind of son or daughter or cousin? What kind of friend? What kind of working associate?

What character would you like them to have seen in you? What contributions, what achievements would you want them to remember? Look carefully at the people around you.  What difference would you like to have made in their lives?”

The late American auto executive Lee Iacocca said “Here I am in the twilight years of my life, still wondering what it is all about … I can tell you this, fame and fortune are for the birds.”  Living a virtuous life has to do more with the difference that we made in the lives of others.

Examining The Past To Understand The Present / Jorge E. Ponce

Some friends have expressed disillusionment at the disrespect that the United States has received lately from dictators, terrorist groups, free-speech detractors, and theocratic mullahs.  Most attribute this malaise to the weak foreign policies of former President Joe Biden. 

Other friends are outraged at the Biden’s economy where most Americans could hardly make ends meet because of inflation.  Despite all the feel-good, make-belief propaganda disseminated by Biden’s acolytes, Americans confronted reality when they went to pump gas for their cars, when they bought groceries at the supermarket, when they went out for lunch or dinner at a restaurant that had reasonable prices for their menu entrees in the past, when they purchased airfares for a needed vacation, when they went out to buy or lease a car, when they wanted to buy a house and the interest rates for a mortgage approached 8% – basically, when they bought any services that were affordable when President Trump occupied the Oval Office and which have started to improve under his second term.

Hispanics are the latest group to say that they’ve had enough with the failed policies of Democrats.  But this presents an “inconvenient truth” to the liberal cabal.  To discredit this switchover, they have called conservative Cuban-Americans all kinds of pejoratives – Batista sympathizers, inveterate hardliners, cavemen, reactionaries, Miami Mafia, and unauthentic Hispanics.  I’ve addressed the truth about Cuban-Americans by writing an article in my book.

Moreover, Hispanics realize instantly when politicians are only interested in their vote and not on their issues of concern.  When First Lady Jill Biden gave a speech in San Antonio, Texas and tried to ingratiate herself with Hispanic voters, she called them “breakfast tacos.” When Biden addressed a gathering of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus during the 2023 Hispanic Heritage Month, he mistook it for the Congressional Black Caucus. And some in the Democrat cabal have done the unthinkable when it comes to the Spanish language – they want to make it gender-neutral by using the term “LatinX.” Democrats ignore the basic fact that Latinos and Latinas will vote for politicians who have their backs.

It is smart when politicians learn directly from Hispanics what motivates them to vote and who resonates with their aspirations and values.  Hispanics do not react well when non-Hispanic politicians attempt to speak for them. 

Many Americans are ready to hang up their hats and say that the era of reaching the American Dream and attaining life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness is over. I ask them a simple question: what have you done lately to restore freedom and democracy to the country that we all love?!!! Let the road to recovery begin with you!

It is precisely when answering my own question that I tell others what I have done lately for my country. I spent a year writing the book – and editing it with my wife’s help – “Examining the Past to Understand the Present – The Journey of a Cuba-American Refugee and What Led to His Conversion from Democrat to Republican.”

The book will be helpful to those “legal” immigrants and political refugees who have made the decision to leave their homeland. I narrate my life story in Cuba and the United States in parts 1-4 of my book.

Although the book has over sixty of my articles on many subjects ranging from politics, philosophy, civil rights, religion, Hispanics, and Cuban-Americans in part 5 of my book, I do dwell on my transformation from a Democrat to a Republican and what led up to it. I tell past friends who got annoyed with my conversion that life is a journey that cause us to learn new things, and that changes how we view the world.

But the challenge that I’ve faced is to market the book in conservative and Hispanic networks.  The conservative ones have ignored my interview requests because I’m not a public figure like the ones who publish books regularly on the Fox News network.  The Hispanic ones don’t want to hear from me because they think that my book message is antithetical to their leftist ideology. 

Make a difference.  Buy my book.  Write a review. Help out a conservative who contributed his grain of sand to “Make America Great Again!”

Meet Jorge and Siomara Ponce

Jorge and Siomara Ponce live in The Champions’ Club in Trinity and are both Cuban-Americans.  After living most of their lives in Northern Virginia, they moved to Florida in the spring of 2014 after growing tired of their long work commutes to Washington DC from their suburban home and the cold weather, especially shoveling snow and raking leaves. 

