English Translations of Cubans Writing From the Island
Francis Sanchez, 18 April 2011 — I had promised to publish two other parts of my last post, “Closed for Demolition”. Many days have gone by without my being able to do so. I will no longer do it, because definitely what I had in mind would only add essay-type content. The fundamental thing, the … Continue reading “On Closing / Francis Sánchez”
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”
To return repeatedly to the past is not healthy because it presupposes nostalgia and idealizes something that like it or not, is blurred in the collective and individual memory in accordance with the passing of the years. But to forget it …. of course, is an equally bad idea. The present anguish and distress that … Continue reading “An Essential Document / Fernando Dámaso”
(Published Friday May 27, 2011 on the site: http:www.vocescubanas.com) The common characteristics that identify the human race also have important differences that cannot be ignored. The social character–the most defining and essential peculiarity of man–manifests itself in the diversity of associations that he creates for collaboration, promotion and the defense of his interests; reality that … Continue reading “Cuba: the Illogic of the Single Party / Dimas Castellanos”
At times I’ve stopped to imagine the country I wish Cuba would be in my grandchildren’s future. First of all, and I am being absolutely frank, it shouldn’t be either like the current one, nor the one I’ve been living for the last fifty years, disregarding the happy and sad times it has given me. I would rather … Continue reading “My Grandchildren’s Country / Fernando Dámaso”
Last Thursday April 28, as part of the lecture series that regularly takes place in the Fray Bartolome de las Casas Room, Mr. Roberto Veiga, editor of the journal Lay Space, took as his topic “Present Urgencies, Future Imperatives of Cuba,” which was presided over by an emotional and illustrated introduction from Brother Manuel Uña, … Continue reading “Present Urgencies, Future Imperatives for Cuba / Dimas Castellanos”
I have often questioned the existence of a single party. I think it’s exclusive, unnatural, and directly undermines the very nature of human beings. It is very difficult to find absolute coincidence of views between different people. It does not happen in the family nor in other groupings such as the block, neighborhood, municipality, province … Continue reading “Absurd Reasons / Fernando Dámaso”
Photo: Luis Felipe Rojas The automobile pretentiously came to a stop and interposed itself in front of the four individuals dressed in civilian clothing. Suddenly, two more vehicles arrived and took away one woman and a man. Nobody protested, everyone was astonished by the arrest. Those being detained screamed slogans against the government, but no … Continue reading “One Day They Will Not Return / Luis Felipe Rojas”
Photo: Luis Felipe Rojas The automobile pretentiously came to a stop and interposed itself in front of the four individuals dressed in civilian clothing. Suddenly, two more vehicles arrived and took away one woman and a man. Nobody protested, everyone was astonished by the arrest. Those being detained screamed slogans against the government, but no … Continue reading “One Day, They Will Not Return / Luis Felipe Rojas”
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”
Between March 8th and 9th in the eastern city of Holguín, the First Meeting of Women Iyaonifá in Cuba was held. During the event the association the “Universal Sisterhood” was established, the first organization of its kind in our country. During the meeting, of a universal character, 31 delegates from La Habana, Matanzas, Morón, Holguín … Continue reading “Babalawos Women’s Meeting in Holguin / Dimas Castellanos”
For Sandra, a teenager who is currently in the 8th grade, January 1st of 1959 is the independence and birth date of Cuba as a republic. And believe me, the girl is not ignorant. She has excellent grades and enjoys good literature and cinema. But no history professor mentioned to her that it was actually … Continue reading “Cuba, an Ignored Republic / Iván García”
During this past week, the official Cuban media have shown very reliable evidence of how it is possible to use information from international events to mask and to try to dilute conflicts within the Island. There is no doubt that government journalism takes the cake in what I normally call the squid effect: a dark … Continue reading “From the Depths of Hell… / Miriam Celaya”
By now we’re used to the newspaper Granma, which excessively highlights one piece of news and omits another. Of course, it’s the official organ of the government and the Communist Party, which owns it and therefore decides what is reported and how. However, it’s difficult to accept the fact that the media is used to … Continue reading “The Official Press, a Sedative for Change / Laritza Diversent”
Today, May 20, as in all countries that respect their history, we should mark the 109th anniversary of the birth of our Republic, but here, officially, that’s not the case: This date, like so many others, has been demonized and expunged from the national calendar. Like hundreds of thousands of Cubans whom we have seen … Continue reading “A Date That Should be Respected / Fernando Dámaso”