English Translations of Cubans Writing From the Island
We continue on without wanting to admit that if our “wine is sour,” even if “the wine is our own,” it is no more than that: sour wine.* Cubanet, Luis Cino Álvarez, Havana, 28 January 2016 — Today marks the 163rd anniversary of the birth of our national hero, José Martí. It is the time … Continue reading “A Hero To Justify The Cuban Failure / Cubanet, Luis Cino Alvarez”
Cubanet, Luis Cino Álvarez, Havana, 11 January 2016 — I am a resentful person. I have to admit that, at least in this regard, the officials from State Security are correct, they who have condemned me as such during multiple, more or less menacing, interrogations throughout the past almost-20 years. I am full of resentment … Continue reading “Forgive the Castro Regime? Never! / Cubanet, Luis Cino Alvarez”
Cubant, Luis Cina Alvarez, Havana, 25 December 2015 — A year since 17D*, Cuban Miami grows ever more polarized. And it’s not only between those who favor dialogue with the Cuban regime and those who are staunchly opposed to the Castro regime –although at the end of the road, everything has to do, in one way or … Continue reading “Polarized Cuban Miami / Cubanet, Luis Cino Alvarez”
Cubanet, Luis Cino Alvarez, Havana, 19 September 2015 – Out of respect for His Holiness, so as not to bring up an unpleasant topic, or whatever — I would prefer not to have to say that — contrary to reports by certain foreign media, I have not sensed hope nor much enthusiasm among my compatriots … Continue reading “The Blessing and Not the Miracle / Cubanet, Luis Cino Alvarez”
On May 17, on the Sunday television program Passage to the Unknown, the journalist and host Reinaldo Taladrid, and guest psychologist Patricia Ares, addressed the issue of gender training received unconsciously by many girls. Training them, from very early days, to be future frivolous objects of erotic pleasure. The phenomenon of the eroticism of childhood, although it happens … Continue reading “Women Before Their Time / Cubanet, Luis Cino Alvarez”
Cubanet, Luis Cino Alvarez, Havana, 30 March 2015 — Despite the fact that on the three occasions I ever visited Varadero my experiences were not particularly pleasant, that beach – which today for the majority of Cubans is almost as inaccessible as Waikiki – occupies a special place in my nostalgia. The first time I … Continue reading “When I got to Varadero* / Cubanet, Luis Cino Alvarez”
“The cuisine of the Chinese in Cuba: a Family Recipe Book” goes well beyond what its title indicates, becoming an homage to all families of Chinese descent. Cubanet, Luis Cino Álvarez, Havana, 13 March 2015 — During the recent Havana International Book Fair, although copies were available for sale, no public presentation was allowed of … Continue reading “Grandfather’s Recipes / Cubanet, Luis Cino Álvarez”
Cubanet, Luis Cino Alvarez, Havana, 26 January 2015 – “Cubans are seeking a new conception of the press within socialism. All that can be predicted, without a doubt, is that it will be a democratic press, lively and original,” wrote Gabriel García Márquez in 1975. That Gabo — always so unreal, so optimistic when it … Continue reading “The official press: “Made to conceal, not to publicize” / Cubanet, Luis Cino Alvarez”
HAVANA, Cuba- Some years ago the American sociologist George Ritzer adopted the perspective of the “McDonaldization of society.” Within this, and thinking of the Disney parks, he coined the term, “McDonaldization of tourism.” It would be interesting to know Ritzer’s opinion about the great theme park that Cuban has been turned into. Or the several … Continue reading “Havana: Castro-McDisney Theme Park / Luis Cino Alvarez”
HAVANA, Cuba, January, http://www.cubanet.org – General Raul Castro’s speeches are becoming increasingly puzzling. One does not know if he is playing at being Chinese, or playing Russian Roulette. Before, at least, he used to save us the fright, by letting us know when he was going to make a joke. Now not even that. It’s … Continue reading “Puzzling Raul Castro in Santiago / Luis Cino Alvarez”
HAVANA, Cuba, November 2013, www.cubanet.org.- Do you remember when in the past decade Gadaffi’s Libya chaired the Human Rights Commission of the UN? Because of such scandalous contradictions, the 2006 announcement that a new body would be created to replace the ineffective and too politicized Commission seemed encouraging. Seven years later it is extremely frustrating … Continue reading “Cuba in the UN Circus / Luis Cino Alvarez”
Havana, Cuba, November, www.cubanet.org — With regards to the absurd and prudish limitations imposed on some students by the Communications Faculty, Elaine Diaz recently wrote on her blog: “. . . the policymakers are scandalized by things from the students as if the Revolution were going to fall apart next week. They should ask themselves … Continue reading “The Ideology of Prohibition / Luis Cino Alvarez”
HAVANA, Cuba, October, www.cubanet.org – Should the controversial law be annulled or changed? No Cuban who emigrates does so for purely ‘economic’ reasons. Hundreds of thousands of our fellow citizens, persecuted or not, live freely in the U.S. thanks to this law. “It’s hard to argue that Cubans who can come and go as they … Continue reading “The Cuban Adjustment Act: Does it Contribute to Demoralizing and Draining the Opposition? / Miriam Celaya, Jose Hugo Fernandez, Luis Cino,”
HAVANA, Cuba, October, www.cubanet.org – Che Guevara used to say that the history of the Cuban Revolution shouldn’t be written by others who were not its protagonists. The writers, whom he didn’t consider revolutionary enough, did not inspire confidence in this task. In fact, he himself, who did not lack a literary vocation and talent, … Continue reading “The Literature Ernesto Guevara Saved Us From / Luis Cino Alvarez”
LA HAVANA, Cuba, September, www.cubanet.org – I must confess that after the episode of the North Korean freighter, Gan Chong Chon, it is increasingly difficult for me to imagine what might be behind each of the surprising happenings of the Raul regime. And if, in fact, Silvio Rodríguez is involved, everything becomes more convoluted. The … Continue reading “Silvio Rodriguez To The Rescue of Robertico Carcasses / Luis Cino Alvarez”