Jorge worked for the Federal Government his entire professional career.  While a bureaucrat, he did not live his life as one.  He considers himself a fiscal conservative with a social conscience.  He has received multiple awards for his civil rights work in the past.  Now that he has retired, he keeps himself busy by writing articles with no filters on important issues. Siomara, on the other hand, worked in the corporate private sector in the area of human resources — for an international management consulting firm and an emerging markets private equity firm.

Although most people question why they would not prefer living in Miami in their retirement – as it is considered the Cuban Mecca in the U.S. – it was never an option for them as Miami is too congested and hectic.  They were seeking a laid-back community where peace was prevalent and yet someplace close enough to drive to Miami to visit family and enjoy their favorite Cuban food and music whenever they wanted.

In addition to these visits to Miami and to the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area to spend time with their son, daughter-in-law, two granddaughters, and lifelong friends, they take at least two extended trips annually.  They’ve traveled to Mexico, Panama, Germany, Ireland, France, Italy, Greece, the Greek Islands, Turkey, and Spain.  They love all the places that they’ve visited, but Italy remains the one country that speaks to their souls.  It has everything they enjoy the most — beautiful music, history, civilization, scenery, delicious food, and, most importantly, wonderful people who love to live life to the fullest and enjoy sharing their zest for living with others. The feeling is certainly contagious!!

Most recently they traveled to Spain on a 17-day vacation — although Jorge admits he did not necessarily want to go.  He only agreed after Siomara said she was going, “with or without him.” From a historical perspective, and as a Cuban-American who is very nationalistic, he always resented the killing of Cuban patriots like Martí, Maceo, Céspedes, and Agramonte when Cuba fought its War of Independence against Spain in the 19th century.   This goes back in history, he acknowledges that.  But in the 20th and 21st centuries, Spain has been one of the European countries that has invested heavily in Communist Cuba – business ventures that help prolong the suffering of Cubans and which are accessible only to those with foreign currencies. Considering his position and life experiences regarding Cuba, he had difficulties with the idea. It didn’t take him much time to acknowledge what a fabulous time they were having and to have followed Siomara’s “not so subtle encouragement.”

Jorge is passionate about writing and reading — and these passions led him to complete his book, “Examining the Past to Understand the Present: The Journey of a Cuban-American Refugee and What Led to His Conversion from Democrat to Republican.” This is a powerful memoir that follows the author through his immigration to America as a political refugee and his eventual turn to the political right after years of witnessing the embrace of many socialist policies by Democrats. Jorge’s book is available in hardcopy, paperback, and Kindle editions on multiple online portals like Amazon. Siomara played a pivotal role in editing Jorge’s book – as attention to detail is one of her strengths.

Jorge had multiple influences that led him to write the book.  He is a great admirer of the late political commentator Charles Krauthammer and loved one of his books (“Things That Matter”).  He was also mindful of Cuban National Hero José Martí’s quote: “there are three things that every man should do in his life: plant a tree, have a son, and write a book.” While Martí said these words in the 19th century, Jorge would update the quote to highlight the importance of being a parent to either a son or a daughter.  Having said this, the only thing that remained to emulate Martí’s message was to write a book.  Now, he’s in full compliance.

Jorge realizes how important Hispanics have become in the political circles in the United States.  He also recognizes the wisdom of past civil rights champions like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., in fighting discrimination by advocating the judging of all Americans by the “content of their character and not by the color of their skin.”  He firmly believes how important it is to reach a colorblind society to treat every American – without leaving anyone out – with the dignity and respect that every human being deserves. 

Jorge’s book also offers a shining light to legal immigrants who are navigating a new life in a new country with a different culture and language.  While there are many challenges to be faced, America is the best country in the world to bring prosperity to those who work hard and pull themselves up by their bootstraps.  This is Jorge’s story.  This is the story that he narrates in his book.

Jorge’s hobbies include good music (excluding reggaeton and rap), reading, travel, wine tastings, and enjoying the simple pleasures of life – a necessary thing to keep your sanity in a metropolitan area like the one in Washington, DC that desires to measure everything. He says that so many never learn that the things that really count are not countable!

Upon retiring, he found peace in himself when he accepted the fact that what really mattered at work was the difference that he had made in the lives of others.  He also gives thanks to his God for walking out unharmed through the many land mines that he was exposed to through the years. Many of his colleagues were not so lucky. He stated that upon his retirement, he walked out the door with his credibility intact, with his head held high, with the ability to look everyone straight in the eyes and enter through the front door. He left the workforce full of hope for each tomorrow.

