Christmas Eve - a good time for feel good stories?

I woke up this morning to a warm, muggy Christmas Eve here in Miami. The headlines abound with feel good stories of soldiers coming home for the holidays and the impending rain that is due to fall by tonight. There's always going to be good and bad in a society on any given day. Christmas is no exception...

The Miami Herald today wrote about a Cuban Woman, apparently the wife of one of the 3 Cuban spies that just last week were traded back to Cuba. She wanted to get pregnant and the Cuban Government collaborated with the CIA to get her some of his sperm. Yes, you read that correctly: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/article4834107.html The US GOVERNMENT helped a convicted spy get his sperm to his wife so she can get pregnant. This story is all about Christmas Cheer, right? We helped a thug, who was a convicted felon here in the US, get his wife pregnant. Where in the annals of US doctrine does that felon have rights that allow for that??

That is a disgusting story and I am not happy that an animal like that, who was directly responsible for giving information to the Cuban government, is able to procreate. It's just not right. OK Rant over.

I have tons of mixed emotions with the Cuba thing. Most of it is a passionate & emotional response to what happened 50+ years ago with my own family. I refuse to allow this generation of young adults to grow up and forget the stories that were told and lived my our forefathers. I will always tell our stories and continue to be a proud CUBAN-AMERICAN. My parents and grandparents fought to leave the oppressed country so that I would have a bright future. Everyone deserves a free future.
Merry Christmas to whoever is reading...

Pondering Christmas

Saturday morning, 5 days until Christmas. I find myself wondering if I bought the right gifts, if I wrapped them prettily enough and if I am ready for the holidays. Then, I turn on the news... and all of my petty worries go away.

Things going on in the world are getting out of hand: From movie companies being hacked by a terrorist country to Cuba and US opening up talks to normalize diplomatic relations. A few things I never thought I'd see in my lifetime. I think we are weaker as a nation than we once were. I think we are caving to the wrong people. Nelson and I are in agreement with the Sony hack, but we are in distinctively differing positions with Cuba. Thankfully, we are both intelligent individuals that can actually talk about differing opinions like rational human beings.

I rather just focus on Christmas. Who else remembers the magic of Christmas and what it means to us. The magic of Santa & his reindeer, the birth of Jesus Christ, the happiness of being caught under the mistletoe with the person you love... Can we just take a break from everything and focus on Christmas? That's what I'm going to do...