English Translations of Cubans Writing From the Island
Until now I had decided not to write about the five Cuban spies, who are serving sentences in the United States, mainly out of consideration and respect for the feelings of their families. However, in the face of the frenzied media campaign unleashed by the Cuban authorities, with the obvious complicity of them, I consider … Continue reading “A Frenzied Media Campaign / Fernando Dámaso”
It is not surprising how many people go out in mass, before any revolutionary summons. In Cuba, the State is the absolute owner of everything; hospitals, schools, radio and television stations, hotels, discotheques, restaurants. The State is the sole employer. At the address of each one of these places, there appear the photos of the … Continue reading “Very few…”
The flirtations of Castro with the Vatican are nothing new. After all, for brothers born in Biran, Holguin, 700 kilometers from Havana, in the wooden house on high pilings where they lived, God and the Bible were common in their childhood. Their parents, Angel Castro, a descendant of Galicia, and their mother Lina Ruz, worshiped … Continue reading “The Vatican: A Bet on the Future of the Castros / Iván García”
I’ve discovered something important in other to keep writing in my blog. I am not political. I am simply a deeply religious woman. It’s not the gang of mobsters who work for State Security who would say that. No, it’s a warning for me alone. Because I am counting on, one day, the prayer to … Continue reading “Against the Leaders / Lilianne Ruíz”
Open Letter to General of the Army Raúl Castro Ruz, President of the Republic of Cuba Written by: Fr. José Conrado 5 February 2009 Dear Mr. President: Fifteen years ago I dared to write to the then head of the Cuban State, Dr. Fidel Castro Ruz, president of our country. The gravity of that hour … Continue reading “Fr. José Conrado to Raúl Castro Ruz”
Cuba, the little island difficult to locate in the Caribbean Sea and the big booty in the new world order. Often I hear that it is under siege by the voracious appetite of the empire, its eternal enemy. Other big powers in the great Europe also lurk for prey. A nice opening for a fiction … Continue reading “Resonance / Laritza Diversent”
My friend lives in a beautiful apartment building from the 1950s, on Línea street. This morning, as always, she prepared to leave for work, when suddenly, the washbasin that had heroically resisted the pounding of 50+ years of survival, had given way to the implacable advance of the years, and a crack had finally caused … Continue reading “One Hand Washes the Other / Rebeca Monzo”
The ratification of a single party state and the reiteration of Marxism-Leninism as the main ideological foundation of the process ended speculation that the 1st Conference of the Cuban Communist Party (PCC) could constitute a shift that sent the Cuban nation off in new directions. If someone continues to harbor illusions about that climate of … Continue reading “And Nothing Happened / Reinaldo Escobar”
Creating a novel character based on his profile would be relatively simple. His birth name is Alejandro Cao de Benós, his adopted name is Cho Son-il (Korean for “Korea is one”), and he boasts the disconcerting title of Honorary Special Delegate of North Korea, which means that this Catalan with aristocratic roots is the official … Continue reading “Interview: The Spanish Son of the Dear Leader / Ernesto Morales Licea”
This article by Luis Felipe Rojas was originally published in ‘Diario de Cuba‘: Luis Felipe Rojas, along with his 8 year old son, at the door of his home which was vandalized with paint recently at 3 AM. There once was an excellent writer. A man who could make one fall in love with his … Continue reading “Galeano the Sightless / Luis Felipe Rojas”
A new and beautiful restaurant in Nuevo Vedado, located on 35th street between La Torre and 24th Street. One Day, its owner, a native of India, like the Genoan Admiral, discovered this little island and stayed, enchanted by her, came from over there to meet and fall in love with a beautiful creole woman. Once married, … Continue reading “A History of the Bollywood Restaurant / Rebeca Monzo”
Wilman Villar Mendoza. Photo from UNPACU The Cuban government is a monster which has locked itself in a crystal valve and swallowed the key. The death of Wilman Villar Mendoza, product of a hunger strike in demand that his prison sentence be revised, is a clear example. The Castro regime has cut all communications between … Continue reading “Wilman Villar Mendoza: Another Case? / Luis Felipe Rojas”
Yesterday it rained a lot but that wasn’t why I didn’t go with my daughter to Paulita’s birthday, the youngest daughter of my friend Luz. I panicked being on the street with my daughter yesterday. Maybe it’s crazy. But the idea of being outdoors, in the middle of the street, and there might be a … Continue reading “The Same Panic / Lilianne Ruíz”
To the memory of Wilman Villar Mendoza A couple of years ago, my friend Eugenio Leal decided ask for the report of his criminal record, necessary paperwork when applying for certain jobs. With confidence, he applied for the form where it would say he had never been convicted of any crime but found, in its … Continue reading “Common Criminals / Yoani Sánchez”
On November 6, 2008, published my first digital article on the site Kaosenlared (Chaos on the Web). Three months earlier I had graduated in journalist at the University of the Oriente, did not have this blog, and was about to begin working at the radio station where I would be located during my Social Service. … Continue reading “My Article about Eliécer Avila… Three Years Later / Ernesto Morales Licea”
