Thursday, February 28, 2008

A Priest and William F Buckley Buy Black Market Cigars In Cuba

I thought this was was a nice tribute to William F Buckley from Father Sirco that heads the Action Insititute . I had no idea that William F Buckley was in Cuba when the Holy Father visited. Here is just a part:

"My most memorable time with Bill was just ten years ago, in, of all places, Havana, Cuba. We were both there for the historic visit of John Paul, II. Meeting in the lobby of what had been the gangster Myer Lansky’s hotel on the El Maracon, Bill asked if I would like to join him in exploring the city.
Would I like to meander around Old Havana with the author of a novel about a spy who attempts to assassinate Fidel Castro? And have drinks with said novelist in Hemmingway’s old bar, mischievously attempting to order Cuba Libres? Would I like to help him negotiate (Buckley’s first language was Spanish) the black market purchase of Cuban cigars from a man we met on the street, who would take us to his cramped apartment to display his wares out of the view of prying eyes?

Would I like to explore the Old Cathedral and pray together there for freedom of that beleaguered land? And would I like to end the day with a delicious meal, smoking our cigars and laughing about having committed a capitalist act among consenting adults in one of the last bastions of socialism on the planet? Would I?

And so we did. It was one of the most unforgettable days of my life, a memory I will always treasure."


What Fun!!!

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