The Plain Old Truth

"The greatest virtue of this book is its lucid summation of all the complexities…Nothing I have read up until now has given me as clear a view of the meltdown that led to Fidel…I've always wondered why it was that our homeland fell apart so thoroughly, and especially why it was that our political elites were unable to stop Fidel from taking over. Now I don't have to wonder about it any more"
Carlos Eire, author of "Waiting for Snow in Havana."

"We all know that Cuban history, as presented in the MSM and the worldwide Academia, consists of mostly of a recitation and transcription of talking points handed out by Castro propaganda ministry…That's why Manuel Márquez-Sterling's disclosures are so important…This is a great read- a very troubling read. It is troubling to read the stark unvarnished truth, is what I mean. The author has performed a tremendous service for historical truth.
I am extremely thankful."
- Humberto Fontova, author of "Fidel, Hollywood's Favorite Tyrant" and "Exposing the Real Che
Guevara, and the Useful Idiots who Idolize Him."

"I urge all those interested in knowing the distilled truth of what really happened in Cuba during the critical period 1952-1958, to read this riveting and thoroughly- researched book of Professor Manuel Márquez-Sterling. With fresh material and illuminating perspective, the book explains why and how Castro managed to fill the power void left by Batista and implant communism in Cuba, and how and why this tragedy could have been avoided."
-Nester Carbonell Cortina author of "And the Russians Stayed."

I have just finished a book that for years I could not find anywhere. Not in the bookstores, university libraries or even my favorite place for books, Amazon. Primarily because it had remained unwritten by its author, filed in the vaults of his mind, under "Pain, Sorrow and Don't go there!"
Recently "mi Papa" has completed a life long tribulation. A book that would explain to me, and others of my exiled generation, the true story of Castro's rise to power and his so called revolution.
For many years I have known the truth of what happened, but found little or no place to validate to our friends and foes alike, of these truths. Largely, because much of these facts had not been known even by many of its countrymen. In addition, a nuanced language barrier prevented me from truly comprehending the actual events that took place that destroyed a democracy and republic in its infancy.
After reading this book and its facts, I have a profound admiration and respect for my parents and family at large. Talk about having to let go. Talk about Krishnamurti's mantra "I don't mind"; talk about remembering, but continuing onward and upward with your new place in life with grace and aplomb. Phew!!! I wish I could say with real certainty that I could do the same but I don't think so. I get upset when the networks preempt my favorite TV show.
As I read through this engrossing eye opener (actually my eyes had been opened years ago but as a child facts get confusing and you tend to write your own version to make sense of what you don't quite comprehend) my heart cried out for them. It took me awhile to finish because the pain was so palpable that I could not read at my usual rapid pace. Several times tears streamed down my face at the frustration and anxiety that my grandfather and exiled countrymen must have endured.
My grandfather Carlos Márquez-Sterling, a man of great intuitive intelligence, eloquence and integrity must have suffered unimaginable mental torment while in exile. Having been unable to convince the powers in the U.S. and Cuba, that the country, his country, their country, was on the precipice of a looming calamity of disastrous proportions. To have won the election for the presidency of Cuba (recently confirmed by General Tabernilla head of the armed forces in Cuba at the time) and still not be able to save the republic from the savagery and brutality of Castro's Communist Clan is a death of some form. In this country and for most of us, we have little or no perceptive knowledge of a death of this manner. The grief must be unbearable.
This book is an ode to my grandfather and his countrymen both past and present. It is not a personal account but with first hand knowledge of the events very believable in its unbelievability. Thorough and succinct but not so much so that the average person could not find value in its lessons. It is scholarly, while at the same time enlightening, easy, fast pace read. There are facts in this book that have never been revealed, not intentionally or out of fear but for the mere fact that they were ignored and judged by Main Stream Media to be irrelevant and also quite unfashionable in the viewing (and still in some circles) of the past and current concocted myths and talking points, of Cuba and the Castro dictatorship.
Finally I breathe a sigh of relief. I can rest my head from the constant challenge to dispel the ignorant half-truths, flagrant lies and propaganda that is constantly repeated to me as gospel.
I have often suggested to my parents, as a spiritual insight, that maybe it all happened in order for us to be here in what I consider to be the greatest country in the world. Having the grace of god, to have been born here and raised in a country where the rule of law is the end all. That mob or majority doesn’t always win but the law is the final arbiter of what is right and wrong. And if the law is wrong there are ways to change it until it is fair and just. However, these thoughts are of no consequence to my parents, their country was that way and it slipped out of their hands. Not through a violent civil war or by the strokes of pens on voting ballots but by ego, an insatiable thirst for power, and the need to be right at all cost. The need to be able to punish and seek vengeance became the mantra above all else, common sense, compromise and constitutional litigation. Political demagoguery and a lazy complicit press both abroad and in Cuba, let evil slip in and replace a once thriving growing nation into nothing more then a tragic third world country of slaves to the state.
In closing, for those of you who don't know me well this topic of Cuba and all its complexities brings out my passion ten fold, often attributed quite tritely to "the Latino way." However, in this past year I have seen much of the same rancor and misplaced partisanship in our own country, politicians and media, that led to the demise of a once great, hard fought for independent homeland, of my parents. Please keep this mind when watching our own republic. We are not safe from the same ravages that are a hallmark of troubled democracies. Please don't foolishly think that this can't happen here and that it can only happen in banana republics as has been said to me ad nauseum. A government is suppose to work for the people not against them. The essence of freedom is proper limitation of government. A republic is limited by the law. People confuse the political spectrum by putting the communist to the far left and the fascists to the far right. In fact, a more accurate picture is 0% power on the far right ie; anarchy and 100% power to the far left. ie; Communism, Socialism, Nazism, Fascism, Monarchy's. In the middle of this spectrum is where our constitution lies. Protecting the rights of the people. When government power grows peoples freedoms recede. Alexander Hamilton said "We are a republican government. Real liberty and freedom is never found in despotism or in the extremes of democracy." Our founding fathers knew that having a democracy where majority rules is short lived, and throughout history has proven to eventually lead to mob rule, then morph into anarchy allowing a vacuum of power to be filled with tyranny. And that my folks is why we have the Republic and not a democracy. The rule of law protects are rights from government and from majority rule.

One last thing, if you are interested in reading the unknown truth of Castro and his so called revolution, you can purchase a copy of the book from Amazon.com. http://tinyurl.com/Cuba5259Book And if you desire to have my dad sign it, leave it with me and I will get him to sign it over the next holidays season.

Just below is a picture of my grandfather
as a young man in a newly independent Cuba.Encircled above is my grandfather and father in the early years of my grandfathers career as a statesmen.

Below my grandfather attempting to get any one who would listen tirelessly speaking against the Castro revolution in this country to what would be come a matter of fact shortly. In the photo below my grandfather
in Miami after retirement reading. I never knew anyone who read more. Except my father.

Below me and my grandfather in one of my annual visits to Miami.
I loved him and admired him so much. It kills me to think of his dream and aspirations, seeing Cuba free, never came to happen while he was still alive