Most importantly, Jorge embraced the urgency of enjoying those precious “momentos” with his immediate family and close friends—to show them by his deeds that they were the reason for attaining fulfillment in the autumn of his days, and to tell them that he did these things because they made him feel like a useful and happy man, and not because of the accolades, fancy titles, monetary benefits that others cherish.

Jorge and Siomara wanted to share this message with their neighbors. The world will be a better place when we cherish the time that we are all granted by God to make a positive difference in each other. There is not a precious moment to waste. Our God grants us a beginning and an end. What comes in between is a gift, a hyphen, and it’s up to each of us what we make of it!

They are in pretty good company when underscoring what counts in life. Alexander the Great, King of Macedonia and conqueror of the Persian Empire, stated before his death: “We do not take to our grave any material wealth. Time is our most precious treasure because it is limited. We can produce more wealth, but we cannot produce more time.”

A CALL FOR CIVILITY IN POLITICS? / by Jorge E. Ponce

A close relative placed a post on her Facebook page recently that urged her friends to do the following: “Don’t damage friendships over politicians who don’t even know your name.  You can have differing political views and still treat each other with kindness and respect.”  A lofty ideal to aim for but unworkable in today’s political climate.

It is a fact that the majority of politicians have no clue of your name or your background.  To belong to the club where you are treated as best pals with elected officials, you must send them a contribution of $1,000 or higher.  The more you give, the more you are treated as blood relatives.  Nevertheless, it is your faceless vote that they seek, and you should do the proper research before you cast it.  Even if you give them a hefty financial contribution, there is not guarantee that they will help you in your hour of need.  To be influenced in your decisions by political lightweights like Taylor Swift or Robert De Niro is to put democracy and your futures in jeopardy.

When I lived in Cuba BC (Before Castro), my mother told me that she and most of her family opted to not get involved in politics because it was dirty business.  Yes, there were many chicaneries orchestrated by Cuban politicians – which ultimately led to a communist take-over of the country by Fidel Castro and his cabal of leftist deplorables.  But this is precisely why turning your back to the corruption of politicians is lethal.  The Cuban population has suffered a 65-year totalitarian dictatorship that has brought them nothing but hardships and a lack of the most basic civil rights — and which has forced millions to vote with their feet by emigrating to the United States.  Thus, if you are a Cuban-American, you – of all groups – should be fully reminded of the title that I chose for my book “Examining the Past to Understand the Present.”  Ignoring the past will bring back the same insanity that they fled from!

Today’s Democrats are in the habit of urging for unity and civility when dealing with those with differing political views.  Joe Biden appealed to the better angels in our nature in his 2021 inauguration speech to bring the country together by uniting Americans.  But during a 2022 speech in Philadelphia, Joe labeled former President Trump and the MAGA Republicans as extremists who threated the very foundations of the Nation.  Candidate Kamala Harris has said that Trump represents a threat to democracy and our fundamental freedoms, and that he will be a dictator if he gets elected to a second term.

But let’s get real.  Today’s Democrats and Kamala Harris are the only ones who represent a threat to our democracy.  Take for example that Kamala received no votes after she withdrew from the first primary in Iowa during the 2020 campaign, and yet she was put at the head of the 2024 Democrat ticket by party elitist who are disconnected from the wishes of their base.  A bevy of party politicians removed Biden from the ticket despite the fact that he received 14 million votes.  Therefore, Kamala was selected.  Not elected.  And this process mirrors the one used by third-world, banana republics like Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Cuba.  Today’s Democrats are the ones disenfranchising the wishes of 14 million of their supporters. Democracy has no other meaning to them than a pathway to gain or retain power.  How undemocratic of them!

Today’s Democrats claim that electing Kamala Harris to the Oval Office will be making history.  I am always leery of paying too much attention to “first’s.”  Many Catholics are regretful of the first Hispanic Pope as many of his policies run counter to Biblical teachings.  For example, Pope Francis claimed erroneously before a Singapore audience in September 2024 that “all” religions lead to the same God – bypassing John 14:6 quote of Jesus Christ saying “No one comes to the Father except through Me.”  Being the first Pope should take a back seat to following Biblical precedents.  Similarly, electing Kamala Harris to the White House simply because of her gender would be a serious mistake – especially when many in the Democratic Party claim to ignore what a woman is.  Kamala has clearly demonstrated by her record that she is the most unqualified vice president in the Nation’s history.  Her flip-flops on policy issues demonstrate the vacuousness of her beliefs.  Her previous positions on price control, open borders, Medicare, and taxes show that her core principles are Marxist-influenced to replace capitalism with an all-socialist, big-government-controlled economy.

