What if there was a dearth of corrupted leadership in the world?
The Underground Railroad crossed the Chesapeake Bay, went over the Delmarva Peninsula, then north to Pennsylvania and delivered freedom for American slaves before and during the Civil War. The British sent a flotilla of boats and ships to Dunkirk, France, to rescue troops from Nazi forces. The Allies built a floating seaport in about a week after D-Day off Normandy, France. The American Air Force flew relief missions into Berlin, Germany, to assist people oppressed under communist rule after World War II.
These historic and heroic efforts all occurred to save lives in and under extraordinary circumstances because it was necessary. Today, Cubans are calling out for freedom from communist oppression. What is needed is a liberty bridge from Cuba to Florida — not a physical structure but a floating belt. The American people need to unite, reach out and engage a cause.
In the past few decades, we have mourned and suffered as a nation and too often gone after each other’s backs and throats. We need to collectively pull as one and show the world and ourselves what we feel for America and others, as well. If, from Texas to Maine, every seaworthy ship, boat, barge, etc., is pressed into service, we could provide a means for Cuban asylum-seekers to reach the USA.
The current tyrants who rule Cuba cannot have that strong a grip on the people given the age of the remaining ruling class. Young police and military members may have tighter ties to their people than the government has. Let us try. Working with Cuban medical communities, we should start by transporting to American research units children in need of greater care than Cuba has to offer. While we start with the kids, we can airlift food, medicine and supplies to the population at large and lash the liberty bridge northward.
Donald F. McHugh
Felton
