Whether he truly is the Mandela of Cuba or just one of the thousands of Cubans imprisoned because of their opposition to tyranny, there is no arguing that Dr. Oscar Elias Biscet is the best known political prisoner in the Castro gulag, largely because of his steadfast commitment to a peaceful struggle for liberty and democracy. President Bush helped cement that status last year when he presented the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Biscet's children, on their father's behalf.
Today is Biscet's 47th birthday, but he won't be with his family and friends. As he sits in a tiny jail cell at the Combinado del Este prison in Havana, his only companions will be his hopes and dreams for his country, and for his children. One of his children, his daughter Winnie, who lives in the United States, has penned this letter:
Father, First I would like to give you many congratulations on your birthday and may you celebrate many more, you deserve it. I would have wanted to celebrate it with you but at this time you are in a place very far away because you are fighting for the freedom of our country and of our Cubans who are on the island. You know that you are very important to me because you have always been a good father who only wants the best for me. I love you with all of my heart. I have no words to describe this feeling that has captured my young heart since from when I had use of reason. I will always do whatever is possible so that your voice is always heard because we all know here that you are peacefully fighting for a democracy and that what you want most is to see our country free some day soon. Every time you feel alone, just think of me and in all of the people who truly love you. Daddy, thanks to you I have learned many, many topics about Cuba and other countries in the world that are suffering like our Cuban people. Daddy, I am proud to be your daughter because to me you are a true hero with a great deal of dignity. Every day at night I ask God that one day soon he will let us enjoy our freedom and the love that we have for one another. With much love and affection from your daughter who always remembers you, Winnie
H/T to Claudia, who has the letter in its original Spanish, and is providing a way to send your own birthday messages to Dr. Biscet.
For more on Oscar Biscet, click on any of the links on the right sidebar, especially this video:
For an eloquent musical tribute, watch and listen to this.
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