La primera generación

When will Cuba have the chance to elect a leader of color?

2008-11-05T10:52:00.002-05:00

For the past 50 years, Fidel Castro has accused the United States of America of being a racist country where people of color were disadvantaged. He convinced the vast majority of the Cuban population and the rest of the world that Cuba is a paradise where all its citizens are equal.

The United States of America has just elected a mixed-race President. All of Cuba was watching. All of Cuba was talking about it.

The question I have now:

What will all of Cuba do about it?

If Cuba is in fact a paradise where everyone is treated equally, why have they never been given the opportunity to elect a leader of color?

I pray they ask themselves this question and I hope the answer fills them with the anger and motivation to do something about it. Cambio.

Impactful images from Cuba

2008-10-27T13:40:00.006-04:00

See the rest here: http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/photos/2008/10/016439.html

Elections 2008: Antagonism and condescension

2008-10-24T16:27:00.002-04:00

I voted for John McCain and Sarah Palin this week.

As a result, many of my liberal friends have “lost their respect for me.” It’s not just my friends, though. Anywhere I go in New York or Boston, I proceed to get attacked for not voting for Obama. Note, it’s not because I chose McCain, it’s because I didn’t vote for Obama. There have been instances when I actually felt afraid to express my political opinion. Yes, I am a strong Cuban woman and I was afraid to express my opinion. If that doesn’t speak volumes, then maybe the following phrases thrown at me will:

“Are you stupid?”
“Well then you’re an asshole.”
“I can’t believe you.”
“I thought you were smart.”
“I’ve lost so much respect for you.”
“You’re a selfish banker, you just want lower taxes.”
“It’s because you’re Cuban, isn’t it?”

Welcome to my life as a quiet, moderate Independent transplanted from Miami to the northeast. I rarely speak out about American politics; it’s just not my thing. I don’t like to argue with my friends. I like to laugh and joke with them, but since we went to school in Boston that means I have to avoid politics.

After extensively following the primaries, I decided to vote for John McCain. I’m not going to go into the drivers behind this decision – that’s not the topic I wish to address here.

Most of my acquaintances didn’t know I decided to vote for McCain until recently. I only talked about it with fellow supporters in hushed tones, over the Internet, or in empty rooms, but after a certain point I couldn’t keep it in anymore. People noticed the pained expressions on my face when Obama’s “awesomeness” became the topic of discussion. Now, they attack me.

One of my closest friends, who knows how passionate and proud I am of my Cuban heritage, actually compared the Cuban flag to the Confederate flag. Why? She decided that I’m only voting for McCain as a result of the influence of the Cuban-American community. I don't know how she went from Cuban to Confederate, but she might as well have stabbed me with a knife and ripped out my heart.

Don’t get me wrong here -- I love the passion and zeal this election has provoked in our country. It’s about time the general public began to care about and engage in a national election.

I do, however, hate the overzealousness with which Obama’s supporters are approaching this election. I can’t help but think that this is how it felt to be skeptical or critical of Fidel Castro in Cuba circa 1959. I would never say anything like the above quotes to any of my friends. I respect that they idealistically believe that their candidate can do the job. I disagree with them, but I would never insult them for their beliefs.

Debate and free thought are some of the fundamental values of this country, or so I thought. Last time I checked, antagonism and condescension were not qualities embraced by our founding fathers. The fact that I frequently encounter these traits amongst Obama supporters scares the living daylights out of me. This country doesn’t feel like a free country anymore. Instead of conversing, they attack. Instead of debating, they judge. Instead of respecting, they scorn.

USA vs Cuba World Cup Qualifier - Recap

2008-10-22T11:39:00.003-04:00

This post is long overdue and I apologize for that. As stated in previous posts, I attended the USA vs Cuba World Cup Qualifier match on October 11 in Washington, D.C. It was an amazing and unforgettable experience for me for many reasons.

I equipped myself with 1) a Cuban flag, 2) an American flag and 3) a t-shirt I found fitting for the occasion "Made in the U.S.A. with Cuban parts"... shipped to me straight from la Calle Ocho.

I went with a few non-Cuban soccer fan friends from college... in other words, not as part of a rambunctious Cuban-American group. Prior to the game, I realized that I had never sung the Cuban national anthem before. I made it a point to memorize the anthem and sang it with the few other Cuban-Americans in the stands, with the players, and with the delegation from Cuba. Talk about conflicting emotions...

