English Translations of Cubans Writing From the Island
“I won!” a euphoric young woman said as she left the Department of Immigration and Alienslocatedon10th of October brandishing her passport in her right hand and a clear plastic with papers in the other. She was so happy about the news that she waved her travel pass like someone who brandishes a sword. She hugged … Continue reading “No Locks on Passports / Rosa Maria Rodriguez Torrado #Cuba”
Upon arriving in this corner of France and reuniting with my family, whom I had not seen for seven years, I had the great pleasure of receiving a visit from the son of a very dear friend, whom I had first seen when he was born. Later on, as you might imagine, the subject of … Continue reading “Cubans Throughout the World / Rebeca Monzo #Cuba”
God willing, before spring of 2013 arrives, Ernesto, thirty-five years old and the owner of a small confectionery business in the Havana neighborhood ofSanto Suárez, will probably be able to travel to Madrid. He will stroll along the Plaza de Cibeles, and buy something in an outlet store or a Chinese street market. And if … Continue reading “After Food, What Most People in Cuba Are Talking About / Ivan Garcia”
It is already a fact: the awaited “migration reforms”, announced by Raul Castro a month and a half ago, arrive with a lot of noise — much ado about nothing. Published “casually” five days before the elections for delegates to the Municipal Assemblies of Popular Power, the modification to Law No. 1312 “Law of Migration” … Continue reading “Upgrade of Cuban Migration Policy? / Jeovany Jimenez Vega”
Open letter from the General Surgery Department of the “Calixto Garcia” Hospital to the First Secretary of the Cuban Communist Party and President of the Councils of State and Ministers, Army General Raul Castro Ruz To be good is the only way to be happy. To be cultured is the only way to be free. … Continue reading “Cuba Surgeons Write to Raul Castro About Disastrous Health Care System”
I have lost count of the times I have heard the phrase “I am not interested in politics”. Often, it is young Cubans who say it. It’s legitimate that we may not be interested in politics, especially if one has lived most of their life under a totalitarian system where even the flight of a … Continue reading “Hypocrisy, Fear…Both Things”
I stay in Cuba and do not leave because otherwise I cannot imagine having to ask for a white card or exit permit in order to permanently choose the place where I want to spend the rest of my life. I stay in Cuba because I could not bear the humiliation of having to seek … Continue reading “Why I Stay (Part 2) / Jorge Luis Garcia Perez Antunez”
While it is considered a construction of State Security by some extreme anti-Castro types, and a creature of the CIA by the Cuban government’s cyber-Talibans, the independent Estado de Sats project successfully works for the promotion of civil society and the transition to democracy. Presumably the reasons that motivate both diametrically opposed interpretations of the … Continue reading “The Conspiracy Exposed: Who is Behind Estado de Sats? / Estado de Sats, Alexis Jardines”
The plane touched down in the middle of a Havana night and the tourists pass through the international airport terminal where dozens of Cubans offer them taxis, rooms for rent, rum or mulatas. A young man approaches a short dumpy visitor and, squatting close to his ear, asks “Mister, you like cigars?” but the answer … Continue reading “The New Russians / Yoani Sánchez”
AFTER THE VISIT OF THE POPE TO CUBA, WHAT? “You are and must be the sovereigns of your own personal and national history.” (John Paul II, Cuba 1998) The two visits of the Popes of the Catholic Church, are milestones that show the step forward of Cuban civil society. Cuba has changed, not only and … Continue reading “AFTER THE VISIT OF THE POPE TO CUBA, WHAT? / IntraMuros”
No one shall be subjected to torture nor to cruel, inhuman or degrading … In the early days of U.S. intervention in Afghanistan, in the course of military operations, a scene shown on Cuban television remained in my memory. A fighter against the Taliban power entered a small town where, shot down by insurgents, there … Continue reading “About Hatred / Cuban Law Association, Wilfredo Vallín Almeida”
Hey, guajiro, it’s me Julio Machado, how are you my brother? And your wife? How’s it going? Hey I’m following you on the news. He made it hard for me to recognize his voice, he disguised it to not sound bad and the cell phone coverage was poor. Hey, guajiro, how’s it going, listen buddy, … Continue reading “Goodbye Machadito* / Jorge Luis García Pérez Antunez”
What confusion. Pablo Milanes, the mythical founder of the Movement for the Nueva Trova (1972), began the second part of his nationwide tour “For Cuba” in the center of the island, only about ten minutes on a bike from my home. They premiered, even a rebuilt stage for large events on a track between insulated … Continue reading “What Confusion. What Joy. What Pain. / Francis Sánchez”
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”
In Cuba we have all very carefully followed, in one way or another, the 2011 Panamerican Games in Guadalajara, not so much for the love of sport, but because there are no other entertainment options. But it hasn’t gone unnoticed that Cuban commentators politicise them heavily, which is bordering on indecency. The government and the … Continue reading “Cuban Olympic Medalist: From Glory to Misery / Ricardo Medina”