Ok, ok, I get it....

I have been posting way too many and too Loonnnggg political blogs, right?

Ok...

I will give you some poetic refreshments.

Peace and Love!

The two rules of healthcare

1. Patients die
2. You can't change rule #1.


So does that mean we should look at patients as "subjects" instead of people?
Help me understand these rules...
Isn't the point of healthcare to prevent death?
So why should you accept it?
Do these rules just suggest the inevitable and is a tool to prepare you for the disappointment and jaded attitude that is sure to come?

How tangible is this?

Or am I just being difficult?

Re

I was unable to post this under it's original title....

Censorship, anyone?

Gvt monitoring, anyone?

Yeah... land of the free alright.


Judy
"Mommy, mommy, how many Afghanies and Iraqies participated in the 9/11 attacks?"
"Oh Billy, there wasn't any Iraqies or Afghanies in those attacks. ALL of the 9/11 participants were SAUDI."

"Mommy, Mommy, what happened to Bin Laden?"
"Oh Billy, Bin Laden died in DECEMBER 2001, honey."

"Mommy, Mommy, why did we invade IRAQ and AFGHANISTAN for?"
"Oh Billy, Iraq has $150 TRILLION in OIL Reserves, and in JUST one province of Afghanistan we found $10 TRILLION worth of raw Minerals. That's enough to GOTO and STAY at war for MANY years."

"Mommy, mommy, why do 5.7 Billion people dislike America?"
"Oh Billy... it's because our Government wants to Liberate the World from their Natural Resources and Dignity, and they JUST won't fall for it...."

"Mommy, Mommy, can we go see the doctor tommorow?"
"Oh Billy, this isn't Canada!"


RESPONDER: Hey Billy, I'll tell you why the Hopi, Comanche, Apache, Navajo, don't go to the UN meetings in New York... They are too busy getting all their money back, from the American's looking to dump it into their laps; from All the Casinos they own!!! How much taxes do they have to pay from those proceeds?.. Care to tell me the amount of money dumped into Casinos daily?!! Bet it's worth more than $10 a person weekly!!! Are you also Good @ math little Billly?!!

David
Oh Billy, I am sure that you could grow up to be a good boy. The odds of that though are pretty slim though with your moms cronic disease (Liberal Brain Disorder). Unfortunately it is very catching when exposed to it as many hours as you probably spend with her. Good luck. There is a cure though. It's the truth about our country! Search it out and find that it (the truth when applied) will set you free. Our country is still the land of opportunity, and it's the only place on earth that folks are trying to break into not out of.

Jorge C
"Mommy, Mommy, how come you can talk and write and say whatever you want about the U.S. and nothing happens to you?"
"Oh Billy, it's what makes this country the greatest in the world. You see i have the freedom of speech. Unloke people in Cuba and other nations."

Ronaldo
Billy if you have a problem with America, GET THE HELL OUT!


pipo
Jenny O - If you despise our country and admire Castro and his communist ideals so very much, do us all a favor and give up your freedom and rights, by all means, leave the United States and LIVE in Cuba. When you say, "I've been to Cuba", do you mean you have visited the island and stayed in a nice resort on the beautiful beach? Or have you gone to the real Cuba, lived in the homes where the power is shut off at any time, where most people do not have a phone, many lack running water, and multitude of luxaries that you consider to be part of the everyday "slum" of the US. You are so ignorant. I am an American Citizen, born in Cuba. Many of my family members still live there. My parents visit regularly to help my family, because they cannot survive without help from family in the US. And despite your stupid comment about the US not allowing people to travel to Cuba, obviously you are wrong. You know nothing of the suffering my family and the majority of Cubans endure in Cuba. Castro is very much like Saddam Hussein, and I thank God and my country that he was captured and tried for his crimes...oh but he was probably another one of your heroes. Castro deserves the same fate. You are ignorant, and have no right to comment about communism, when you live comfortably in a country that allows you the very freedom to be stupid and post your ridiculous nonsense. God Bless America and God Bless Democracy and Capitalism!!!!

You know it really hurts when you see such ignorant people posting about topics that they have no clue about! I can assure you that 95% of the people posting here did not live through his regime or did not have family that lived through his regime. This man is a cold blooded murderer that would send you to the firing squad for no reason. He took houses and businesses away from the people that raised it from the ground up and gave it to low life people that didn't deserve anything! My parents had to leave their homes back in 1961. My grandparents that owned two sugar cane mills had to leave their place of business or they would have been shot. So this is to the people that are praising Castro: Would you cheer for Hitler? Would you cheer your Saddam? How about for Hugo Chavez? How about for communism? Castro is no different than any of these people I mentioned above. Try and say something against Castro and you will be thrown in jail for years. Freedom of speech? Cuba has none! These same responses would get you either killed or thrown in jail for life. Like I said before, everyone who is in favor for Castro is a communist. If everything was so great there in Cuba why are there so many people making the 90 mile journey on nothing but plywood and some flotation device? But I'm sure everyone here would love to go to rationing their food right? Getting 4 ounces of chicken per person once a week. Or if you are caught with steak in your home you get thrown in jail. Oh and you also get 8 ounces of rice per person per week. Yea with your salary of $10 a month you could maybe buy one stick of deoderant that will cost you $8. So before you post learn the facts and try to not sound like a communist too much.

Jenny O
Michael u are so ignorant...u really need to go to Cuba and live there for a while..oh i forgot the USA government wont allow u..lol who is the communist? You dummies have been so brainwashed to think communism will hurt you, when its Capitalism that sends billions into poverty and helplessness each year.

free health and education...mmmmm rum and cigars...lovely guys and sunshine...Cuba Rocks even under a so called Communist regime..USA is bankrupt and in decay..