What I don't understand is how the Cuban players can sing the following verse:

"En cadenas vivir es morir, en apena y oprobio sumido"
"To live in chains is to die in dishonor and ignonimy"

Everyone in Cuba has been living in chains for the past 50 years... especially the athletes.

But I digress. U.S.A. scored right away, the first of six goals. The game itself wasn't as eventful for me as the people and encounters I experienced.

I met a few girls in the bathroom with "Cuba B.C." shirts -- Cuba Before Castro. It was awesome -- and a big relief for me to know that there were others in the stands who shared my passion and viewpoints.

But, I froze when several people decked out head-to-toe in Cuba gear walked by me on two separate occasions. I know you can't get that sort of apparel in the United States, and I assumed they were part of some sort of official delegation. I totally froze. So many things wanted to come out of my mouth, but all I did was put more beer in it. I still debate whether or not I should have tried to start a conversation...

The game ended with a triumphant 6-1 U.S.A. victory, but the best part was the three old men who, as they were walking out of the stadium, began to yell "Cuba Si! Castro No!" I didn't freeze anymore... I joined them loud and clear. Maybe the beer had a little bit to do with it but hell, I had been dying to do it all night.

The "Cuban Missile" of Chicago

2008-10-02T10:34:00.002-04:00

Alexei Ramirez. His teammates have nicknamed him the “Cuban Missile.” Never before has a position player from Cuba made such a splash in his rookie year. Only Livan Hernandez’s rookie year can compare to Ramirez’s efforts this season with the Chicago White Sox.

First, Ramirez became the first Cuban position player to ever go straight to the Major Leagues without spending time in the Minors. If you recall, Alexei defected from Cuba to the Dominican Republic last fall. He was signed as a free agent by the White Sox in December.

Ramirez is 27 years old, hailing from Pinar Del Rio. He’s 6’3” but only 185 pounds. Yet, he hit 21 home runs over 136 games including FOUR grand slams. FOUR. In his FIRST season. Many baseball greats have gone years before hitting their first grand slam.

One of the four came in the critical one-game playoff on Monday between the White Sox and the Twins. That slam led Chicago to the American League Division Series. The White Sox will play the first game of the series this afternoon vs. Tampa Bay.

Alexei was named the American League Rookie of the Month in August and could be a dark horse for Rookie of the Year.

Congratulations Alexei! Best of luck to him in the playoffs.

My previous posts on Alexei:
Pelotero
Update on former topics
Castro flip-flops on his pledge - names Cuban defectors

One step forward, three steps back - Cuba's flawed economics

2008-10-01T15:28:00.002-04:00

For a moment, it looked like things were getting better for Cuban farmers. Raul Castro finally figured out that private land ownership would increase productivity.

However, they have taken three steps back this week. To counter the rising food prices resulting from hurricane-related shortages, the Cuban government has frozen food prices.

Frozen prices significantly reduce farmer’s incentives to produce more food. These aren’t pristine lands they are taking over; these are lands that have undergone 50 years of abuse and/or neglect. Bringing these lands up to speed will require significant upfront monetary and physical investment. In return, they will receive a fixed, below-market-value price.

An article published today in Inter Press Service conveyed similar messages from economists:

Some economists warn that freezing prices is not necessarily a good solution at a time when the market needs to be supplied with food. "A positive outlook characterised by incentives, rather than uncertainty, ought to be created for producers," said an academic who chose to remain anonymous.

He said that the measures announced by the government fail to provide a stimulus for those who have submitted applications this month to be granted the use of idle lands, in order to make them productive. "Many of these people might now think that farming will not be profitable, because the plots of land they are to receive will require investments, which drive up production costs," the academic said.

In a recent article, economist Pavel Vidal argued that controlling prices in the agricultural markets operated according to supply and demand is "the worst" of all possible options, because it might stimulate the black market and restrict the signals and incentives that prices transmit to producers.

It’s quite obvious that farmers will certainly be hurt by this, but how about the consumers?

Most of the MSM is spinning this as a positive policy change, aimed at helping Cubans afford food. This is not a positive change. Introductory macroeconomics teaches us that price ceilings lead to further shortages. People rush to get the supplies, which quickly run out. Think what would happen if the iPhone was initially released for $100 or $200 – it’s the same economic concept. Supply will never meet demand.

The same Inter Press Service article has found just that in Cuba:

Now they have to get up early. People have been queuing since early morning to buy lettuce and other products. As you can see, nothing is left now," a farmer from outside Havana, who comes to the city on Sundays to tend his stall in one of the agricultural markets, told IPS.