There are some Americans that while disliking Kamala refuse to pull the lever for Trump on November 5th.  Their claim is that they can’t stomach Trump’s personality.  But who’s running the country in the next four years has nothing to do with personality traits.  It has everything to do with getting things done.  No one is asking any voter to go out on a date with Trump.  It is up to Melania to like or dislike her husband’s personality.  What matters is whether the next president will enact policies that will make America energy-independent, lower the price of gasoline and groceries, restore respect to the U.S. by our adversaries, lower interest rates, enhance safety in neighborhoods, and honor our Judeo-Christian values and traditions.   It has everything to do with putting Americans’ first in line, rather than “illegal immigrants.”

Today’s Democrats have called the 74 million MAGA Republicans who voted for Trump in the 2020 election by various pejoratives: deplorables, irredeemables, racists.  Their dislike for MAGA Republicans is solely based on the differences in their political ideology.  Rather than engaging or tolerating differing viewpoints, they opt to cancel them from society.  Honest disagreements become calls to destroy the enemy.  It doesn’t matter if those treated as the enemy are family members.  From the first inkling of MAGA sympathies, they become pariahs to other family members and to society at large.  And these enforcers find support from the fake-media outlets, from some online platforms, and even from several elected officials who should know better.

So, I urge my MAGA compatriots to stop paying attention to the sirens’ song to unity and peaceful Kumbaya by today’s Democrats and well-meaning but ignorant Good Samaritans.  We got a job to do on November 5th.  The choices in this coming election are between freedom or slavery, capitalism or socialism, Christianity or atheism.  There is too much at stake for the survival of our Nation to be worried about turning the other cheek.  These are the times for action and not for embracing the tranquilizing drug of a don’t worry/be joyful mindset.

I leave you with a famous quote by former President Ronald Reagan: “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.  We didn’t pass it on to our children in the bloodstream.  It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children’s children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.” MAGA warriors.  This is your time.  This is your duty.  Elect Donald J. Trump and other Republicans on November 5th! Your children and grandchildren will owe you a huge debt of gratitude!  

CENSORSHIP, LIES, AND SPAIN’S VALLEY OF THE FALLEN /by Jorge E. Ponce

Any time that an organization or a government attempts to censor the views of dissenting opinions, it’s hiding the truth and diffusing propaganda. 

Socialist, communist or leftist regimes are adept at keeping inconvenient truths from their citizens.  When advocating for censorship, what these people fear is the truth.  So, they fall back on spreading lies.  And by doing so, they follow the script of chief propagandist for the Nazi Party, Joseph Goebbels, who famously said: “Make the lie big, make it simple, keep saying it, and eventually they will believe it.”

The United States does hold a monopoly of these purveyors of lies for political purposes.  I’ll highlight two countries – Brazil and Red China – to illustrate the point, but there are many more who act in the same way.  Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua, North Korea, Russia are but a few that come to mind.

BRAZIL

Alexandre de Moraes, Brazilian Supreme Federal Court Justice, threatened an X’s legal representative with arrest and a hefty fine if the online platform did not “comply with his censorship orders.”  These orders demanded an X staffer to censor more than 300 accounts – many belonging to former sympathizers of conservative Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro following the victory in the 2024 presidential election of leftist Lula da Silva.  Rather than being bullied, X’s CEO Elon Musk closed his company’s operations in Brazil in August of 2024.

RED CHINA

Microsoft decided to shut down its LinkedIn platform from Red China in 2021 after continued requests by Beijing to expand its online censorship. This comes as a result of President Xi Jinping’s aim to have greater influence over the news media by the Chinese Communist Party.  Other social media online platforms left the China market in the past for the same reasons: Facebook and Twitter in 2009, and Google in 2010.