Fidel Castro is a Legend, USA 50 years of sanctions and its the USA THATS COLLAPSING..lol so funny...Viva Fidel, Viva Chavez, @#$% SLAVE TO BANKS USA


Desolation
I was elated when the Justice Department finally put an end to the charade and removed Elian from the home of his drunk uncle and insane cousin. The boy belonged with his father from the first day. His mother was guilty of parental kidnapping and had she not died at sea she should have tried for such an offense. Elian has done well and is growing to be a fine youg man. His HOME is Cuba, his loyalty is to CUBA and he loves his father and family and friends there. He is in the RIGHT PLACE for him.
People in America need to understand that the criminals who fled Cuba after the Batista regime fell to Castro (whom by the way was supplied arms and intelligence by the C.I.A.), looted the treasury and set themselves up very nicely in Miami. They had no love for America, they had GREED for themselves and saw America as a place where they could enrich themselves, consolidate a power base and their intent was to lead a well armed and well funded armada back to Cuba to depose Fidel and his government.
I totally support Elian Gonzalez for his patriotism to HIS homeland and wish him well as he progresses through life.

Ruben
The picture and article refer to castro as President, fidel was never elected he was a DICTATOR, secondly when his health failed he gave his power to his brother, so raul is also a DICTATOR, please
don't use the word President in any association with the castro boys.

jesus
to maxwell silver hammer, youre an idiot learn what you are talking about you obviously are speaking out of spite for miami Cubans and not out of education. First of all that longest ever running dictator which resides 90 miles not 120 miles his name is fidel not fido dumb--- second of all learn how to spell though it's not spelled tho. now I will start getting to the other points you tried to make starting with the relatives challenging Janet Reno with violence. There wasnt even a gun in the house and the family made several peacefull trips to washingto to lobby for the boy to stay the american way when in the history of our great country as a civil court case been solved in the matter in which this one was. The Cuban people held peacefull rallys in which there were no instances of violence again demonstrateing true american values. the other point is no cuban people are not happy living under those conditions if not they would not be risking there lives every day to flee. they have to show support or they will be arrested as a political prisoner.I read these blogs by aso many racist , ignorant idiots who love to come down on anyone who is not of there same origin as they are better then someone and it discusses me all of youre ancestores came here looking for a better life for youre dumb a-- little do they know you have become the worst of this country and only speak cowardly when it is anonymouse come to miami and say it in the face of plenty of cubans who would be happy to engage you in an educated debate or just plain wup youre a-- isf that is what you so desire this has been written by a proud miami native who was born in this country and has kids with blonde hair and blue eyes who are more american then you will ever be and I THANK MY cuban PARENTS FOR COMING HERE 50 YEARS AGO TO GIVE US A BETTER LIFE.. mAYBE SOMEDAY IDIOTS LIKE YOU WILL JUST BE A MEMORIE

Ron
CASTRO WILL BE DEAD IN 1 YEAR OR LESS.

HIS HEALTH REALLY SUCKS, AND CUBA IS DUE TO BE RELEASED FROM HIS IDIOTIC REIGN AT THAT TIME.

Kemo
Too many posters are using the term "Illegal Immigrant" with regards to Cubans. Um...does not apply to Cuban refugees, people. If they escape Cuba and make it to the U.S...we grant them political assylum. Nothing illegal about a Cuban on U.S. soil.

ezzatollah
americans are brainwashed 98 procent of them never travel abroad and america is a country that being second at being good it is not enough.and they are forced to feel free and they are forced to think america is best country in the world.i am happy that little boy left miami´s ghetto.

Southpaw
Too bad more Cubans don't want to go back. I'm sure most tax paying Americans wouldn't mind flipping the bill for a one way transport back to Cuba.

Phil
I said 10 years ago and still feel today that if it had been the boy's Mother calling for his return in Cuba, the out cry for his return to Cuba would have been much stronger. But since it was only his FATHER who was in Cuba, his wishes were never a concern

maurice
It is wrong to keep rehashing history that cannot changed. According to our very own laws; if one parent dies, the other automatically assumes custody of the child(ren). So get over it and quit using him to sell newspapers or to make some other person look incompetent. the vast majority who are expressing dissatisfaction are ill-educated and are only speaking out of their rectum trying to get attention themselves. How do you think the young father who regained custody of his son in (I think it was Columbia) prevailed and regained custody of his son who was down there with his step-father after his Mother died? He did it through the courts. Anyone who chooses to violate the law of the land are themselves criminals. So anyone who thinks Elian Gonzales is unhappy, quit trying to force your opinion on he--leave him alone--If he is truly unhappy, he will find a way around it.

garagehero
AS they say in places where they know cuban-Americans all too well...Cubano means Gusano.


Carol Fitzsimmons
Latino's, illegials,and black are the only americans with rights.I've been hurt twice by black and nothing could anyone do. I lost my home water damage lawsuit, because a white addjuster from empire(Dru Mc Carthy) stated I hated blacks.,making rude comments to her. ALLOWED in court case., with a latino and black jury. COMPLETELY A LIE. But once allowed by the judge I lost $400,000 home damage. WHAT does this have to do with homeowner Ins? Brooklyn supreme court. Dec. 2009.
I lost a wonderful RN superviors position in Port Jefferson, ny because I couldn't handle being abused by a LPN, lucked in office with her infront of the door. To make sure to scare and frighten me 2AM.
We had never had any words. Her comment to me when I ask her why. Said, BECAUSE SHE CAN. All people should have the same right. Not just latino's and blacks.
But we have no rights as white people

Opinionated
I'd say he speaks timidly because he fears his father and his country. What is he going to say- I wish I'd stayed int he US??? At any rate, he was 6. He has no way of knowing if he would be happier now if he had stayed in Miami. If he is truly happy now, then good for him but it seems he has been drilled on what to say. Hope I am wrong.