Not only is the government’s economic policy flawed, but remember that Cuba rejected over $6 million in aid from the United States because of “dignity.” By taking the aid, Cuba could have avoided implementing the price ceiling. This goes to show that, once again, the Cuban government will continue to sacrifice the wellbeing of its own people for the sake of the “revolution.” Nothing has changed.

Vacationing delegates

2008-09-30T20:34:00.002-04:00

Vacations are typically for relaxing and taking in new sights and sounds. Most people wouldn’t choose to spend their vacations educating people about politics, but most people aren’t Cuban-Americans, either.

My parents had been planning their vacation to Chile and Argentina for over six months. They planned an extensive two-week tour of the southern tip of South America, with stops at four different hotels in three different countries. Sounds fantastic, huh?

And fantastic it was, though I bet those argentinos couldn’t wait to get rid of those pesky cubanos-americanos. My mom and dad found themselves defending their views on daily basis, whether they interacted with fellow American tourists or local cab drivers. Everywhere my parents went, people were either sympathetic to the Castro regime or just completely oblivious.

Many topics were covered, from the embargo to the truth about Che Guevara. It’s a good thing my mom reads Babalu on a daily basis!

My parents served their patriotic duty, unlike all the tourists in Cuba that Henry spotlights in his posts. Thanks Mom & Dad, for sucking it up and talking politics with ignorant people on practically every single day of your two-week vacation.

How many of you have encountered similar situations while on vacation? Let’s hear it in the comments.

USA vs Cuba World Cup Qualifier - Round 1 goes to USA

2008-09-07T13:35:00.003-04:00

Last night was the first match between the United States and Cuba in the CONCACAF World Cup Qualifiers. USA won 1-0 in Havana, Cuba. The match was shown on ESPN Classic at horrible TV quality. I'm assuming ESPN wasn't allowed to bring their own equipment.

It was a night of many firsts. It was the first time the USA National Team has played in Cuba since 1947. It was the first time I have ever seen video footage of a sporting event in Cuba, much less live. It was the first time I have ever seen anything like the following picture from Cuba:

I wonder if they played the US National Anthem at the beginning of the game. I wonder if the few American fans that violated the embargo actually spoke to the Cuban people in the stands. I'm surprised Cuban officials allowed the American fans to wear their flag bandannas and wave their flags so prominently.

I can't wait until the next match on October 11 in Washington, D.C. at 7:00 PM. I already bought my tickets. You should go too: http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/1500410CA6F55DD0

Updates on USA-Cuba World Cup Qualifier matches

2008-08-06T11:58:00.001-04:00

I have a few minor updates regarding the upcoming USA-Cuba World Cup Qualifier matches:

Game time for the US match on Saturday, October 11 has been set to 4:00 PM EST at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C.
No news on ticket sales yet. However, tickets for previous matches have not gone on sale until about a month before. I'll keep an eye out through August anyways, but we'll likely have to wait until September.
Many US fans inquired about traveling to Cuba for the scheduled match in Havana and were rebuffed by the Treasury department. The official response is below (emphasis mine):

CHICAGO (July 14, 2008) - In the past few months, U.S. Soccer has received numerous inquires from U.S. fans that are interested in traveling to Cuba for the U.S. Men’s National Team’s 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier on Sept. 6.

U.S. Soccer has been informed by the United States Department of Treasury (the United States Government agency of jurisdiction with respect to regulating travel to Cuba), that travel to Cuba for tourism or for the purposes of observing specific public performances, including sporting events, is prohibited under U.S. law.

While U.S. Soccer is unable to assist fans wishing to make the trip, the match will be shown live on ESPN2 and Galavision to provide our fans the chance to follow the team's continuing efforts to qualify for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Fidel Castro flip-flops on his pledge, names recent defectors

2008-08-05T11:11:00.005-04:00

As pointed out in today's El Nuevo Herald, Fidel Castro wrote on July 16 that he wouldn't dare to even publish the names of those who "betrayed their country by selling themselves to the enemy."

However, one of his most recent reflections explicitly states the names of Noel Arguelles and Jose Antonio Iglesias who defected in Canada (along with another unnamed player) last week during a World Junior Championship. He also states the names of Alexei Ramirez (rookie 2B for Chicago White Sox who is having a great rookie season) and Jose Contreras.

Sounds like Fidel is losing his memory.