SPAIN’S VALLEY OF THE FALLEN

I came face-to-face with censorship during my 2024 trip to Spain.  I insisted on visiting the Valley of the Fallen monument in the vicinity of Madrid.  The ruler of Spain, Generalisimo Francisco Franco, ordered the construction of this memorial in 1940 as act of reconciliation for the over 33,000 victims of the 1936-1939 Spanish Civil War – regardless of which side they fought for during the Civil War.   Construction lasted from 1940-1958 and was funded through national lottery draws and private donations.  The monument includes a basilica, a Benedictine abbey (which offer perpetual Masses for the fallen), a guest house, the Valley, and a 500-ft Christian cross (the tallest one in the world).  The monument opened in 1959, and ranked as the third most visited monument of Spain in 2009.

After touring the Valley, I wanted to be more informed on its history and stopped by the gift shop to purchase a book.  To my surprise, the clerk informed me that there were no books, flyers, or manuals on the Valley for sale.  After arguing back and forth, the clerk suggested that if I had a problem with the status quo, I could write to the politicians.  I indicated that I was a free man, that I did not have the time to write to the politicians as I was on vacation, but I promised her that upon my return to the United States, I would order a book on the Valley from Amazon. Of course, this incident increased my curiosity and raised my awareness that there was a devious propaganda ploy at play. 

True to my promise, I ordered the book “Los Presos del Valle de los Caidos” (“The Prisoners of the Valley of the Fallen”) by Alberto Barcena Perez, 2015, which is published only in Spanish.  The book provides a historical perspective on the construction of the monument and offers a factual rebuttal to all the false allegations raised by Franco’s leftist detractors on what the Valley represents.

Politicians whose hatred for Franco never subsided launched a campaign after his death to discredit his legacy – which of course, included defaming the redeeming intent for building the Valley.  Among the charges made were the following:

  1. The monument was like a Nazi concentration camp. Nothing could be further from the truth.  Prisoners volunteered to work in the Valley as a way to reduce their sentences.  Moreover, prisoners worked side-by-side with freed workers, and both were supervised by managers from both camps.  Who ever heard of managers at Nazi concentration camps selected from the prisoners’ cohorts?
  2. Slave laborers were used.  This could not be true as prisoners were paid a salary, given health insurance, housing (for them and their immediate families), meals, schooling for their children, and religious services that included Masses, first communions, weddings, and baptisms.
  3. 20,000 prisoners were used.  During the time that prisoners worked in the Valley from 1943-1950, only 3,500 worked in this project. 
  4. Lots of Republican-prisoner workers and victims of Franco’s crimes were buried in the Valley.  There were only 17 deaths as a result of multiple labor accidents during the 19-year period to build the monument, and only 7 were of prisoners.  Only those who died during the Civil War are buried in the Valley.

Generalisimo Franco fought on the side of Nationalists which embraced nationalism, Catholicism, anti-freemasonry, and anti-communism.  The Republicans were supported by communists, socialists, and anarchists – in addition to receiving aid from the Soviet Union and the International Brigades set up by the Communist International.  Upon Franco’s death in 1975, the government of Prince Juan Carlos and Prime Minister Carlos Arias Navarra decided that the Valley was the proper place for his burial.  This decision set Franco’s detractors on fire! It is noticeable that when Franco’s family were asked if they had an opinion on this decision, they responded that they had none.  The government’s decision carried the day, and Franco was buried in the main altar of the basilica. Keep in mind that without Franco’s vision and political influence, there would have been no Valley of the Fallen.

But the socialist politicians who rose to power after Franco’s death lobbied for the removal of his remains from the Valley and for his reburial at site chosen by his family.  The first socialist prime minister to start this ball rolling was Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero in 2011.  Through lengthy legal battles that delayed the process, the socialist government of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez ruled in 2019 that Franco would be exhumed and buried in the Mingorrubio Cemetery in El Pardo with his wife Carmen Polo.  Socialists never give up when rewriting history – especially when that history honors conservative leaders and historical figures!

LIES TOLD BY TODAY’S DEMOCRATS

Candidates running for public office who stay away from talking to reporters about their policies also engage in censorship.  A perfect example of this is the fact that Vice President and 2024 Democratic Presidential Nominee Kamala Harris – who has not held a formal news conference in 35 days as of August 23, 2024.  In her acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention, Kamala based her candidacy on a frontal attack of Republican Candidate Donald J. Trump – as if the latter was the incumbent and ignoring the failures of the Biden/Harris administration.  I predict that Kamala will succumb to the intense pressure to hold formal press conferences before November 5th, but my guess is that there will be very few. 

