THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, September 28, 1994 TAG: 9409280007
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A14 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 43 lines
The writer of ``Take care of Americans first'' (letter, Sept. 19) complains about the 20,000 Cubans a year who will be admitted to the United States in a recent agreement reached between the United States and Cuba.
I agree with the writer that the United States should take care of Americans first. In fact, the United States does take care of Americans first. There are faults with the system, there are exceptions and there are mistakes; but by and large, the United States does take care of its people.
I came from Cuba with my family in 1968. So did several other families in my neighborhood in Cuba. The U.S. government assisted us. We received social services for a couple of years.
As soon as we learned English, we, as well as our Cuban neighbors, began to work, often holding two jobs. We all left the welfare rolls. I, personally, worked two jobs and went to college at night.
We saved money, often denying ourselves furniture, color televisions, vacations.
My family invested in real estate with our savings. Our investments now are worth approximately $1 million dollars. We live in a comfortable house in Chesapeake.
As for my neighbors, they all became just as successful or more successful. They became multiple-store owners - bakery and restaurants owners. One of them began as a dishwasher and today is a successful surgeon practicing in Texas. All employ quite a few people. We are all taxpayers.
We are very happy living in this great nation that is the United States, the land of opportunities. Most of all, we are happy to be free from communist Cuba.
So, you see, it is not a bad deed after all to give a helping hand to a neighbor in need.
SUSIE FERNANDEZ
Chesapeake, Sept. 20, 1994 by CNB