On Hector Palacios' return to Cuba

2008-08-04T15:02:00.001-04:00

Mary Anastasia O'Grady strikes again. She penned a great article in today's Wall Street Journal (full text below the fold) about Hector Palacios' upcoming return to Cuba. Palacios spoke on the subject of Cuban politics to a crowd of 70 people in midtown New York last month. My first question is -- why wasn't I invited?!

Palacios has many interesting theories regarding the current state of affairs in Cuba. According to the article, Palacios and his wife are very optimistic about the imminent demise of the regime. They "believe the system is in the throes of death." They "maintain that freedom for Cuba is near because the failure of the system is now universally recognized and Cubans are becoming bolder about breaking the rules." I don't know about it being "universally recognized" just yet, though Yoani's rule-breaking efforts are certainly helping get the word out across the globe. Palacios goes further to speculate that "if Fidel were to die tomorrow, Raul would let the political prisoners go free." My opinion is that this is overly optimistic. I don't see Machado Ventura and the rest of the old guard giving up so easily. I don't think they believe the "nation is near insurrection and that only with change can ]they] survive." We Cubans are very, very stubborn, and those Cubans even moreso.

Though some of Palacios' statements seem a little overly optimistic, he also conveyed some truly promising information. His wife, Gisela Delgado, a founder of the independent libraries movement, estimates that some two million Cubans have either visited those libraries or borrowed their books. If this estimate is somewhat accurate, and not just typical Cuban exaggeration, then it would indicate either a greater risk tolerance amongst the population or a decrease in monitoring efforts by the CDR... or both.

O'Grady brings up other interesting facts in the article to support Palacios' claims:

"Touring in Spain last month, Cuban-Afro pop star Pablo Milanes startled his compatriots when he said 'as a revolutionary, I demand changes.'"

Pablo Milanes is a signatory to the official petition to free the "Cuban Five." I've included the text of his remarks from the Windy City Times below:

Famous Cuban singer Pablo Milanés has told Spain's El Mundo newspaper that there are no gay people in the Cuban Communist Party.
Asked if things are improving for Cuban gays, Milanés said: “I don't know what to tell you. I have many homosexual friends who still complain that they are discriminated against, that they lack opportunities. There are no queers in the Party. And those are signs that they are still alienated. To the best of our knowledge, none of the rulers have come out of the closet yet.”

The translation of Milanés' remarks was done by the Miami Herald.

Milanés also said things haven't really changed in Cuba since Fidel Castro stepped down as president.

“What I don't understand is how everything stays the same,” he said. “The government said a year ago that many things were going to change, but we stayed the same and the people are very desperate. Raúl Castro still has not had an opportunity to demonstrate what he thinks, because his brother Fidel is there and still emits his opinions. Owning a ( mobile ) telephone and being allowed to enter a ( tourist ) hotel is not reform. When it comes to freedoms, we're going backward.”

O'Grady also includes information regarding the supposed recent resignation of a government official:

More recently, the former director of Cuba's National Library, Eliades Acosta, who acted as the grand inquisitor in the effort to flatten the independent library movement, is reported to have resigned his Communist Party post in disillusionment."

I don't know who/what reported this resignation, because I haven't read about it anywhere and can't seem to find it on Google News. If true, it is certainly promising. Given that it would bode poorly on the regime, I'm not surprised at the lack of articles.

Overall, I loved reading the article. I commend Palacios and wish him the best in all his efforts. I wish I could do more to help the cause than just wish him the best. If anyone reading this was lucky enough to attend his speech, let me know next time something is happening in the NYC area! I can be reached at laprimerageneracion@gmail.com

For those who aren't aware of Palacios' history, here is a brief summary: Palacios was originally a staunch Communist who saw the light after the Cuban people were incited to turn on each other during the Mariel boatlift. Following this eye-opening event, Palacios heavily involved himself in advocating for democracy. He was very active in the Varela Project, which led a petition drive for democratic reform. As a result of this involvement, Palacios was jailed during Black Spring. He was horrifically tortured and developed heart problems. Close to death, the regime had to release him to (as O'Grady points out) avoid the negative press associated with dead political prisoners. Palacios went to Spain and had his heart repaired there. His sentence remains in effect in Cuba.

