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This year I traveled to Cuba. You know, it’s that little island that’s spitting distance from Florida and should not be visited without special dispensation. I wanted to see it before MacDonald’s arrived. I’m so glad I did. I learned a lot and I met some wonderful people. It seems they like us. Now there’s a change!
I’ll add a short T/F quiz to each post the same as I did last year about Burma, and I’ll post the answers to the questions the following day.
Answers to your T/F Quiz for V
FALSE 1. The Old Havana, Cuidad Vieja, wasn’t founded in the early 1900s. The Spanish founded it in the 1500s.
TRUE 2. Some of Old Havana is still owned by private individuals, but the state owns most of it.
W is for War
When Teddy Roosevelt came to help out the Cubans by getting rid of those wretched Spanish (please note the sarcasm) he had a couple of agendas in mind. First, this would probably be the last chance for a calvary to go to war. We were creating machines to carry us into battle. The horse was becoming obsolete in war.
Good for the horse, I say.
Anyway, he wanted to ride astride his steed for one more fight. Second, there was a presidential opportunity ahead and looking brave on a horse was a good vote-getting strategy.
But here’s a funny part of the story that Teddy probably didn’t mention. When they sailed up to the island, they dumped their nobel steeds into the water, thinking they’d swim to shore. Wrong. They started swimming into the open water. What? And now what?
A young bugler saw that sharks might have quite a feast if someone didn’t turn those horses around. So he sounded the charge, and by golly, those equine beasts headed dutifully toward the island where the charge was supposedly happening.
War isn’t just stupid, it’s really stupid.
Your T/F Quiz for W:
1. Teddy Roosevelt was 43 when he became president.
2. Unfortunately, Teddy Roosevelt was assassinated soon after taking office.
Answers tomorrow.
I've read more than once that they've unloaded horses from a ship that way. Why? Didn't they learn the first time some of them drowned. Unimaginable. Thank goodness one of the men had a decent idea!
Good all Teddy loved to be in some war and loved always to be heard
Smart horses. 2 is false. Great post,
Juneta @ Writer's Gambit
Hi Lee – I might just get my answers in before the results pop up – #1 yes, #2 no …
Incredible story about the horses – yes what a brilliant bugler … and War is dreadful …
Another great snippet about Cuba – cheers Hilary
Thank god someone rescued those horses. War is indeed a very bad idea.
Tasha
Tasha's Thinkings | Wittegen Press | FB3X (AC)
Yes it certainly is. The visual of the horses not knowing which way to swim is so real. Sad!
Ha, ha. I love the horses. Great story.
How do you learn all of this stuff??
War is supremely stupid! And those poor horses!!! That breaks my heart that so many horses were harmed or killed in battles over the centuries. So glad that phase is over!
As for my answers: I say True for Roosevelt being 43 when elected and False because the assassination attempt was not successful.
Great post! Good choice for W…
Michele at Angels Bark
T then F?
Interesting facts. Imagine how frightening battles would have been for the horses. They had no idea what war was.
All right, I'm guessing false on both.
I'd never heard that story before. I can't believe anyone would think that were a good strategy!
#1 is the truth. Teddy Roosevelt is one of my favoritest presidents, and I've known all the presidents in order since around the 1988 election, when I was in third grade. I'm proud to say I memorized them the old-fashioned way instead of learning some silly song!
Welcome to My Magick Theatre
Onomastics Outside the Box
Didn't know that about horses. Maybe wild horses would have swum to shore. Maui Jungalow
Not knowing much about US politic's I can't really comment, but it was certainly an eye opener post to read. A very good "W" post.
Yvonne.
You had me on the edge of my seat there for a bit, what with the horses and the open water (and sharks). Kudos to the bugler. Minus-kudos for Teddy—and for whoever came up with the idea to include horses in war. (Double kudos to whoever invented the machinery that ended that particular aspect of horse slavery.)
And, most of all, kudos to you, my dear, for a wonderful A2Z series. Here's to the last three days!
Guilie @ Life In Dogs
Smart bugler. Insensitive Teddy. He was a monster in many ways. Sigh. I am beginning to agree with Abigail Adams who wrote: "I have known many great men, none of them good." 🙁
Interesting story. So glad the bugler knew what to do to save the horses from sharks.
Oh my goodness – what a crazy story! haha Thanks so much for sharing.
I never heard that story–interesting! No, Teddy Roosevelt wasn't assassinated, but he became President because he was VP and the President, McKinley was assassinated
At least the Bugler had the thought to save the horses! Leave it to the little guy. 🙂
I read TR's autobiography last year and it was really enlightening. He was a fascinating man. And I agree with you–war is really stupid.
@Kathleen01930
Meet My Imaginary Friends
#AtoZchallenge
I read TR's autobiography last year and it was really enlightening. He was a fascinating man. And I agree with you–war is really stupid.
@Kathleen01930
Meet My Imaginary Friends
#AtoZchallenge
I have never heard that story! I think the horses should have just kept swimming. 🙂
War is sooo stupid indeed. But humans never seem to learn. Sheep.
Oh man, that is too rich. I feel bad for the horses too. Who wants to chose between battle and sharks?
I don't blame the horses for trying. Who in their right minds would want to go to war? Great post.
I agree! Good for the horse. I'm one of those people when watching war movies feel more bad for the animals that die than the people.
~Ninja Minion Patricia Lynne aka Patricia Josephine~
Story Dam
Patricia Lynne, Indie Author
Couldn't agree more with your final line… war isn't just stupid, it's really stupid.
Susan A Eames from
Travel, Fiction and Photos
Yup… as long as mother's don't protest sending their sons and daughters off war is going to happen and be stupid. I think that's about the right age for Teddy, give or take a year. #2 is definitely false.
I don't know good old Teddy very well, but I seem to recall he was against the United States getting involved in the League of Nations which was after the first World War. So I am going to say False for Number one and False for number two.
Now I will google it to see if I am correct.
Visiting from the A to Z Blog Challenge.
Shalom,
Patricia @ EverythingMustChange
Yeah, that's really stupid all right.
I don't think Roosevelt was assassinated.