R Scott
I guess that the liberals will also be blamed for trying to help bring this boy to freedom.

Johnny 18
Paradise?

Try Goolging -> Cuba rice riots

lj
That is a speech prepared by others. Sixteen year old boys do not speak like that.


yoo hoo
Poor brainwashed kid. Will never know how good his life could have been living in a country of freedom. Of course, he probably has it as good as can be in Cuba, due to his fame. But if his father wanted him back in Cuba, being a child at the time, that's where is belonged!


Cecilia
For all the people who say : "send illegal inmigrants back home".:
History shows that every person in US has an illegal ancestry as well.
Do you think that Sioux, Cherokees, Cheyenes or Apaches gave visas or green cards to all the inmigrants coming from Europe, Asia or Africa??.
Ask Indians what opinion they have about illegal inmigrants, and who were the first illegals.
The head is not only suitable to wear hats.

Miguel
Elian....a brain washed communist.....


val
First of all, I agree that Elian should have been returned to his father. He should be where his father is if his mother did not survive. It is shameful how the family in Miami were so insistent about keeping him when he still has his father in Cuba. This case became politicized and though I know it is difficult to separate a custody battle from a political one, the child had to be returned to his father in spite of the fact that I know it is a communist land. The father has the right to be with the child. No parent has the right to runaway with a child....especially to endanger the child...I know I would not.
As to the comment on illegal immigration...you know very well that the U.S.A. is made up of immigrants and, like one of the posts stated "running away from tyranny"...well, that is the plight of Cubans..By the way, the Cubans become residents and then Citizens and do pay their share of taxes and contribute to our society. They immediately come in and apply for residency or work under Work Permits which contribute to the taxes. So, those of you who posts about the "illegal immigration", it does not apply to the Cubans because the moment they come in, they are documented just for your information....so staying in the USA illegally does not apply to Cubans. It might surprise you to know that many Cubans are successful business owners and productive members of society.
If you have not lived in a communism...then...you have absolutely no idea what it is like and what you are speaking of...It is true, that all aspects of Elian's life and his father are controlled, especially because he became a public figure. His father really had no choice because he had other children in Cuba and family and he needed to return because I could assure you that he was threatened by the communists re: his family back in Cuba. Just like my family was threatened and punished on a daily basis and watched over because we were not "communist." Imagine that, proclaiming yourself not communist in a communist regime and standing your ground because we were leaving the island in 5 years...my brother was punished by a teacher (gusanos as we were called "worms" were easily punished) and he was sent outside to lay down face up to the sun. My mother was threatened when she complained to those higher up. Imagine that happening to your child and for you not to have a voice.
As to the person who posted that their comments re: his family member about to bomb Cuba back in the days (I think it may have been around 1963)...yeah, it is true...but how cruel to bomb an entire island of innocent people. You are just being racist against the Cuban people who are forced to attend ceremonies for propaganda from the communist party.
The Cubans who have come to the United States are very proud of becoming citizens. You would be amazed at how much more knowledge a Cuban has about the history of the U.S. vs. an American born individual. America is a beautiful place full of opportunities that some Americans do NOT appreciate. you are able to voice an opinion without being put in jail...YOU are able to use the internet freely without being controlled and you could do so many things that in a communist land you do not have a right. I love the United States of America who has given me so many opportunities that I, otherwise, would not have. I pledge allegiance to my red, white and blue and encourage my child to sing the Star Spangle banner...because some people want to take away even that from our schools. It is also sad, how Americans cannot see their own government turning around and dangerously teetering onto a communism. You cannot smell it...not even when it's underneath your own noses..
It is important to go back to the basics, the way our America use to be. For our children to be taught how to respect their country and know and appreciate the freedoms that it has...and hopefully will still have in the future.

Trust
he is not free to say what he feels because the system. go USA.....i am 100% clear that he want o join the free world,he can not leave cuba to go another country he is already in jail.

EatSleepWork
if only little mexicans got this kind of support, but they just get shot

A Yahoo! User
PLEASE,PLEASE, just send them all back.

Tiako
Elian's life is a compelling story. Plucked from the ocean by a fisherman while his Mother and others parished. He now lives a life of prestige and has access to Cuban government officials.

I know I am just dreaming but with the love his countrymen have for him wouldn't it be something if he became a powerful leader and led Cuba out of the darkness of communism and into the light of Freedom.

Buslady
nice to hear he is a happy kid over there, hope he goes far with whatever he decides to do with his life.

Cynthia Brown
THANK GOD HE MADE IT HE COULD HAVE DIED TOO BUT GOD HAS OTHER PLANS FOR HIS LIFE.NOW TO ALL YOU OBAMA HATERS WITHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT HE IS YOUR PREZ SO DEAL WITH.

history8c
I am getting pretty sick of the media's attitude that Foreign Nationals have some kind of right to dictate their immigration "process" to us. This country has a process on who comes in and when, it is called legal immigration, and it should be enforced regardless what foreign nationals have to say about it.

Foreign nationals, you don't like our process? Tough cookies, you don't have a "right" to be a U.S. citizen.