Continue reading "A little more on Hector Palacios' return to Cuba"

Venezuela's monkey-in-chief receives friends from Cuba

2008-07-24T21:13:00.003-04:00

A hilariously sarcastic and chiding article in the Economist provides the world with the latest installment of the Vene-Cuba love story. It is a refreshing read. While so many people endlessly praise Cuba's government and socialism, the Economist mocks both ruthlessly, bringing their ineptness to light. I've pasted the article in full, bolding my favorite lines (especially the last one):

Parrot diplomacy

Having rescued Cuba with cheap oil, Venezuela is to be paid back in zebras
SOON after Fidel Castro seized power in Cuba in 1959, goes an old Cuban joke, the signs at the Havana zoo that read “Please do not feed the animals” were changed to “Please do not take the animals’ food”. When the Soviet Union crumbled and withdrew its aid to Cuba, triggering the so-called “special period” that began in the early 1990s, times became even harder and the joke changed. The new signs, so the story went, begged visitors not to eat the animals.
For those who lived through it, the special period was anything but funny. Domestic cats disappeared from the streets and reappeared on the dinner table. The zoo population thinned out. “The peacocks, the buffalo and even the rhea [a South American bird that resembles an ostrich] disappeared,” says a Havana resident. “The hyaenas became vegetarians, the zoo was depopulated and even the tigers had only sweet potatoes and a bit of cassava to eat.”

But while the old 26th Avenue Zoo in Havana was losing its animals, the revolutionary authorities somehow maintained a safari park outside the city. Captive breeding programmes for zebras and some primates survived. And now the comrades in Venezuela, whose president, Hugo Chávez, provides Cuba with a generous oil subsidy that put an end to the special period, are to benefit from it.

The Caricuao zoo in Caracas, Venezuela’s capital, is a shadow of its former self. Its last giraffe, Napoleón, died 15 years ago. Ruperta, the last elephant, has been alone for over two years. Gone are the zebras, kangaroos and ostriches. Its director, Carlos Audrines, attributes the decline more to a “crisis of management” than lack of cash, like much else in Venezuela. But thanks to high oil prices and revolutionary solidarity, plans are now afoot to refurbish the rundown facilities and restock the zoo.

Cuba is to supply 19 animals from species of which it now has a surplus. They include a giraffe, two lions, four zebras, a rhino and a pygmy hippo. In what Mr Audrines describes as a barter arrangement (in which the Cubans seem to get the rough end), Caracas will trade them for eight macaws, two tapirs, a puma and four capybaras. Further swaps are planned. Negotiations are also under way with zoos in Moscow and Quito.

The animals from Cuba can expect the diet to be better in their new home and the visitors to be slightly more free-range. But the Venezuelan animals may not be so pleased with the deal. The puma is being kept under a green awning during quarantine to prevent an attack of nerves, say the Caricuao zoo keepers. The mood of the notoriously outspoken Venezuelan macaws on being packed off to an island where freedom of speech is a luxury can only be guessed at.

The irony of [f]idel's situation

2008-06-28T14:47:00.002-04:00

From an article in El Nuevo Herald analyzing the extent of Fidel Castro's power:

"Fidel Castro se ha convertido en periodista independiente, ahora no sigue la línea del gobierno, que pedía levantar las sanciones'', dijo Martha Beatriz Roque, única mujer del grupo de 75 disidentes encarcelado en el 2003, origen de la represalia europea.

"Fidel Castro has become an independent journalist, and now he is disagreeing with the government, who had asked for the sanctions to be lifted," said Martha Beatriz Roque...

True irony indeed. Unfortunately, we won't see any government officials coming to take Castro to jail for disagreeing with the government.

Cuba and USA advance to World Cup qualifying group

2008-06-23T00:07:00.002-04:00

Back in April, I posted about the possibility that Cuba and the United States would play each other in the World Cup qualifiers. Well, as expected, the USA beat Barbados and Cuba beat Antigua & Barbuda, so the teams will officially play each other. The dates are:

Sept. 6 or 7 in Havana
October 11 in Washington, D.C. (RFK Stadium)

The Canadian Press article notes that the teams have not met in a World Cup Qualifier since 1949 and the USA has never played in Cuba.

Not all Cuban dissidents favor Obama

2008-06-17T13:13:00.002-04:00

In the midst of an article claiming that many Cubans would like to see Barack Obama win in November, there is a quote from one dissenting dissident:

"I am, before everything, a Republican, and for me it would be proud that the Republicans return to power because we will have strong pressure against Cuba," dissident Orlando Fundora said. "If the Democrats win, it's going to favor the government of Castro."

Relevant quotes from Cuba and Sweden

2008-06-17T11:02:00.001-04:00

There have been some memorable quotes in El Nuevo Herald over the past few days.

