Why I’m Not Smoking Any More Cuban Cigars

It’s been over 40 years since I smoked my first cigar.  And it’s about a year since I decided to write a cigar review blog.  In those years cigars have always been a part of my life.  I have celebrated, reminisced, mourned, and just plain enjoyed.  But the last year has been an eye opening experience.  I have been exposed to a bunch of wonderful, dedicated, hard working, passionate people.  People who I know think of as friends.  It has been a great joy to include these people in my thoughts.  So, as we get tot he end of the year, I have made a major cigar decision.  I am not going to smoke any Cuban cigars.

I generally don’t use this as a forum for politics.  But, this is more about respect and friendship.  People that I have gotten to know over the past year have had their families uprooted by the Cuban regime.  They have oppressed  physically, emotionally, and financially by a government that doe not believe in liberty or personal rights.  And, I am unwilling to support that regime by smoking their cigars.  It’s really not that I think as an American, Cuba poses any real threat to my country.  Rather, there is an ongoing threat to my countrymen; Cuban Americans.  People who came to this country in search of freedom.  They have embraced everything that is good about my native homeland and adopted it as their own, all the while hoping that things would change int he country where they grew up – where their families are from.  So, I’m not smoking Cuban cigars anymore.  Until freedom rings for them, and I can share cigars that my friends have made from their own tobacco on their own land, with pride and joy.

At that time, I will rejoice in the comradeship of friends and freedom.  With a good cigar.  One made by new friends!

Thanks to all int he industry who have embraced me and my efforts to write about cigars and passion.