April 19, 1999

Invading Cuba

As a piece of historical fact, when the United States and its citizens were filled with imperial pride just before the twentieth century arrived, some citizens had a crazy notion of how to liberate the colony of Cuba from the harsh imperialistic overrule of Spain--rent a rowboat.

Picture it... a few gents sipping a few beers together at a local pub or bar, discussing work, family, sports, and inevitably, politics. Soon, Cuba comes up and the men feel obligated out of patriotic pride to expel again Europe from the western hemisphere. Sure, renting a rowboat so that they can travel across the waves to the isle is a foolhardy idea. But there's a romantic aspect to it all as well. The notion glosses so smoothly over the difficult task of completing a successful revolution and instead chooses to focus on the simple question of how to get there in the first place.

Now, you might be wondering why I told you this simple tale of invading Cuba in a rowboat. No, I'm not asking you to join me in overthrowing Castro or help me in some money-making scheme involving illicit cigars. Instead, if time, circumstances, obligations, duties, or life ever separates myself from those I call friends, then if I would see them again, I could say:

"Hey, I've missed you. Do you have some free time right now to get a cup of coffee? pizza? five-course meal? massive reconstructive surgery? get married? invade Cuba?"

The friend can smile and begin remembering the good times by saying, "I've got a rowboat."