A few days ago, it was reported that Cuba is not allowing dissidents to receive monies transferred to them from American sources. I wonder what Cuba is doing with the money -- surely they are not returning it back to CANF...

So the Cuban government won't allow us to send money to anyone who has the courage to disagree with them... still want to lift remittances? We'll have to discourage our relatives from speaking out in order for them to receive money. How is that going to promote freedom in Cuba?

Anyways, in response to this action, Las Damas de Blanco spoke out strongly:

"Si vamos a hablar de terrorismo, el primer terrorista es el gobierno cubano...'', añadió Soler, cuyo esposo Angel Moya cumple sentencia de 20 años
"If [the Cuban government] is going to talk about terrorism, the first terrorist is the Cuban government." - Berta Soler, whose husband Angel Moya is serving a 20 year prison sentence

Also of note this week is the EU's upcoming decision on whether or not to end sanctions on Cuba. Spain and Portugal have been pushing the EU to lift the sanctions imposed following the Black Spring of 2003. The formal lifting would require unanimous approval of the 27 countries, but the Czech Republic and Sweden are determined to block it. The vote was to take place on Monday, but Germany has asked for more time to debate the issue, so the decision has been postponed to Thursday.

In discussing the issue, the Swedish Foreign Minister issued some words that should be heard by all those who think that dialogue with Cuba will lead to change. Unfortunately, 99% of those people will never read this:

El ministro de Relaciones Exteriores de Suecia, Carl Bildt, dijo que Cuba ni siquiera parece interesada en forjar lazos más fuertes, lo que incluiría conversaciones sobre derechos y reformas.
"No hemos visto muchos cambios en Cuba'', dijo Bildt. "El año pasado le hicimos una oferta a los cubanos para iniciar un diálogo y los cubanos nos cerraron la puerta en la cara ... Ellos no estaban interesados en un diálogo si tenían que discutir cosas incómodas, como democracia y derechos humanos''.

Sweden's Minister of Foreign Relations, Carl Bildt, said that Cuba doesn't even seem interested in forming stronger ties, which would include conversations on human rights and reforms.

"We haven't seen many changes in Cuba," said Bildt. "Last year we made Cuba an offer to initiate dialogue and Cuba shut the door in our face... They weren't interested in dialogue if they had to discuss uncomfortable subjects, such as democracy and human rights."

Latest Cuban defector speaks his mind

2008-06-15T14:03:00.002-04:00

The past few weeks have been pretty glum on the Cuba front. Most articles I’ve been reading have either been lauding the regime or are stuffed with angry anti-embargo, anti-Cuban-American comments. However, after reading this article in El Nuevo Herald last night, I finally smiled.

Yhosvany Carmona, a young and popular Cuban actor, decided to leave Cuba after the government prohibited him from acting for releasing a CD with several songs that weren’t as “pro-revolutionary” as desired. The songs touched on themes that affect all Cubans, such as exiled relatives and the loss of hope.

He arrived in Miami on Wednesday night and by Thursday he was already relishing in his newfound freedom of speech. In this article from El Nuevo Herald, Carmona speaks his mind about the regime. Here are a few highlights:

“Today’s Cuban youth… feels the lack of liberty and claims the right to choose our own future.”
“Regrettably, the only escape in Cuba is to leave.”

“There are no real changes for the people, everything is a big façade to entertain the population. Who are those that can now by computers, cell phones and DVDs? They are the same people who previously bought these items illegally.”

“People are tired, very tired of all the stories and promises that are never fulfilled.”

Carmona confessed that in the past few years, he began to question his role as an actor in Cuban society.
“I wanted to relieve myself of the pressure of feeling used to convince everyone else. Actors are pawns of the government to entertain and persuade the population, an uncomfortable game that affected me deeply as a human being.”

The AP and Reuters seem so keen on asking people in Cuba what they think of the reforms to flesh out their articles. It's interesting how these opinions change once there is no fear of retribution.

One day, people won’t have to leave Cuba to say how they feel or to pursue their dreams without being controlled by the government. Til that day, I wish Carmona the best of luck in his pursuit of liberty here in the United States.

I'd also like to point out Carmona's quote about today's Cuban youth. They're the real "primera generación," they're the future of the Cuba. I have no doubts that they will play a major role in bringing freedom to Cuba.