VILUGO
ASK ELIAN GONZALEZ IF HE WANTS TO VISIT HIS RELATIVES IN MIAMI. I AM SURE HE WILL SAYS "YES" BUT THE CASTRO REGIMEN WILL NOT GIVE PERMISSION TO TRAVEL TO USA. IN MY OPINION THEY THE "CASTRO BROS." WILL DENIED SUCH PERMISSION BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT ELIAN WILL ASK FOR ASYLUM.

brokeroncall
Wow Elian, just think of what your missing. Take the other gazillion illegals that we have bedded. You could have free medical care, to help further bankrupt America. You could have a nice 64 chevy and get free gas with your illegal food stamps. To help bankrupt Florida. You could have a nice ignorant white girl to ho around with all your other illegal buddies, to further the growth of welfare everytime you could get her pregnant. But, the up side to that is, hey, another check or an increase on the one you already would be getting. And last but certainly not least, you could get your other buddies to ship you those hot selling illegal drugs so you could further the expense of taking care of them to the rest of the hard working tax paying people the eventually you and Obammy and his dumb lib cronies will bankrupt. Just keep the tee shirt handy. You know the one that reads, when Peter is robbed to pay Paul, Paul is always happy. What a country. Elian, you should swim back tonight.
Comment hidden due to low rating. Show Comment

Anarchy 22
Elian would be slinging crack rock if he were still in Miami.

Isaac
with so many issue in the world today that really matter who cares

Elena
I supported his return then,in a letter to my local paper, and I support it still. A child is a child, not a political foodball. It was the right thing that a child's only parent should raise him.


Captain America
The Cuban's have a right to celebrate....this is the only citizen of that country to leave the US and go back to Cuba unlike the million that did the reverse! Too bad he didn't choose to do that, our courts hauled him out over his mother's body.

Fred
It’s good that Elian’s not angry as someday soon he will be able to reunite with those relatives of his poor mother. What is wrong with our country, is it because among the Cuban population that there is darker than dark skinned peoples. We fought a war and left the treasured youth of American kids in Vietnam, the cold war is over and we are friendly with the Soviet Union or by calling it Russia does it make us feel better, China now holds major interest in our country and is a prime trading party. But Cuba is still the boogie man to our government, Cuba needs to be brought back into relations with us despite what the Cuban Americana population in Miami want and we can start trading in products such as cane sugar and ethanol but better than that we can show the world that we as a country are just.

FLF
Would you rather be a hero and celebrity in Cuba or just a regular kid at a public school in America? Not everyone will answer the same.

smell of death
Poor Elian, I think I noticed a gunbarrel at the back of your fathers head, or is that just a growth?

Dennis
My family fled from Cuba just before communist castro took control, thank God! We still have some distant cousins stuck there, whom upon contacting years ago begged for many simple things for us to send them, including shoes and money. Only one pair of shoes are issued a year and if they dont fit its too bad! Sounds like a lovely place to be?
Even more pathetic is that so many ignorant people can make no distinction between the oppressive comunists dictators and the western world, to them it seems just a difference of opinion?
Ahhh look how happy Elian and his family are now...and communist heroes!! And the father was promoted within the communist government! Smile for the purveyors of propaganda Elian, the communist cuban media is certainly trustworthy and we can beleive anything they say, and no less credible than the modern day US mainstream media.
Yes the clintons are despicable, a shame of America, always have been.

dav
To all those who state that all 3rd world country citizens are just dying to go to the US and that the only happy place to live is the US, well let me just say that I believe that all of you are simply ignorants who have NO idea what you are talking about. I myself am an American living overseas in a 3rd world country and although I love the US, I cannot say in all truth that the US is perfect and by far is not the "happiest" place to live for many many people, except for the rich people just like any other country. I am more than certain that if you get a homeless man living in a cardboard box and freezing outside in New York City and offer him to live in a warm home in Cuba, I am more than sure that he will be more than happy to go live in Cuba!!!

After all the housing prices falling, people failing to pay their mortgages and having their homes foreclosed by banks, the recession leaving thousands of people out of work, the high number of homeless and starving people living in the big cities and slums and freezing to death during winter (ex: just walk around parts of New York or Washington DC) , the extremely high crime rate with youngsters going to school with guns and shooting their classmates and teachers (Ex: Virginia Tech, Colombine, etc...), the increasing racism, and all of this happening in the world's "richest" country kind of makes you wonder if this is really the happiest place to live!!!!!!

Actually Cuba has a very very low crime rate, they have one of the best education systems in the world (can be verified with actual facts and data) and an excellent medical system and doctors that offer free medical service to all its citizens. I don't agree with their dictatorship and political views but in some aspects their life is much better than here in the US where you can die in the street and no one will help if you don't have medical insurance!!!!

As the richest country in the world, the US should not have homeless starving people with no healthcare. It just doesn't make sense to me how the US spends billions of taxpayers money on stupidities (Ex: $1000 toilet seats for the military, jajaja) instead of helping its own economy and people or simply doing something like modernizing New Yorks subway system which is worse than any subway system I've seen in any 3rd world country or setting up other modern infrastructure like they are doing in Japan, China, Europe, or Dubai (bullet trains, the tallest building in the world in Dubai, and other modern and huge construction projects in Dubai and China, etc...). With the money the US has, the US could have the most fastest transportation systems, most advanced and cleanest cities, the best free healthcare programs in the World, free education (high school and university level) for all, no homeless, etc.....!!!!!!!!!!! Just something to think about!!!!!!!!

FURIOUS! LIVID! PISSED-the-FUCK-OFF!

Ladies and Gentlemen....

