| WHAT THEY SAID |
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"Jorge was a born leader and organizer whose tenacity, strength of
conviction and passion I greatly admired.
He galvanized his community, his adopted country and people around the
world for the cause of freedom and
democracy in Cuba." President Bill Clinton "Florida and the whole country have lost a valiant patriot, a man who moved confidently through the corridors of power of many nations but who never lost his common touch." Gov. Lawton Chiles "Mr. Mas Canosa's life will serve as an inspiration to our community of what one individual's commitment and passion can accomplish." Alex Penelas, "It is one of the saddest moments in the history of the Cuban exile community. It will leave a great void in the exile community and in the halls of power in Washington." Lula
Rodriguez, "He was a good friend to everyone who loved democracy, and his contributions to his community and his people will be missed." George
Knox, "When the story of the 20th Century is written for South Florida, there will surely be page after page on Jorge Mas. His influence extended far beyond his own community, extending especially to Washington and Cuba. No one worked harder for freedom for Cuba." David Lawrence
Jr., "Jorge Mas Canosa was under any analysis an exceptional man. He was the greatest adversary in the Cuban world of Fidel Castro. Castro had to have contempt but also admiration for the man." Maurice
Ferre, "This is a great loss for the United States and the Cuban people throughout the world, and all those who have taken great risks for freedom." U.S. Sen. Bob Graham "He would not wish that the pain of his passing cause pessimism among Cuba's freedom fighters. Our best tribute to his memory is to continue the fight until Cuba is free." U.S. Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart "His death is a serious blow to the efforts of free Cubans in the United States to influence a strong American policy toward Fidel Castro. We Cubans will have to think very hard about how to deal with a loss of this magnitude." Frank
Calzon, |
Leaders with whom Mas Canosa had shared South Florida's political stage and Cuban Americans on the street expressed the kind of concern that only comes with the passing of a man who embodied an era and personified a large sector of his community.
``To substitute a man of the caliber of Jorge Mas Canosa would be impossible,'' said a somber Pepe Hernandez, president of the Cuban American National Foundation, the organization that Mas Canosa served as chairman and ultimate leader. ``He is now next to God and asking for the freedom of our country.''
At an emotional meeting at the foundation headquarters, Hernandez said he had been called to Mas Canosa's bedside late Saturday, just before Mas Canosa fell into unconsciousness for the last time. He recounted Mas Canosa's last words.
``I, like St. Paul, feel I have worked hard and have kept the faith,'' Mas Canosa said to Hernandez. ``Now it is up to you, up to you to keep the faith.''
Mas Canosa's son, Jorge Mas Jr., also asked the Cuban community to keep his father's spirit alive.
``What we can do for Jorge Mas Canosa is continue his movement,'' said the son. ``My father will never set a foot in a free Cuba, but his spirit will. The mission that he started will be completed.''
``Forward, forward, forward!'' said Mas Jr.
The Cuban government had no official reaction Sunday to the death.
The only announcement came from the Cuban press agency Prensa Latina's Washington bureau.
Prensa Latina's report identified Mas Canosa as a ``promoter'' and ``advocate'' of any action against Cuban authorities. It said Mas Canosawas one of the organizers of Radio and TV Marti, which broadcast the opinions of ``the U.S. government and Cuban exile right-wingers.''
The agency also said Mas Canosa was one of the ``principal protagonists'' behind the enactment of the Helms-Burton Act, which toughened the U.S. trade embargo against Cuba.
They were attacking Mas Canosa for that, but in Miami his memory was embraced for those very same accomplishments. Former Miami Mayor Maurice Ferre was an admirer. He watched the White House shift from Republican control to Democratic control, but Mas Canosa's influence at the national level remained strong.
``I watched him when Bill Clinton visited during the 1992 campaign and they met at the Versailles Restaurant in Little Havana,'' said Ferre. ``He was incredibly persuasive, an obvious leader. He was a standard bearer for an entire community, the way a Lech Walesa or a Boris Yeltsin was a standard bearer.''
Many members of the Cuban American community recognized Mas Canosa as their leader. They included Frank Muñoz, 71, manager at Chico's Restaurant in Hialeah, who was working the cash register when he heard the news come over Cuban radio.
``This is a big loss for us,'' said Muñoz. ``He was one of the few people that could've helped Cuba after Castro. He had the money, the power and the connections that Cuba's going to need to get back on its feet.''
``I'm sure Fidel is drinking champagne right now,'' said one of Muñoz' customers, Susana Lago, a county employee.
Michelle Franyie of Westchester was eating at La Carreta restaurant in Little Havana when she heard the news.
``He was a good man and this was a great loss,'' she said. ``I can't believe Castro is still alive and this man who was so good has died so young. It will be very hard to replace him.''
Copyright © 1997 The Miami Herald