Carlos Gutierrez defends the Cuban embargo

2008-06-10T15:07:00.001-04:00

Well I've been missing in action for quite some time thanks to final exams and graduation and I apologize for that. I received my diploma on Friday, June 6. It was an unforgettable and inspiring experience. I am also fairly certain that I am the first person to receive a diploma from MIT while wearing a Cambio bracelet :)

But alas, the press still keeps churning out odious and poorly researched articles regarding the current situation in Cuba. Following Cuba Solidarity Day, the Washington Post published another embargo-bashing op-ed. This particular one, by Eugene Robinson, refers to the embargo as an act of lunacy and insanity. Robinson claims that the embargo has only served to provide the [c]astros with "a convenient antagonist to help whip up nationalist fervor on the island." Robinson and most other liberals ignore the true purpose of the embargo, as Vicente Echerri puts it:

"That kind of global response, unique in the world with regard to Cuba (it doesn't matter how ineffectual it has been in producing significant changes in that country) has been useful to articulate in its essence a fundamental principle: the lack of legitimacy of Castro's regime, duly proportional to the lack of human rights and freedoms of the Cuban people."

Another odios op-ed. Nothing new here. Upon encountering these, most of us take one of three stances: 1) ignore it, 2) hound the comments page and embark on another embargo debate, 3) blog about it, or 4) write a letter to the editor or directly to the author. I usually choose stances 1, 3 or 4.

Well, Carlos Gutierrez, the United States Secretary of Commerce, came across this article and chose option #4, delivering a message quite similar to Echerri's. The Washington Post published his Letter to the Editor yesterday:

I respectfully disagree with Eugene Robinson. U.S. policy on Cuba, supported by presidents from John F. Kennedy to Bill Clinton to George W. Bush, has worked by denying resources to a regime that systematically brutalizes its people and funds anti-American terrorist activities around the world. The Castro brothers have used resources from foreign investors and tourists only to maintain their privilege and power.
Ironically, while some criticize the embargo, it is the American people who are the largest providers of Cuba's food and medicine, and U.S. remittances are the largest source of direct support to the Cuban people. Recent "reforms" by the Cuban regime serve only to highlight the depth of oppression and control under which the Cuban people have lived.

Why do some express outrage against Sudan and Burma yet turn a blind eye to Cuba's half a century of human rights atrocities? Until political prisoners are freed and fundamental human rights are granted, we will not fuel the fires of oppression. We will support real change in Cuba by standing with the Cuban people rather than legitimizing the Castro gulag.

The Cuban government is far from legitimate. No leader of our great country should lift the embargo or hold discussions with this illegitimate, destructive and oppressive regime until it begins to legitimize itself by holding free, fair and internationally monitored elections, releasing political prisoners and allowing citizens to speak or write whatever they like.

Cuba Solidarity Day

2008-05-21T13:20:00.005-04:00

I've been completely over my head with my final exams and graduation preparations (and still am). Sorry for being completely MIA. Things should improve after my last final exam (ever!) tomorrow afternoon. Also working to expand the site and recruit some younger writers -- look out for that, and shoot me an e-mail if you're interested :)

Today -- May 21 -- marks Cuba Solidarity Day. Babalu has it covered, with links to President Bush's address and Willy Chirino's performance.

Also, congratulations to everyone at Babalu and across the Cuban-American community who helped make Cuba Nostalgia so successful. I heard great things from friends that were lucky enough to attend. You have no idea how much I wish I could have participated instead of being stuck up here studying for finals.

Surprise! Yoani can't get visa to collect journalism prize

2008-05-07T01:48:00.000-04:00

Surprise, surprise. According to the AP and Agence France-Presse, Cuban authorities have denied (or strategically "postponed review") Yoani Sanchez a visa to leave the country, rendering her unable to collect the esteemed Ortega y Gasset prize given by El Pais. The award ceremony is taking place later today.

Yoani's comments thus far: "I think the message is that bad children are not allowed to leave home."

She's right. Only the (c)astro clan can freely travel back and forth to Spain where they run restaurants and antique stores. They need the money to pay for el viejo's medical bills. Yoani, like Biscet, will have to remain captive in the island prison as they are lauded in absentia.

Will this garner as much attention as the recent availability of computers? I'll put $50 on NO - and I'll do a very sophisticated analysis of Google News article counts to see if I'm right tomorrow. In the meantime, do me a favor and tell at least one person about this today. Bring your copy of Time magazine with you if you like to use props :)

More Cuban soccer in the USA

2008-04-26T15:01:00.004-04:00

On October 11, the Cuban soccer team will play the U.S. at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. in a 2010 World Cup Qualifier (assuming the USA beats Barbados and Cuba beats Antigua and Barbuda). If I can sneak out of work, I will definitely fly down to D.C. and watch the game. I'll probably bring some sort of sign, though I haven't yet decided what I should write on it. It's difficult to piece together my affection for the players but disdain for the regime in a few, catchy words. What would you write?

