Ileana Ros-Lehtinen: “it is with a heavy heart and many fond memories that I stand here today to honor the life and invaluable legacy of Dr.…”

“it is with a heavy heart and many fond memories that I stand here today to honor the life and invaluable legacy of Dr. Rafael Diaz-Balart. As a prominent attorney and elected official in his native land of Cuba, Rafael quickly rose to the position of majority leader in the Cuban Republic's House of Representatives before Fidel Castro illegally seized power in the 1959 Communist revolution. As majority leader, Rafael warned his legislative colleagues of Castro's desire of absolute power, a desire that would be achieved by any means necessary. In a prophetic speech, Rafael said in the legislature of Castro's thugs, ``They do not want peace. They do not want a national solution. They do not want democracy or elections or fraternity. Fidel Castro and his group seek only one thing, power, and total power at that. And they want to achieve that power through violence, so that their total power will enable them to destroy every vestige of the constitution and law in Cuba, to institute the most cruel, most barbaric tyranny, a tyranny that would teach the people the true meaning of tyranny.'' How sadly correct Rafael Diaz-Balart was so many years ago. Vigilantly opposed to the Communist tyranny and oppression that had taken hold of his country, Dr. Diaz-Balart and his family fled the island. Shortly after leaving Cuba, he founded the White Rose Party, an organization dedicated to fighting against Castro's dictatorial regime and restoring democracy and liberty in Cuba.…”