English Translations of Cubans Writing From the Island
Art by El Sexto 1. They read rather decadent things: Little novels of characters who committed suicide just before the authors who wrote them, second-hand editions as useful as recycled paper, banned books, unpublished pamphlets, raw gems, and etceteras of this style. Of course, reading decadent things made them think that they lived in “an … Continue reading “Sunflower Fields Forever / Orlando Luis Pardo Lazo”
A group of Cuban-American congressional representatives has formally requested that Washington deny a visa to Fidel Castro’s heir, Antonio Castro Soto del Valle. Rather than being concerned about the son’s entry to the United States, the island’s government seems more focused on his father’s exit from this world. Yes, the father’s farewell. The former Commander-in-Chief’s curious … Continue reading “Everything Ready for Fidel Castro’s Funeral / Juan Juan Almeida”
Marakka 2000 It’s Wednesday night and from a nearby radio I hear the theme song of Nocturno, the old Radio Progreso program which on this day of the week is devoted to the music of the prodigious decade (the ’60s and ’70s). The Spanish group Los Mitos with their pipi pipi pipi (It’s Very Easy) … Continue reading “Any Wednesday / Rosa Maria Rodriguez”
The vision of the demonstrations of mourning of the Venezuelans who just five months ago voted for the president who now stars finally in his own and absurdly long death, arouses both respect and compassion. Respect, for every genuine expression of regret deserves it, beyond our individual ideologies. Compassion, because the crowds of mourners who … Continue reading “Lie to me again, your wickedness makes me happy…”
A couple who are friends of mine made fun of me because they say I always lit the bulb of hope; that I should “save energy,” mental energy that is, and not live with illusions, because I’ll die of disappointment. They said this to me a couple of months ago because I mentioned that I … Continue reading “The Biggest Raid / Rosa Maria Rodriguez Torrado”
In late December, the journalist Pablo Mendez asked me for an interview for the digital space Cubanet, which was posted on January 4 this year. I am taking the liberty of reproducing it in this blog for my regular readers, while I record my thanks to both the journalist and the animators of Cubanet for … Continue reading “Extensive Interview on Cuban Politics: Past, Present and Future / Miriam Celaya”
Let’s take a look at government predictions. According to state technocrats, Cuba’s GDP will grow 3.7% in 2013. Spokesmen for General Raul Castro claim that, in spite of an economic crisis affecting half the world, social services will remain at 2012 levels. The “good news” keeps on coming from the Palace of the Revolution. The … Continue reading “Cuba 2013; A Cautious Forecast / Ivan Garcia #Cuba”
The first day of January usually begins with loudspeakers blaring, blasting songs and slogans. On the anniversary of the Cuban Revolution the government organizes activities and parties to energize the enthusiasm the date already provokes. However, this year no attempt to commemorate the date is being made. The morning dawned quietly, calmly, in silence. Many … Continue reading “On a Silent January 1st Cuba Holds Its Breath / Yoani Sanchez #Cuba”
Most intellectuals and readers agree the first book that managed to provide deep insights about the writer’s life was Virgilio Piñera en persona (Virgilio Piñera in person), an excellent compilation prepared by the critic and researcher Carlos Espinosa. It started to build the pedestal to the work of theintellectual Virgilio. In these pages his family, … Continue reading “The Sad Centenary of Virgilio Pinera Part III / Angel Santiesteban #Cuba”
Night of this night by Orlando Luis Pardo Lazo Translated into English by María Elena Blanco Reading Viktor Frankl in a corner of Havana is a frightening act. Those Viennese psychiatrists can mess us up even more –us, disinhabitants of a disappearing nation. Havana, keep us from exiting the hysterical spell of our depression. Catatonic … Continue reading “Night of This Night / Orlando Luis Pardo Lazo”
Cuban authorities, as has been their custom for years, have launched a new campaign against the U.S. embargo, taking advantage of the start of high-level United Nations General Assembly sessions. The worn-out script began with a press conference by Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, Minister of Foreign Affairs, in Havana on September 20. The only thing that could … Continue reading “A Rerun of the Embargo Show / Oscar Espinosa Chepe”
Although October 10 marks the beginning of Cuban’s struggle for its colonial independence, and is a holiday, the celebration has been reduced to a few ads and billboards. The same is true for February 24, but no one mentions May 20 any more, it has gone from being our national day to the execrable beginning … Continue reading “A Homemade October 10th / Regina Coyula”
In this universe of disinformation snippets of news nevertheless filter out that we’d go out and look for if there were more resources. These essential resources are demonized on national television. And what happens to us — the disgrace and misery a family suffers, that many families suffer — waits on the State which is … Continue reading “Lima and Cruz / Lilianne Ruíz”
A colorfully painted presidential plane landed at José Marti airport last Sunday, and by Monday afternoon was already taking off again, headed to Venezuela. Alexander Lukashenko’s visit to Cuba, part of a brief tour of Latin America that included Ecuador, lasted just over 24 hours. To commemorate twenty years of diplomatic relations between Havana and … Continue reading “An Embrace Between Equals: Alexander Lukashenko and Raúl Castro / Yoani Sánchez”
The Cuban Catholic Church’s press media have tried in recent days various efforts to clean up a bit the image of one who has already come to be known as The Cardinal of Ignominy or The Cardinal of Indignity. It isn’t that I want to take up against the purple and much less against the … Continue reading “These Are Things Which the Church Should Discuss / Wendy Iriepa and Ignacio Estrada”