The only reason I couldn't come up with more intense words to describe my utter frustration right now is because I can't fit them all into the title portion of the blog.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have attempted several times to post a blog in response to the blog prior to my Viva la Revolucion blog that our own fellow americans have said in regards to that article (i do apologize for the vagueness but if I use specifics, it will trigger CENSORSHIP and this blog would have also been denied)

And the post was DENIED!!!! Internet explorer suddenly didn't have connection, but only for that particular post,

Viva La Revolucion!

Politics politics politics..

What do you think you know?

Whatever it is.. it's wrong.

Beaches, mountains, drug busts, riots, whatever you may have seen

Means jack shit.

When people cannot have warm water to bathe in

When milk costs 5 dollars a gallon

And you only get paid 5 dollars a month

When a disaster happens and people turn their backs....

Everything is just smoke and mirrors....

Governments prosper

People suffer.

This is no revolution

It is an endless cycle, an abyss

That everyone, including you and I, are blindly swirling into.

Elian Gonzalez- The Cuban Prince on an American Day

10 years on, Elian not angry at Miami relatives

AP – Cuba's President Raul Castro, left, and Elian Gonzalez attend an official event in Havana, Wednesday, …

By WILL WEISSERT, Associated Press Writer Will Weissert, Associated Press Writer – Wed Jun 30, 11:52 pm ET
HAVANA – Elian Gonzalez says he's not angry at his Miami relatives who fought to keep him in the United States during a nasty international custody battle a decade ago, and is thankful "a large part of the American public" supported him being reunited with his father in Cuba.
Now 16, Gonzalez's first comments to foreign reporters in years came after President Raul Castro attended a state celebration Wednesday night marking the 10th anniversary of the famous ex-castaway's return to the island.
"Even though they didn't help me in every way possible, they didn't help me move forward, they are still my own family," Gonzalez said of his South Florida relatives, speaking in a shy, almost timid voice.
"I don't have anger for them," he said. "It's only that it wasn't the best effort possible, and thanks to a large part of the American public, and our public, today I'm with my father and I feel happy here."
When asked about the family's Miami relatives, however, Gonzalez's father, Juan Miguel, shot back that he was still angry, "because, at any moment, having the boy there and with me giving them opportunities so they can reunite the family, they let themselves get carried away with other things."
He added that bringing his son back was still the right thing to do, saying, "today I'm more sure than I was then."
Elian was a photogenic 5-year-old when a fisherman found him floating off the coast of Florida in an inner tube on Thanksgiving Day 1999, after his mother and others fleeing Cuba drowned trying to reach American soil. His father, who was separated from his mother, had remained on the island.
U.S. immigration officials ruled the boy should return to Cuba over the objections of his Miami relatives and other Cuban exiles, creating a national furor that caused even presidential candidates George W. Bush and Al Gore to weigh in. Many believe Cuban-Americans' outrage at how the case turned out helped cost Gore the White House.
Elian's Miami relatives refused to give him up, while in Cuba, Fidel Castro and religious leaders led constant marches calling for his return. State television crated a nightly "round-table" program that provided updates on the Gonzalez case and it endures today, though it now discuss all sorts of themes.
U.S. federal agents raided the Little Havana home of Elian's uncle with guns drawn on April 22, 2000, and seized the boy from a closet to return him to his father.
It took the pair another two-plus months to return to Cuba, and when they did, men, women and children jammed the road from Havana's airport, cheering, waving Cuban flags and throwing flowers as the motorcade carrying them passed.
The younger Gonzalez was celebrated as a hero and his father, a restaurant employee, was elected to parliament. Cuba has worked to play down the public persona of both since then, but the latest anniversary of their triumphant return proved an exception.
The evening marked the first time Cuba's current president stood in for its former leader at an event in Gonzalez's honor. Fidel Castro personally led major celebrations cheering Cuba's most-famous youngster in years past, marching in parades or delivering lengthy speeches.
But the 83-year-old has not been seen in public since undergoing emergency intestinal surgery and giving up power — first temporarily, then permanently — almost four years ago.
The latest event was organized by Cuba's Council of Churches, which includes all major Cuban religions except the Roman Catholic Church, and was held at the Episcopal Santisima Trinidad Cathedral in Havana. The council staged a celebration in the same church days after Gonzalez's return in 2000.
"It was a triumph, not only of love and justice, but of logic over indecency of spirit, truth against evil," Rev. Marcial Miguel Hernandez, president of the Council of Churches, told those assembled Wednesday night.
A bit later, parliament head Ricardo Alarcon said that "for many in the United States, Elian's case was the discovery of the reality that the imperial propaganda, the industry of deception, tried jealously to hide."
A large screen behind all who spoke showed video footage from Gonzalez's return in 2000.
Gonzalez wore a red-stripped dress shirt and sat in the front row next to Raul Castro, who was in a white Guayabera shirt and embraced him and patted him on the back before the event started. His father sat a row behind them, and his stepmother, two younger stepbrothers and grandmother, a faithful churchgoer, were in nearby rows.
"It's the land where I'm from," Gonzalez said of Cuba. "Here I feel good, and, thanks to my education and the strength my people have given me, today I'm almost a man."
Though the ceremony came two days after the actual anniversary, it also was unusual for Cuba to commemorate June 28, 2000, when Gonzalez arrived in Cuba, instead of his birthday on Dec. 7, which officials have often celebrated in Gonzalez's hometown of Cardenas, in Matanzas province east of the capital.
As he has grown up, authorities have shielded Gonzalez from foreign reporters and, before the ceremony, his only recent photograph appeared in April, when he sported closely cropped hair and a military school uniform during a Young Communist Union congress.
Government media marked the 10th anniversary last weekend, reporting Gonzalez is studying to become an officer at the Camilo Cienfuegos military school in Matanzas.
"The boy of yesterday is now a Cuban like any other," said the Communist Youth newspaper Juventud Rebelde, adding that "a decade after being used as a toy by the enemies of the revolution ... he is preparing to be a future officer of the Revolutionary Armed Forces."
The revolution is what Cubans call the popular uprising that swept the Castro brothers to power in 1959.
The state news agency AIN wrote that Gonzalez "enjoys music, is a partygoer, although not a good dancer, who spends hours in front of the computer or weightlifting with his friends."

