Page 3 - PGA Community News - September '21

September 2021 September 2021 PGA C.A.N.!, Page 3

From The Editor: Cuba Libre…

While at lunch with my left the country without any cash. As they departed from their transportation between the United States and Cuba had been
friend, Maria, last week, I home, Maria ran back into their residence to grab a favorite suspended, although some people could arrange transportation
asked her at what age she baby doll that she loved but the man checking the inventory through Mexico or Spain. Several hundred thousand Cubans
came to the United States refused to allow her to take it. Juan begged him to let Maria registered their desire to leave Cuba when the airlift began or
from Cuba. take it since she was a little girl and it was a just a doll. Even shortly thereafter. By December 1968, there were still many
Maria told me about neighbors, who at that time were hovering by their front thousands on this list awaiting departure.
the experience her family door, also pleaded with him, but he refused. Maria sensed A few weeks ago, the Cubans in Havana began
endured while in Cuba before his evil character full of hate – a communist who despised demonstrating in the streets again. Simultaneously, Cubans
they traveled to Miami in every “gusano” (worm) – which is what they called anyone and Americans in the United States showed their support by
1966. Freedom Flights who was not a communist. Presumably because they were filling the streets of American cities. The desire for freedom
(known in Spanish as Los the lowest form of creatures for not being communist. cannot be eliminated because it is a part of our human
vuelos de la libertad) had Maria, Juan and Fabiola stayed with the grandmother spirit. Our government is allowing hundreds of thousands
been established by President Johnson in 1965 to transport a few nights. Maria’s aunt and uncle then drove them to a undocumented individuals to pass through our southern
Cubans from Varadero to Miami twice daily, five times per beautiful mansion that had been confiscated by Castro and border each month but ignores the pleas of Cubans a short
week until 1973. his soldiers from a family that had left Cuba previously. distance by boat or air to our shores. Congress has the power
Maria’s parents, Juan and Fabiola, decided to leave They stayed there with other families which were leaving to ameliorate the paradox through immigration asylum
Havana when the government began confiscating property. the island. There were “milicianos” or military personnel reform. All North and South American countries need a free
Maria’s father owned a coffee shop. One by one the businesses operating the residence who reviewed their papers to be sure Cuba, i.e. Cuba Libre.
around him were taken from their owners. Juan was fortunate all was in order. The next morning, they were placed on a Until next month,
that the government overlooked his establishment so he was bus and taken to the airport and boarded a plane. Maria can James A. Cioffi, Editor
able to accumulate some money. Shortly before the time the remember the fear and tension that surrounded the experience james@jcclaw.com
family was scheduled to leave, a government official stopped that they felt (along with the other families) until they landed P.S. Please forward to me any inspiring stories of persons
by their home for the “inventario” (inventory) in which a list in Miami. They knew that Castro could have changed his fleeing oppression and seeking freedom in the United States.
was presented of all the contents of their home. No one knew mind at any point in the process and their hope for freedom
how the government compiled the list. It was suspected that would have been destroyed.
neighbors may have been agents of the government. The Freedom Flights were an unusual instance of
A problem arose as the official showed Maria’s father the Camarioca boatlift in 1965, Castro opened up the Cuban Summer Is Here!
cooperation between the U.S. and Cuban governments. During
that they owned a car – but it was not in the driveway. Juan
said he sold the vehicle but the official insisted that the car port of Camarioca for the departure of Cubans with relatives in
must be in their driveway the following afternoon or they the U.S. (excluding men of military age). The number of boats Summer is here! Along with summer comes the increased
would not be able to leave. That evening he and his brother and fleeing Cubans was so great that the boatlift overwhelmed temptation to utilize the golf courses as a park/playground, but
scoured Havana to find a similar make and model automobile. the U.S. Coast Guard. In an effort to support refugees and we must ask you to refrain from any non-golf related access.
Fortunately, they found one along with its owner and it was quell chaos, the U.S. agreed with Cuba to finance the Freedom Summer is a time when tremendous maintenance is
purchased on the spot for cash. Juan had it parked in the Flights, which transported Cuban refugees with U.S. relatives performed on all the courses, so there is a great deal of
driveway so there would be no issue for their departure. to Miami. The Freedom Flights would bring about 300,000 equipment and work being done. In addition it is a time
The following day the official returned and the house Cubans to the U.S. and cost approximately twelve million when golfers play early to beat the heat and also play late
was sealed after reinspection. Maria and her parents had dollars. Although Castro initially agreed to the program, to do the same.
one suitcase packed previously and it awaited them at her Cubans who signed up faced harassment and humiliation For your safety, please do not access the courses unless
grandmother’s house. They left every other possession before their departure and property confiscation after. you are registered to play golf.
behind. Castro had established a new currency after the The airlift provided a major new transportation link, since Thank you
revolution which had no value outside Cuba. Therefore, they after the Cuban missile crisis in 1962 all direct commercial air

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