English Translations of Cubans Writing From the Island
One. In the distance, a horizon of clouds promised to relieve the temperature. From my bicycle I felt the comfort ahead of time, even though my sweat was forcing me to squint to see the semi-deserted road. On my back a backpack, inside it a bouquet of flowers. The pedaling became much easier. Before arriving … Continue reading “Super Patriots / Ernesto Morales Licea”
He died as he had planned. It may have been a fit of improvisation. We will never know. But the suicide of Alfredo, better known as ‘Package’ in the La Vibora neighborhood, is still discussed among neighbors and friends of this marginal mestizo whose 40 and a few years were spent somewhere between prisons and … Continue reading “Cuban Harakiri / Iván García”
It happened one April morning in 2007, when at about 8:00 am I heard the strident platoon that patrols the surrounding streets roll up; I felt the braking and slamming doors, the dry orders, the neighbors’ alarm. In a minute I saw a swarm of police rain on the roofs of the neighborhood and watched … Continue reading “Parabolas of Discord / Jeovany J. Vega”
She said it with a tone somewhere between surprise and disappointment: “They don’t give a damn, Ernesto. How mistaken we exiles are.” And I nodded because I knew too well what she was talking about. For her, a woman from Santiago who hadn’t stepped foot on her native land since 1999, living in Miami and … Continue reading “The Winners’ Trophy / Ernesto Morales Licea”
This article was written by Luis Felipe Rojas for ‘Diario de Cuba‘. It has been re-posted on this blog: In regards to the year which has just begun, it is evident that the directions of the Cuban government are like forked transit lines. With more desires to give orders to its members than to implement … Continue reading “The Paths of the General / Luis Felipe Rojas”
With the Gala of the National Ballet of Cuba for the 80th anniversary of Alicia Alonso’s stage debut on Thursday, December 29, and the presentation of the Nutcracker on Sunday, December 1, the Gran Teatro of Havana closed its 2011 season and inaugurated its 2012 programming. The super spectacle of Thursday was the touchstone of … Continue reading “The Celebration of Alicia / Miguel Iturria Savón”
Yesterday, two pleasant women from Madrid appeared in my house. One of them follows Bad Handwriting, and the other came with her because she didn’t want to come alone. After the introductions and making arrangements with the driver of the Soviet-made Lada car that brought them, they told me they had been in Cuba since … Continue reading “Cuba and Cuba / Regina Coyula”
It is less than three weeks until the First National Conference of the Communist Party of Cuba, and it seems that almost no one cares about what will happen there. Perhaps we haven’t lost the habit of events like these coming accompanied by billboards, posters, TV spots, heroic exploits of labor dedicated to them, and … Continue reading “And If Nothing Happens? / Reinaldo Escobar”
Victoria died, out of her mind, a venerable old lady who greeted everyone from the sidewalk during her little morning strolls under custody, with her senile naiveté that left no choice but sorrow and forgiveness. Victoria, in her time, the emblematic president of the Committee for the Defense of the Revolution in the only block … Continue reading “VICTORIA / Orlando Luis Pardo Lazo”
The work of the Founding Summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) came to an end, in which most of the presidents, prime ministers and heads of delegations of the participating countries were in favor of the freedom, respect for the diversity, integration over the differences, peaceful resolution of problems, cooperation … Continue reading “One Community More? / Fernando Dámaso”
In Cuba, the end of 2011 and the advent of 2012 had special characteristics. In the first place, the joy and the celebrations, officially, responded to the Triumph of the Revolution and the hosting of one more anniversary of it. The reality is ignored and it is not welcomed as 2012, but as the 54th … Continue reading “What Goes and What Comes”
One of the most relevant initiatives put forth by the Latin American community of nations in recent years is the project “Educational Goals 2021: the education we want for the bicentennial generation” (A look at education in Latin American (2011)) Its objective is to improve the quality of education and equity in education in order … Continue reading “The Digital Divide Between the Education Systems of Cuba and Latin America / Dora Leonor Mesa”
“If I loved you before, it was for your hair, now that you’re bald, I no longer love you.” Children’s song She woke up at six to meticulously untangle her hair with a broken toothbrush with the toughest bristles. Her hair reached almost to her waist, but now she was giving it a final straightening, … Continue reading “If I Loved You Before… / Yoani Sánchez”
In December Evaristo Calero always felt better than in the remaining months of the year. From childhood it was so. As soon as December came in, with its northerlies, the Christmas spirit took hold of him and didn’t leave until early January. Starting from a year when, by decree, Christmas and its accompanying festivities were … Continue reading “BELOVED DECEMBER / Fernando Dámaso”
Several months ago, in one of my online classes at the University of Texas El Paso, I had to choose a leader whom I greatly admired. At that time I chose Václav Havel and my selection and drew criticism from one of the students in the class for not choosing a Cuban. I was far … Continue reading “Vaclav Havel: A Cuban Friend / Dora Leonor Mesa”