English Translations of Cubans Writing From the Island
The question is not if you believe in Afrocuban religion or in Catholicism, if not in the Revolution and its leaders. In Cuba, you never know if the last thing they say is what they are really going to do. They’ve carried on more than 50 years talking, but in practice there are not many … Continue reading “Cuba: To Believe or Not to Believe, That is the Question / Iván García”
On the 25th of October, 2010, almost four months after the beginning of the release from prison of political prisoners in Cuba, the Council of the European Union (EU) considered insufficient the steps taken by Havana and decided to maintain the Common Position. In its place the European Commission was granted a mandate to negotiate … Continue reading “Cuba and the European Union: The Ratification of the Treaties / Dimas Castellanos”
In 2003, 75 Cubans were arrested in four days. Their crime? Being pro-democracy political activists, fighters for human rights, or simply journalists independent of the hegemonic line of the only Cuban political party, the Communists. Pedro Argüelles Morán was one of them. Seven years later — in the same arbitrary way as the imprisonments — … Continue reading “Journalism as a Living Faith: Telephone Interview with Pedro Argüelles Morán #liberanlosya / Claudia Cadelo”
Any Cuban who followed the media on Tuesday, November 9th might have concluded that the Communist Party has suddenly gone underground. At least that should be impression when finding out the news that, next April 2011, the VI Cuban Communist Party Congress, which has been organized in great secrecy, will be the held. To add … Continue reading “The Next Congress? Or the Last? / Miriam Celaya”
There is a false impression, quite widespread, that lovers are people with their heads in the clouds, oblivious to practical details. But there are romances that owe their survival to carefully calculated actions, organized from the beginning. In the city where I live, for example, couples will consider in advance whether they are going to … Continue reading “The Lovers’ Bridge / Yoani Sánchez”
If I were a Communist Party militant, I would be shocked and disappointed to see that Fidel Castro, meeting with a group of students for four hours, gave himself the luxury of suggesting that the solutions to Cuba’s problems had been dictated by him five years ago, on November 17, 2005, without any mention that … Continue reading “Fidel Castro Refuses to Discuss Upcoming Communist Party Congress / Reinaldo Escobar”
When he played Cuban baseball, Aroldis Chapman de la Cruz was called “the Cayo Mambi missile,” after the town in Holguin where he was born on February 28, 1988. Now, in the United States, they call him, “the new king of speed.” The left-hander recently made major league history, throwing a fastball at 105 miles … Continue reading “Aroldis, the Cayo Mambi Missile / Iván García”
Goodbye to the Chinese model or that of Vietnam. Forget about copying Russia or Serbia. General Raul Castro, president of Cuba, is about to introduce one hundred percent home-grown changes. Those who dreamed of a market economy, please, back down to earth. Cuba’s move is “new and native” — in the words of the leaders. … Continue reading “Reforms to Raúl Castro / Iván García”
Brauilio Cuenca Cruz was the one who told me about it. He said he was fined in the amount of 30 pesos just for publicly expressing his nonconformity with regards to the Cuban health system. This occurred during the meeting of Popular Power, which took place in the small town of Antilla, where he claimed … Continue reading “Just for Expressing Disagreements / Luis Felipe Rojas”
The news, in keeping with tradition, was common knowledge long before the establishment gave the order to publish it. On November 6, when it was already an open secret, the Gramna province newspaper La Demajagua published an “Official Note” that seemed like it didn’t want to be read, hidden away as it was on a … Continue reading “Corruption Made in Cuba / Ernesto Morales Licea”
The US Coast Guard confirms that one of every three rafters who attempts to cross the shark-infested Florida Straits dies in the attempt. Official figures don’t exist. But in 50 years, as many as 10,000 Cubans could have disappeared in the turbulent tropical waters. Clandestine emigration is a deadly game of Russian Roulette. There is … Continue reading “Destination USA At Any Price / Iván García”
NOVEMBER ESLINDA Orlando Luis Pardo Lazo There is a month in the world when I watch a Cuba film. I watch it in a paleolithic format, on VHS, the only one that preserved the greys from the actual film, without the high contrasts of digital copies. A Cuban film from the ’70s and, as such, … Continue reading “A SOLACE OF SANDALWOOD / Orlando Luis Pardo Lazo”
Photo: Orlando Luis “The first time you deceive me, it will be your fault, the second time, the fault will be mine” (Arab proverb) One of the skills we Cubans in the Island have developed in the face of the persistent ability of leaders to “speak without saying,” is figuring out official positions and intentions, … Continue reading “The “Decentralization” of Responsibility / Miriam Celaya”
October 23 2010 The recent dismissal of Spain’s Pro-Castro foreign minister Miguel Ángel Moratinos, the declarations of President Barack Obama, and the well-deserved award to the independent journalist Guillermo Fariñas have been the most important of recent events. The exit of the La Moncloa official — Moratinos — was an event that had an impact … Continue reading “We’re Doing Fine, Zapata / Antunez”
Glancing at the TV I was caught by a phrase from Zenaida Romeu, director of the chamber group that bears her name. It’s Tuesday and the energy of this woman, a guest on the program With True Affection, Two… had me sitting in front of the screen while the potatoes burned on the stove. She … Continue reading “The Children / Yoani Sánchez”