Re: Pakistan- From the American People Themselves...

Obummer
God apparently doesn't like those towel heads either.

Salt in Wound
As ye do to the least of these so do you also to me..Jesus.

charles
If militant aid groups are bring in food and aid, we need to disrupt their aid groups logistics. Take the aid to the people ourselves, torn from the hands of terrorists. Their is a guerrilla motto, our enemies weapons are our own. We should use this motto and take their aid and get the credit ourselves.

Kelsy
I would like to know what countries sent us relief money during Katrina or our oil spill. Or any other disaster in history that we've had hit our country? Any Middle Eastern Countries in that tiny handful of countries? Nope? I didn't think so. But if there are any, by all means, please correct my assumptions. I'd be willing to bet however, that even if Pakistan were a thriving country and were not politically involved with us, that we would not ever see a penny from them...Maybe a bomb though. Its unfortunate for the innocent people who do live there but since they have no power over their government, I can't see even trying to help them. The government will just take it all back. Such a shame!

~Ant
Other countries that support Pakistan will surely be able to provide humanitarian aid. Like maybe their allies? Saudi Arabia, Turkey, China and to an extent Iran.

Why does the US have to fix everything?

B
those darn israeli's! tsk tsk! starting floods again! first the Egyptians at the red sea..now this?!

tigger
This is the work of God, they are doing things God don't like, watch out he's not done, Get it together or it's gonna get worse, we need to all get along theirs no reason not to. this world is so big we can make it work, get it together people lets help each other out, we could do so much and have so much fun if we'd just get along.

Miter
Yay less terrorists! Go nature!!

HeyU
Of course the U.S. will step in and help as we always do. I for one feel that we should do nothing to help them. They hate us, want to destroy us. We have our own needs to take care of. Clean our own backyard before we ask others to clean theirs. Let them call on allah to help. God helps those who help themselves.

Gary
Yeah lets give them tons of money to rebuild there terrorist training camps. Do any of you liberal idiots really think that any of this money is going to the poor people that need it. I feel bad for the children, and disasters suck, but just wondering did Pakistan help out any of our poor people down south with Katrina & now the oil spill... Yeah I didn't think so!!!

parasm
America needs to take care of there own problems and even if we do send money it wont make an effect. In a corrupt government you never know where the money will end up.



Elijah
I'm conflicted on America sending money. for one its money we dont even have and will probably end up borrowing from china. On the other hand sending aid is the right thing to do. But i just cant get past the fact that most countries over there hate us until they need us.and then once we save them they go back to hating us.

David
1.5 million from China? Oh yeah, they loaned all their money to us.

Jay 27
Maybe all that rain will wash put obama...I mean osama!!

Jac 27
Since when is every international problem automatically America's problem? This is no new scenario, but it is one that could stand to be reformed in a manner that is not biased by any political agendas.

First you help your family, and if you have the resources to help a friend or two you help them as well. We as a family, as citizens of the United States, are struggling. It is not wrong to want to help your family first and this message has been distorted by the countless numbers preaching about greed when they have little understanding of the word.

I'm sure the majority of American would like to help, because as rationally minded people, we know they are just families like yours and mine without hate. This does not mean we can just send the money we work hard for to maintain our way of living overseas to promote a certain view about ourselves. We must first protect our family, our citizens, of the United States of America.

ebob
Islamabad? Sounds like it, but who am I to judge.

Gene
All that money will be taken by the Taliban and used for their needs not for the peoples. Pakistans has a corrupt government that does not care about their own people. Hopefully many Taliban and their cohorts were consumed by those floods. Karma is Hell!!!


stevenjames8
This is a terrible circumstance for many good people of the nation of Pakistan. God uses natural disasters to humble and build the character of His children. We should not automatically judge this disaster as a judgment from God against the people of Pakistan.
•

Kenneth
WE GOTTO HELP THEM , WE HAVE TO KEEP THEM SAVE AND KEEP THERE NUCKS OUT OF ISLUM HANDS !!!!! WE CANT AFORD NOT TO !

MPI 31
Send them aid, HELL NO!! These people hate us. Don't send them a penny

GEORGE H
ask osama bin laden for help not the u.s.

Kelsy 32
Its in our best political interest to "play nice" because we need them to help us fight radical islam over in the middle east. But their government is just as corrupt as ours and the people distributing aid are only distributing to their buddies and associates in need. So as usual, their government is useless to help them and if we want to continue our efforts there, we need to help out. How American of us to help every other country but not our own. Victims of 9/11 were denied medical help for long term damage from the dust and particles that feel that day. The government said no to their pleas for help. But we can spend millions and billions helping other countries rebuild after their disasters? I'm torn. Politically, I think we need to help them. But at what cost to our own country. When do we begin to look out for our own. I would never let me child starve so I could feed another child. But if I could feed both, would I? Absolutely! The US can't feed their own though. So why are we extending help to everyone else?

Bite Me
god is sending them a message.

