President Obama shook the hand of Raul
Castro of Cuba at the Mandela memorial in South Africa yesterday.
He’s getting both praise and criticism.
Back in 2000 President Clinton shook hands with Raul’s brother Fidel at a UN
luncheon. Clinton said at that time it just happened.
Cuban-American leaders then were sharply
critical, saying the greeting conferred legitimacy on Castro's dictatorship.
The questions to be asked are, since when
does courtesy confer legitimacy. Since when does being polite diminish the
sanctity of democracy or even remotely condone the dictatorial actions of a
Castro regime?
It should not be necessary to remind all
ex patriots that America's grace comes not from effrontery or insulting
actions, it comes from an open heart and an open hand, both of which encourage
discussion that could lead to change that violence would never accomplish.
Let America welcome all the scoundrels of
the world. Let them see that the evidence of democracy is not fear, not coup d’état,
and not dictatorial. The sound of freedom rings loudly by open example. It is
not smothered in the abyss of hate.
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