English Translations of Cubans Writing From the Island
The recovery of the electrical system in the eastern provinces, destroyed by Hurricane Sandy, has been the subject of headlines, articles and commentaries in the various governmental media outlets, pondering the arduous and magnificent work of the Union Electric personnel participating in it. It issomething fair and that must be done, now that they deserve … Continue reading “The Good and the Bad / Fernando Damaso”
People visiting Havana for the first time agree on the similarities of this city with Cadiz. The cultural similarities and certain visual resemblances tie the Cuban capital to its Andalusian first cousin. The presence of the sea, some of the architectural style, and the open behavior of its people, complete the embrace. But not even … Continue reading “Raul Castro Avoids the Ibero-American Summit in Cadiz / Yoani Sanchez”
Dear Brothers and Sisters: In Santiago de Cuba it is just dawning. Today, Friday October 26, 2012, just 48 hours after the horrible devastation left behind Hurricane Sandy, I got up early to pray and write. Amid the sadness for so many families left destitute, as Eliseo Diego said of the man with the bundle … Continue reading “To My Cuban Brothers and Sisters in Exile / Padre Jose Conrado Rodriguez Alegre”
Once again, a large swath of Nuevo Vedada saw its electricity cut off for almost eleven hours yesterday in order to replace worn-out electrical poles. I believe that in the end they replaced four. A great achievement really. As a result, the hard currency stores in our neighborhood—the majority—remained closed for the duration of the … Continue reading “Sloth / Rebeca Monzo”
It was not only Barack Obama’s supporters in Chicago’s Democratic party circles who celebrated the close victory over his Republican challenger, Mitt Romney,with champagne. Though without as much rejoicing, the club of Communist businessmen, who together control 80% of Cuba’s feeble national economy, probably also spent midnight on November 6 calmly celebrating the Obama victory … Continue reading “Obama’s Victory Shores Up The Cuban Regime / Ivan Garcia”
If one were asked what should be saved of the Castro brother’s communist revolution, the number of responses would be enormous. Followers of Fidel Castro — those who hang his portrait on the walls of their homes and swear he is the greatest statesman of the twentieth century — would come up with an endless … Continue reading “What the Revolution Might Leave Us / Ivan Garcia”
If we compare the style of governance of the Castros during their respective terms in office from a bird’s eye view, we would make a serious mistake in believing the two autocrats are much the same. You don’t need a magnifying glass to see the differences. What are the similarities? Well, the duo have authoritarianism … Continue reading “Castro vs. Castro / Ivan Garcia”
Cuba is falling apart. It’s been moving for a long time without advancing, like an old photo denied color. The architectural stock that was “built” after 1959 is insufficient and with generally ugly designs. However, the Cuban government sends builders to many parts of the globe to help in the construction and reconstruction process — … Continue reading “Builders of the World / Rosa María Rodríguez Torrado”
In a country where power cuts have been an inseparable part of our lives, we should not be surprised when the lights go out. But yesterday, at 8:08 pm, something happened that raised the alarms. First we lost our television signal, during the very first minutes of the prime time news. Then, Havana blacked out … Continue reading “Apagonazo* — A Blackout in Cuba / Yoani Sanchez”
Angel Santiesteban, 13 August 2012 — The painter, Alex Leyva (aka Kcho) has stated in a session of the Parliament of the Assembly of People’s Power, in which he serves as a “deputy,” that artists should work for the people voluntarily and for free without receiving any monetary compensation.” At a meeting of intellectuals and artists … Continue reading “Kcho: To Clamor for Slavery is Contrary to the Ethics of the Artist / Ángel Santiesteban”
Across the country, inhabited homes continue to collapse. The housing deficit and the bad conditions of housing in Cuba can be cataloged as a “chronicle of an announced collapse,” something inevitable because of the progressive deterioration of the constructions on the island. There is no research process undertaken to investigate what is responsible for the … Continue reading “The Collapse / Cuban Law Association – Veizant Boloy”
I owe this vignette to my friends Agnes and Cecile, in Toulouse. They came to San German a couple of years ago, right when Hurricane Ike had ravaged a good part of the north-eastern geography of Cuba. The strong winds had left the entire area on end, all over the place. They climbed up on … Continue reading ““The Colossus” from the Roof of my House / Luis Felipe Rojas”
Our government media is constantly repeating political slogans of various kinds, obsolete, recycled and new. The one that says “Cuba is a plaza under siege” seems to be one of the most prominent right now. I agree with it: Cuba is a plaza under siege by dogmatism, inability, schematism, intolerance, incoherence, lack of moral values, … Continue reading “Plaza Under Siege / Fernando Dámaso”
By Alfredo Felipe Valdés The professional trained for at least a decade, with a high educational rigor, who once he or she graduates has a high level of knowledge, is not treated by the State with the consideration deserved from the years and personal effort it took to complete the training. This includes how other … Continue reading “Medicine in Cuba Today: A Series of Shortcuts and Scarcities / Jeovany Jimenez Vega”
After the storm, may also come the storm, the hurricane, the tornado. A few days ago we thought the punishment would be concentrated between Monday and Wednesday of last week, that it would last only as long as Benedict XVI was on Cuban soil. We lived those intense days between prayers and screams, with full … Continue reading “Punishment / Yoani Sánchez”