Prior to that, the U.S. team will play in Havana on September 6.

Unbroken Ties: Dialogues in Cuban Art

2008-04-25T22:20:00.000-04:00

Don't know if you all have heard, but Jorge Santis over at the Ft. Lauderdale Museum of Art has pieced together a 70-piece collection of Cuban art entitled "Unbroken Ties: Dialogues in Cuban Art." Some of the artists are exiles, others are nationals. Some are dead, others are still alive. Some of the artists despise the [c]astro regime, others support it (and are supported by it financially), and others choose to steer clear of politics in their work.

Santis claims in an article in the Sun-Sentinel that he is nervous about the reaction to this "all-inclusive" collection. There are several contentious pieces, especially one which can be interpreted as a Christlike presentation of photographs of [c]he's dead body. Another painting is exactly the opposite -- it displays [f]idel with a mouth spewing guns, prisoners and doctrine. These diverse works of Cuban art are pieced together in three segments: "Paradise Lost," "Risking Life and Limb" and "Unbroken Ties: A New Reality."

Here are the details of the show:

Where: Museum of Art, 1 E. Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale

When: Through Oct. 28; open 11 a.m.-7 p.m. daily

Admission: Adults $6, seniors and military $5, students, educators and ages 12-18 $3. Ages younger than 12 free. Free Thursday evenings 4-7 p.m.

I'm definitely going to check it out when I return to Miami in June. While I fully expect to be disgusted with some of the pieces, I feel that they depict an important aspect of our history that should not and cannot be ignored. As long as they are shown in a fair and balanced exhibition, then I am willing to pay a few bucks to see the collection.

If any of you stop by, I'd love to hear your thoughts. Feel free to post in the comments or e-mail me at laprimerageneracion@gmail.com

Mistreatment of Damas de Blanco

2008-04-23T12:15:00.003-04:00

For the past few weeks, we've been seeing brand new episodes of news from Cuba. Reports of DVD players, cell phones, computers and hotel rooms on sale have dominated the airwaves. Well, it looks like the Writer's Strike has spread to Cuba's communist dictatorship. A classic re-run showed up on a few news outlets this weekend -- the manhandling of the peaceful Damas de Blanco by government officials.

Back when Cuba signed the international human rights accord, which allows for peaceful demonstrations, it expelled several Spanish women who were peacefully protesting with Damas de Blanco. This weekend, government officials dragged several of La Damas de Blanco, peaceful and elderly women, through the streets in an attempt to block their peaceful protest.

This weekend Cuba clearly violated the Universal Declarati on of Human Rights (see excerpts below), which it is a signatory to.

Article 19.
Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.

Article 20.
(1) Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.

The United States has deplored these actions and brought this violation to light. Is anyone besides the US going to do anything about it?

Congratulations to Hialeah High

2008-04-14T19:32:00.001-04:00

I've been M.I.A. for the past week thanks to MIT's Campus Preview Weekend. I was chosen to give the student speech at the Minority Parents Reception and preparing for that consumed my thoughts for about four days (it went really well though!). So my apologies for being completely out of action.

However, as part of Campus Preview Weekend, I had the honor of hosting two amazing high school seniors from Hialeah High. I couldn't be happier with the progress that school has made. These two girls informed me that Hialeah totally ROCKED college admissions this year. Students were accepted into MIT, Harvard, Stanford, Yale, Columbia, UPenn and Dartmouth, to name a few schools. In fact, 25% of Dartmouth's south Florida admits are graduating from Hialeah High.

Truly phenomenal results. Congratulations to Hialeah High y "la ciudad que progresa."

"Progress" in Cuba

2008-04-01T10:59:00.003-04:00

Wow! Cuba is putting its now-publicly-available hotels to good use! Look at this picture, courtesy of Martha Beatriz Roque via El Nuevo Herald:

That's a family from Holguín that was thrown out of their home and found themselves with no choice but to start living on the side of a road in Mirador. Apparently over 2,000 people in Holguín are being threatened with eviction from their homes. I don't really understand why nor am I aware of the "Ley de Enfrentamientos" that the El Nuevo Herald article says is behind these evictions. If any of you have a better grasp on this, I'd love find out more about what's going on here.

But, seriously, the side of a road?! Yeah, things are certainly getting better for Cubans.