According to snopes this is true.
Letter to the editor from a cuban.
Dear editor, 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.

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 alot about the anniversary this year.
The election year rheroric has made me think alot about Cuba and what transpired there.
In the late 50's, most Cubans thought Cuba needed a change, and they where 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 believed in.
When he said that 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 change, so by the time the executioner's guns went silent, the peoples guns had been taken away.
By the time everyone was equal, they were equally poor, hungery, and oppressed.
By the time everyone received their free education, it was worth nothing.
By the time the press noticed, it was to late, because they were now working for him.
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 not 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.