July 15, 2021 – Click here to listen
I have fished near Cuba for many years; it’s only about 80 miles from where I live. Several times through the years I’ve seen Cuban refugees on makeshift boats trying to cross the oftentimes dangerous waters of the Florida straits. The people donned straw hats, many were barefoot, and wore what appeared to be handmade clothes. In a word, they looked very poor and were dressed shabbily and my heart went out for them.
The Coast Guard patrols the waters in and around the Florida Straits and it is illegal to allow them to board your boat. A friend of mine discovered a man 28 miles out of Islamorada who was on an inner tube and had one flipper. He was exhausted and after my buddy, who could speak limited broken Spanish, gave him some water and a sandwich he asked him if he wanted to continue or have him call the Coast Guard. The man said he’d had enough so the Coast Guard was called, and they came and picked him up. I’ve often wondered what became of him. Did he go to prison for trying to escape his communist tormentors?
It is a dangerous thing for someone to attempt to escape Cuba in more ways than one. I have seen sharks literally that were as long as my boat in that area and of course, there is always the possibility of raging waves in the Gulf Stream that can unexpectedly reach 10-20 feet high. I’ve seen 10-15 people on a little dingy powered by a lawnmower engine in seas that made it look like a cork. And I’ve seen Cuban boats as small as my life raft eerily floating with no one on board, one had someone’s tennis shoe on it and a chair strapped to the deck. I suspect those who occupied it did not make it.
If the refugees could make it to land, the United States would allow them in back in the day. Obama changed that. Not surprisingly the current administration allows practically anyone to enter the United States unimpeded, except those who are not inclined to vote Democrat like the Cubans. Traditional radical “progressive” groups will not speak out in their defense for the same reason.
Today Black Lives Matter came out and praised the Cuban government and condemned the United States as being the cause of the suffering of the people of Cuba and the reason for the demonstrations. Of course, Communism is never criticized by these America hating organizations and the venomous hate they have for our country is unsettling.
One might wonder why these people stay in this country. If communism is so great, why would so many Cubans risk their lives to escape Communist Cuba. These people are desperate; if given a choice of staying I’m sure they love their own country and culture, but countries ruled by Communism and socialism are miserable places to live and many are persecuted for their religious beliefs in these atheistic countries. They are also starving to death.
I saw a bumper sticker one time that said, “When you talk about the farmer, don’t talk with your mouth full.” I say the same thing about this country. No country is perfect including ours, but it is a heck of a lot better than socialist/communist countries. Why would people worldwide risk their lives trying to come here if this were not true?
Currently, many groups are using racism as a wedge between whites and people of color. I don’t know about you, but I will never apologize because God created me to be white. I’ve never owned a slave and wouldn’t want one if it was still legal. As far as I can tell our family was dirt poor and hardscrabble and were probably slaves or indentured servants themselves. Somehow, they made it to the United States. God gave the world this wonderful land where someone like me who was homeless, penniless, uneducated, but determined to work could build a business from nothing into something and raise a wonderful family with a living standard better than most in the world. And yet there are so many who despise it.
Jesus will set everything right and I believe we are closer to that day than ever. He sees the suffering; He sees the despots abusing the poor and the weak among us. He sees the people who are filled with hate, and He sees the beautiful land He has given to those who love Him. He will separate the goats from the lambs at a time He deems appropriate.
I say America the beautiful – Love it or leave it!
Please pray for Cuban people to obtain freedom.
Isaiah 61:1
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;