Santiago wrong on Brigade’s motives

Re Fabiola Santiago’s Oct. 26 column, “Bay of Pigs veterans dragging themselves into unworthy battle”: The Bay of Pigs Veterans Association, Brigade 2506, does not generally engage in controversy with journalists who disagree with our views. That is their right — a right suppressed in our country of birth, but fortunately enshrined in this great democracy of ours.

However, when journalists cross the line of civility and respect, we cannot remain silent. Santiago gratuitously accuses the Brigade of being “staples in political circles,” and alleges that our endorsement of Donald Trump “rings false and trite.” She further implies that the “octogenarians,” as she calls us, have been “used” to trot out like the employees of Trump National Doral hotel. She only missed dumping us in the “basket of deplorables.”

The cause of freedom in Cuba, which did not end in the heroic battle of the Bay of Pigs, may be “folkloric” for an insensitive journalist, but for us it remains a solemn commitment to continue the struggle through all available means, including elections.

Our endorsement of Trump was a well-thought-out decision. Given the critical importance of this election, with the balance of the U.S. Supreme Court at stake, we chose not to abstain or to support Santiago’s apparent candidate, Hillary Clinton.

Clinton is viewed by most Americans as not honest and trustworthy; a candidate who may yet again be subject to an FBI criminal investigation; a candidate who has pledged to continue the current one-sided Cuba policy, which, if fully implemented, will bail out the Castro-Communist regime and prolong its tyranny.

It is lamentable that Santiago provoked this unnecessary polemic. If she wishes to turn the page and focus on more substantive issues, she should apologize to the Brigade. That would be the honorable thing to do.

This story was originally published November 1, 2016 at 7:23 PM with the headline "Santiago wrong on Brigade’s motives."