Laura
When do "we the people who pay taxes" get to decide how our funds are used? We have needs in THIS country: Katrina victims, Tennesse floods, double digit unemployment ...just to name a FEW things. I'm sad for their suffering, but we have our own suffering to take care of.

MindshiftJoeSanDiego
I'm just wondering how many more millions we're going to send these people who hate us.


Romper 35
Lets give them all kinds of money so there corrupt government can keep it for themselves instead of helping out victims.


Kid Somerville
Seriously people, you need to chill out. Just because there are terrorists in these nations it does not mean that EVERY person living there is one. There are innocent men, women, and children that need help too. Stop being so @#$% selfish.

Lee 36
If we donate money it will just be stolen. Let them suffer maybe then they will realize that radical extremist islam doesn't work well for a society. It doesn't place a high value on human life. Help yourselves Pakistan.

Pakistan

Pakistan floods ravage lives of millions: UNICEF
• AP
By Michael Georgy Michael Georgy – Tue Aug 3, 10:11 am ET
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – The worst floods in memory in Pakistan have devastated the lives of more than 3 million people, a U.N. spokesman said on Tuesday, while outrage over the unpopular government's response to its people's plight spreads.
The catastrophe, which started almost a week ago and has killed more than 1,400 people, is likely to deepen as more rains are expected. A breakout of water-borne diseases such as cholera could create a health crisis.
The disaster has also, once again, called into question the leadership of President Asif Ali Zardari, already hampered by problems ranging from a stubborn Taliban insurgency, widespread poverty to chronic power cuts in the nuclear-armed U.S. ally.
Pakistan's civilian governments have long been perceived as riddled by corruption and largely ineffective, leaving the powerful military to step in during troubled times.

AP
Poorly resourced Pakistani authorities are struggling to help flood victims, many of whom have lost everything and say they received no warnings that raging waters were heading their way.
United Nations World Food Program spokesman Amjad Jamaal said an estimated 1.8 million are in dire need of water, food and shelter. He said some people are being bitten by water snakes.
Anger was palpable in towns such as Charssada. A Reuters reporter saw people attacking trucks distributing relief items. Police then charged at them with batons.
Bistma Bibi, 65, who lost two grandsons in the floods, accused state relief workers of only helping friends or relatives. "I came here at 5 o'clock in the morning. I begged and fought but got nothing. They're giving them (supplies) to their people," she said.
AID IN DIRE NEED
Zardari's administration has faced a cascade of crises over the last few weeks, from the worst ever domestic plane crash on the edge of the capital to leaked reports on Islamabad's alleged support for militants battling U.S. troops in Afghanistan, to diplomatic rows with Britain.
Stability here is vital to American interests in the region. Washington wants Islamabad to join efforts to tackle a Taliban insurgency raging in Afghanistan by cracking down on Afghan militants who cross over the border to attack U.S. troops.
Zardari is in Europe on a state visit, which has angered both ordinary Pakistanis and political parties who wonder why he is abroad during a difficult period.
During a meeting with French President Nicolas Sarkozy in Paris on Monday, Zardari asked for immediate international aid.
Presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar quoted Zardari as saying: "We need to rebuild the damaged infrastructure that has been destroyed first by the war against militancy and now further by the torrential rains."
The U.S. embassy has announced $10 million in immediate humanitarian aid, with more to be earmarked as necessary. The European Union will donate 30 million euros ($39.5 million) while China will donate 10 million yuan ($1.5 million).
Amir Khan Hoti, chief minister of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, the epicenter of the crisis, said the aid "should be bigger because the losses and damages are so huge".
Authorities forecast more of the heavy monsoon rains that have been lashing the area for the past week.
UNICEF spokesman Abdul Sami Malik told Reuters of the more than 3 million affected, 1.3 million people were severely impacted by the floods, losing homes and livelihoods.
"The main problem there is outbreak of diseases, especially in Nowshera district where hundreds of dead animals are lying on the ground," said Adnan Khan, spokesman for the Crisis Management Authority in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.
"Most roads linking flood-hit areas have been blocked and 91 bridges have been either washed away or damaged, so access to affected areas is still a challenge."
Islamist charities, some with suspected ties to militants, have stepped in to provide aid, piling pressure on the government to show it can take control. Islamist groups played a key role in the relief effort following a huge earthquake in Kashmir in 2005.
The government faces highly determined militants, who often try to capitalize on a lack of civil services to recruit disillusioned Pakistanis to take up arms against the state.
"Since the flood hit our area, I did not see any food or relief packets from the government. Their offices have been washed away or damaged," said school teacher Yar Mohammad, waiting to cross a makeshift bridge over a river in Swat Valley.
To add to the people's misery inflicted by the floods, food prices are also rising sharply as agriculture has been wiped out.

Arizona, check! Florida is next!

Florida's attorney general and a group of state lawmakers moved Wednesday to push the Sunshine State into the forefront of the national illegal immigration debate with a bill modeled after Arizona's controversial law -- only, they claim, with a better shot of withstanding a court challenge.
State Attorney General Bill McCollum, following the lead of Virginia's top prosecutor, also issued an opinion saying state law enforcement already have the right to ask about immigration status in the course of their duties.
"This legislation will provide new enforcement tools for protecting our citizens and will help our state fight the ongoing problems created by illegal immigration," McCollum, a Republican, said in a written statement. "Florida will not be a sanctuary state for illegal aliens."
McCollum helped write the legislation, though Florida lawmakers will be responsible for pushing it in the legislature.
The move comes after a U.S. District Court judge blocked key provisions of Arizona's law. The battle between Arizona and the U.S. government, as well as civil rights groups, could make its way to the Supreme Court -- but while that fight plays out, several states are putting similar legislation on the table.
The Florida proposal would, like Arizona's, require law enforcement officers to check the residency status of anyone they suspect of being an illegal immigrant in the course of a "lawful stop."
It would require state businesses to use a national registry to ensure new employees are legal and would increase penalties for illegal immigrants who commit other crimes. The bill would also require non-citizen immigrants to carry immigration documentation or face a misdemeanor charge that could carry up to 20 days in jail.

