Choosing Our Side of History - Frank Pais

Frank País was a Cuban revolutionary and committed Christian.

He might have become president instead of Castro. Both wanted to end the evil dictatorship that existed in Cuba in the 50s, propped up by American Mafia money and some U.S. government support.

Pais, if he had lived, would have helped write a different sort of story for Cuba where oppression and repression would not have flourished. But the bad money would still have had to go and there would have still been some unhappy people in places of power in the U.S. and in Cuba. People's hearts and politics follow their money.

Things would have been different for both countries if Pais and people like him had lived and prevailed - better more just.

Many times our support and influence has landed on the wrong side of history. We have bolstered powers that oppressed the poor and helped to create radicals like Castro when there were men like Pais who were available (who, yes, did collaborate with Castro - in Castro's better days - remember , he was just a freedom fighter at first and the greatest evil was the Bautista regime) .

Should we have backed him?

Probably not.

But we certainly should not have backed and profited by Bautista either.

Our history of conquest there goes back long before the Cuban Revolution and far away from that island and around the world. We tend to reap what we help to sow.

We do wish the Cuban people well and pray for them as they chart a new course in a new generation. May they prosper and enjoy ever-increasing freedom to speak, worship, and forge their own destinies.

They are smart, creative, and resilient people and may they be strong enough to resist the forces and influences of all who may seek to exploit them. May we learn from the past.

God bless Cuba and the Cuban people.