Radio, Aug. 13: Cuba Libre?

Join us on radio every Sunday, 5-8pm on 710 KNUS, DenverTo listen online from anywhere, click 710knus.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------ "Cuba libre," freedom for the long-oppressed islanders, was a slogan in the Caribbean over a century ago. It's been a mere hope for the past half-century, as communist dictator Fidel Castro has ruled Cuba as one vast prison camp -- aided by his brother Raul and the dead, semi-deified Che Guevara, and abetted by much of the mainstream media.

But now at last, with the ailing (perhaps already deceased?) Fidel having relinquished power to Raul, and the Latin American power equation in flux as Venezuela cozies up to Iran, freedom for the Cuban people takes on lively new possibilities.

"Backbone Radio with John Andrews" looks at the possibilities this Sunday. Humberto Fontova of New Orleans, Cuban-born and the author of Fidel: Hollywood's Favorite Tyrant, returns to the show with an update. Jay Ambrose, columnist of the Rocky Mountain News, tells how his boyhood awe of Castro turned to revulsion. I hope you'll be listening.

** We'll also look at the colliding trends of murderous Islamic theocracy and weary Western secularism, with two men experienced in watching the spiritual weather. Gino Geraci, a Denver pastor active in world missions, who recently had me on his KRKS weekday show, now visits my show in return. Douglas Gresham, stepson of the great C. S. Lewis, checks in as well.

** And if it's back to school season, it must also be "trap the teacher time" in Colorado's 176 local school districts -- with the CEA teacher union boosting its membership in August so the political warchest is maximized for Democrat campaigns in November. Heather Reams joins me from Washington DC to talk about the Association of American Educators, an alternative, apolitical group that professional-minded teachers can join.

Tune in from 5-8pm this Sunday, August 13, on 710 KNUS in Denver and 710knus.com around the world. Call in with your two-cents at 303-696-1971. Or comment by email, during the show or right now, at backboneradio@aol.com.

There's nothing else quite like Backbone Radio, the most principled, most patriotic, most faith-based, most Colorado-proud spot on the dial. Tune in for another lively Sunday evening of fact, opinion, and insight.

Yours for self-government, JOHN ANDREWS ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Does a political radio road trip to Washington DC sound good for November 13-16? I'm teaming up with KNUS newsman Bill Jones to host a Colorado safari in the nation's capital just after Election Day. Bill's website, AndawayWego.net, has details. Book now, space is limited.