Arizona Awesomeness

"The Laborer"

Working with your hands is a common and worthy trade in this state
Constant movement and masculinity exhibits their true strength
There isn't a project they can't complete or a weather condition they can't conquer
Except when contract is up and here comes that sneaky unemployment monster
What to do what to do
Outside of my own projects at home that are due
An opportunity presents itself and you cannot be more grateful you MUST have something to do
Until you realize that job description is beneath you
Working at a drunken liquor store is better than this
I can't believe I am even here.. can it get more ridiculous
I love the liquor store but this cleaning shit? It's worth nothin'
And I am worth somethin!
It's really funny when people walk into the liquor joint
They talk to me for hours and usually end up forgetting their story's points!
What do you mean I have to talk to patients?
I can't do this... I don't have the patience!
My wife is in a wheelchair you know? That's why I needed this job
Oh, um, can I have tomorrow off?
What up GIRL?!
Yeah, I'm your supervisor, remember?
Good Afternoon, Mr. laborer
Allow me to be quick, it really is the only way to be fair
Construction, cleaning, even talking, seems to be tedious for you, since you've got nothing upstairs
Your disregard, your deep-sunk eyes, the new cuts and bruises that appear on your body, your constant cigarette infested breath and lung vomiting coughing, God, even from the way you walk makes me want to grind my teeth until they have bled
Your a waste of a good pair of hands that would work and a good pair of legs that could have led
Maybe you should be the one in a wheelchair instead
I await patiently until you have decided the drunks and your laziness are better than this
I await patiently as you, the mighty laborer, seists to exist.

Imprisonment

Having so much to say yet no place to be able to express your voice
Having so many options but granted one as your only choice
Wanting to dance but being robbed by a wheelchair
Wanting to sing but having to choke to get enough air
Yearning to learn more but unable to obtain because your brain cannot retain long term information
Yearning to touch her lips and actually feel the skin's sensation
Living to work instead of working to live
Living to succeed but unwilling to give
Unable to express love and affection
Unable to follow your own direction
Forced to war
Forced to work at a minimum wage store
Smiling only to hide what really lurks inside
Smiling to save another's sanity so your true feelings you deny
Walking on eggshells for those who still disappoint
Walking on sunshine because that pill and that needle was better than yesterday's joint
Looking for happiness but hating your reflection
Looking for some equality in retrospect of your complexion
Ignoring the truth for a bitter fantasy's exception without an obligated ring
Ignoring the fact that maybe you were wrong and money isn't everything
Fighting for the wrong reasons with no reason to reason with
Fighting for love with size, girth and width
A slave to history
A slave to time
These to me are the biggest imprisonments, complete with shackles and grime.

Once upon a time... I was a dancer

Her movements were like the warm currents of a Havana night rendezvous
Her skin was radiant and defiant like a high tide's full moon
Your eyes forced you to follow her throughout the dance floor
Your breath came too quick too short for whatever other surprises she still had in store
The music was enveloped & tangled inside of her wild curly hair
Only to come out crisp, vibrant, splashes of color and lust released into the air
Congas, horns, claves, twists and turns and flips and dips, with a passion that refused to stop
She held your heartbeat on her hip, your soul in her poised arms, your envy in her skirt, and your body, was simply just her prop
She fueled the music with each spin
She fed you sex on a spanish guitar's rustic brown whim
Her smile lit up the entire floor with her raw love for the song
Her body was a slave to the beat and her feet knew no wrong
She would laugh when her toes would become numb
She would exhale instant gratification after landing that spin, or flip, or any body movement that her heart had decided to exhibit from
Once upon a time, I was a dancer that created latin poetry in motion
Once upon a time, I was an artist that created colors in the air to match the music that stirred your blood
Once upon a time, I was a magician that made you believe I could float across any surface
Once upon a time, I was a dancer
And that was my only life's purpose.

I was a dancer
Now I am a lover
I was a dancer
Now I know I never danced as well I could have because I was with another
I was a dancer
But knew nothing of what could become
Of dancing with my husband and suddenly two becomes one
My feet are twisted and overlap each ball-change
My twists are unfinished and my breath now has zero range
I was a dancer
Now I am a lover
I was a dancer
Now I realize that without my true love, my dancing was simply an introduction to what real dance with real love could truly discover.

Poetry Assholes are relative to Twilight Assholes

Allow me to explain...

Poetry assholes are the assholes who think that just because they are a poet or a lover of poetry that they are "deep" and see meaning and purpose and depth and a second, third, and fourth meaning to everything and anything, which in return, makes all you "ordinary" people void of any real and true emotion or passion.

But

Sometimes, shit is just shit no matter who looks at it. It's not a discoloration of the metaphor that is life... it's just shit.

Twilight assholes are the assholes who think that this author has somehow taken an ancient creature of night and developed a new twist to it while also enveloping an enchanting, passionate, and romantic love story/triangle among all the "darkness," that is incorporated with vampires.

But

Sometimes, glittering, fangless vampires and ordinary dull high school kids are just wack. It's not new, it's not "emo", it's not sweet, it's not that I gotta read the second book because the first 300 pages of the first book is just an intro to the real plot.... it's just wack.

See the similarities?