Kamala steered away from discussing any of the policies that she would embrace if elected to the Oval Office.  Believe it or not, the Democrats are asking voters to elect Kamala on November 5th based merely on her personality and her be-joyful mantra.  And the liberal media outlets are willing to cooperate in this venture with a candidate who participated in a massive cover-up of President Biden’s cognitive decline for the last 3½ years. 

Kamala tried to reach out to all voters – not just Democrats – to vote for her by claiming that they were, after all, Americans who loved their country and did not want to look back.  But while trying to bring MAGA Republicans to her tent, she criticized their leader, Donald J. Trump.  Words like “unity” to people like Kamala mean one thing: give me your vote no matter what! Her condescending manner in how she treats Americans is not only despicable but will prove counterproductive to her efforts.  This is like First Lady Jill Biden trying to ingratiate herself to Hispanic voters and calling them “breakfast tacos” at a rally. 

Democrats insist on making millionaires and billionaires the monsters of American society.  To make this point, Michelle Obama said at the Democratic National Convention that her mother and father “didn’t aspire to be wealthy – in fact, they were suspicious of folks who took more than they needed.” It is safe to assume, then, that Michelle’s parents would be suspicious of Barack and her after learning that both hold a fortune valued between $70 to $135 million and Oprah Winfrey with a fortune worth $2.8 billion. But perhaps Michelle thinks that her parents’ suspicions apply only to Republican millionaires.

And Joe Biden is not far behind in the lies department.  At the Democratic National Convention (DNC), Joe said that the sole reason for deciding to run for president in 2020 was what he saw at a Charlottesville rally in 2017.  Joe said he felt outraged when President Trump was asked what he thought had happened, and he responded that “there are very fine people on both sides.”  Joe insinuated that President Trump included in this “very fine people” group many demonstrators who were neo-Nazis and white supremacists.  This allegation has been debunked by snopes, and the fact that Joe keeps using it means that he must be uninformed, misinformed, or maliciously biased.  Here is what snopes clarified regarding what Trump said: “In a news conference after the rally protesting the planned removal of a Confederate statue, Trump did say there were “very fine people on both sides,” referring to the protesters and the counterprotesters. He said in the same statement he wasn’t talking about neo-Nazis and white nationalists, who he said should be “condemned totally.”

Similarly, many Democrats continue blaming Trump for supporting Project 2025 – a conservative plan put together by the Heritage Foundation – despite the fact that he has denied repeatedly any affiliation or support for it.  Think back to Goebbel’s quote above about lies.

Kamala announced in a speech before the DNC one of the policies of her economic plan if she wins the election: “price-control” for food items. Not only did she mispronounce the targeted evil (“price gaging” rather than the correct “price gouging”), but she ignored a key tenet of basic economics: businesses are in the business of making profits. If the federal government controls the prices of food items to a level that business owners take a loss, they will close down their businesses and move to countries with more business-friendly policies. The results would be higher unemployment, rationed food, black markets, and long lines at supermarkets. Believe me, I saw this nightmare happen when I lived in Communist Cuba!

The Biden/Harris and the Harris/Walz teams have to acknowledge the basic fact that it’s their policies of higher government spending and free benefits to illegal aliens that have triggered the high inflation rate.

Obviously, Tim Walz ignores one basic fact: his belief that “”One person’s socialism is another person’s neighborliness” needs another extension to complete it: “until you run out of your neighbor’s money.”

While accusing Trump of being a dictator with fascist tendencies, it is today’s Democrats that aspire to embrace the late Il Duce Benito Mussolini’s famous quote: “All within the state, nothing outside the state, nothing against the state.” Expanding the role of the executive branch by bypassing the U.S. Congress through executive orders is a clear sign that it’s the Democrats who aim for totalitarianism! Selecting a candidate for the highest job in the country by a bevy of Democratic party elites without the consent of “We the People” reminds me of how candidates are selected in communist regimes!

From telling Americans what cars to drive, to trying to grant illegal aliens the right to vote, to ordering online social platforms to censor information, to canceling all private health insurance policies, today’s Democrats vie for one thing only: power in perpetuity. To restore freedom to our Nation and to consider the voices of We the People, Americans have but one choice on November 5th: vote for Republicans who will “Save America Again!”