Political Quotes

“Today I joined President Bush and the Cuban-American community in Miami to observe the 100th anniversary of Cuba's independence from Spain. This is a bittersweet celebration because Cubans today are not free. Centuries ago, when Spaniards first arrived on Cuban shores, they marveled at the breathtaking beauty of the island and recognized the importance of its geographical location. It is no wonder why this island became known as the 'Pearl of the Antilles.' After years of Spanish control, Cuban patriots such as Carlos Manuel de Cespedes, Maximo Gomez, Antonio Maceo, and Jose Marti, gave unselfishly of themselves to ensure that Cuba would become free and independent. But it was not until May 20, 1902, that Cuba's first sovereign government was established and Tomas Estrada Palma became Cuba's first President. Regrettably, many of these advances came to a halt with the arrival of Fidel Castro's revolution. Sadly, this regime is notorious for its repression and tyranny, and its human rights record has been so deplorable that the United Nations Human Rights Commission continues to condemn the Cuban government year after year.”