English Translations of Cubans Writing From the Island
In an article published about central Uruguay (before Jatibonico, Cuba) it states that: despite its backward technology, occupies the first rung on the country’s sugar contest. I do not understand what it means to occupy the first rung, as the journalist does not explain, leaving in limbo the interpretation of it. However, it is important … Continue reading “The First Rung? / Fernando Dámaso”
The current Cuban sugarcane harvest, which has been well underway, has set off an alarming buzzer. The workers have been on shift for periods of 12 hours or more, without voicing considerable protests, except in some cases when the administrations have once again appeased the nonconformists. In provinces such as Granma, Ciego de Avila, and … Continue reading “Cuban Unionism, a Shameful Pain / Luis Felipe Rojas”
How is it possible that intellectuals who were humiliated and punished by the same people who now govern the country, stay next to the boots that kicked them into submission, that harassed them until they were broken in body, soul and artistic endeavor? They suffered so much that the fear still corrodes them and they … Continue reading “Cuban Intellectuals: When Fear Seeps Into the Bones / Angel Santiesteban”
It causes chills to know that the historic leader of the Cuban revolution did research on different crops to improve nutrition for the Cuban people. I don’t want to be a harbinger of ill omen. But reviewing Castro’s “experiments” in 52 years of olive-green government, he didn’t come up with any that were successful. Let’s review the record. Let’s … Continue reading “Fidel Castro’s Experiments / Iván García”
The accords of the Sixth Congress of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC), along with those emanating from its five previous congresses, have demonstrated not only their inability to solve the serious problems of Cuban society, but also to enforce the approved guidelines. The separation of the functions of the Party from those of the … Continue reading “Father Varela, Man of the Present / Dimas Castellanos”
This post is from Raul Garcia Jr.’s blog, Pedazos de la Isla. Translating Cuba’s Dissident Voices Mary Jo Porter is an American who lives in Seattle. When she wakes up each day, she works as a transportation consultant. In the moments she is not working, she focuses her energies and talents on providing an enormous … Continue reading “Translating Cuba and HemosOido.com: How Did it Happen?”
I have carefully read each one of the approved guidelines in the recently completed Sixth Party Congress. They are the closest thing to a simple list of general intent, some questionable for their weight of discrimination against nationals, to be achieved in a period that is neither immediate or near, but rather distant. Furthermore, being … Continue reading “More Lists, Fewer Lists / Fernando Dámaso”
In Cuba, with its pregnant history of violent acts, we pay exaggerated attention to episodes of war in detriment to other ways of making history, such as science–forger of knowledge and of culture–that contributes so much to the formation of nationality the nation and the country over centuries. On May 19 of this year we … Continue reading “Heroes Without Weapons / Dimas Castellanos”
JJ.- Hector, whether some like it or not, your name is relevant when we speak of the internal opposition in Cuba. How do you see Hector Palacios? HP.- Well, first I want to introduce myself because you already know me, but many readers do not. I am a farmer who was born in the Escambray. … Continue reading “Noble as a Farmer, Wise as a Priest / Juan Juan Almeida”
In the struggle for land ownership and against eviction in Cuba, many farmers and farm workers lost their lives. Among them is Niceto Perez, who was killed May 17, 1946. In tribute to him and the rest of the martyrs of the field that day, the Law of Agrarian Reform was promulgated in 1959 and … Continue reading “The Agrarian Problem / Dimas Castellanos”
A friend told me something unusual happened recently in a sugar mill, one of the few left on my planet: The Director of the mill was on the verge of a heart attack because the transmission belt required for the mill to crush the canes had broken and there was only one technician in the … Continue reading “Strange but True / Rebeca Monzo”
For many years, it has been government practice to take most of the measures that affect the population without entrust themselves to God or the devil. Just show up one day with a brief press release or, if it relates to commodity price increases, we find out the store when go to we pay. It … Continue reading “Among the Measures / Fernando Dámaso”