Many readers of this site are familiar with Juan Carlos González Leiva. He is one of the bravest men in Cuba, and one of the bravest men in the world. He is a human-rights lawyer and democracy activist who has put his neck on the line time after time. He has been beaten almost to death time after time. He survived 26 months in prison, which was no sure thing.

González Leiva is blind, by the way. How can men be found who will pummel and torture an innocent blind man? They can.

The dictatorship has let González Leiva out of the country for several weeks. He will return in a few days. I spent an hour with him last night. I will have a piece in due course. But I wanted to mention something here on the Corner, in the hope that someone will convey a message to former president George W. Bush.

Though perhaps it’s wrong of me to assume that W. doesn’t read the Corner?

In 2008, Bush paid tribute to González Leiva at a prayer breakfast. It was a beautiful and inspired tribute, typical of Bush. Political prisoners and dissidents want nothing more than to be remembered or thought of. Their persecutors want them to be forgotten, unnoticed. They want them to be nonentities.

Last night, I asked González Leiva how the dictatorship reacted to the tribute Bush paid to him. “Logically, they were furious,” he said. “They were always furious when Bush talked about any of us Cubans.”

He told me, “I would like to take this interview as an opportunity to thank Bush. I have not been able to thank him. Although the dictatorship would get upset and dangers might arise, I would like to give Bush un abrazo” (an embrace). “I would like to go to his ranch and shake his hand and say, ‘Thank you, Bush.’”

So, there it is.