For several years I’ve been noticing that we’ve stopped using such conciliatory words as “excuse me,” “pardon me” and “I’m sorry.” When we put our foot in our mouth, we would rather blame clumsiness than admit our failure. Into that absurd “code of national male-chauvinism,” with laughable phrases such as “a real man doesn’t drink soup, doesn’t eat sweets, etc, etc.,” someone has added the phrase: “A real Cuban doesn’t have to apologize.”
I remember the hilarious anecdote of a friend of mine, whose toe was “crushed” by the narrow heel of a lady passing by. When he realized the lady was not going to apologize, he got closer to her and said, “Forgive me, Madam, for getting your heel dirty.” The woman didn’t like the irony at all, and she came very close to again crushing the toe of her “victim.” All this because she didn’t want to pronounce the magic words to express her regret for the mistake she made.
How many times have we been badly waited on, insulted or ignored by a waiter who is incapable of articulating words such as, “I’m very sorry, Sir.” A phrase like that does not fix the problem, but at least it leaves you with the sensation that there was no premeditation in such bad service. The record for undelivered apologies, however, goes to the bureaucrats and politicians. They’ve been our teachers in this “intensive course of not regretting anything.”
We are exceptional students of a government that, in almost fifty years of “dancing alone” on the stage of our politics, has never given an apology for anything. We’ve been waiting in vain for the necessary mea culpa for the revolutionary crackdown in 1968, for the atrocity of the repudiation meetings, for the dependence on the Soviet Union, and for the successive and disastrous economic plans that ended up in this productive strangulation. In short, the list is so long and so dramatic that, instead of an apology, it demands a prolonged act of “public self-flagellation.”
Oh, well. I already know politicians never apologize. That’s why we, their small copies who imitate them, repeating their slogans and poses, also emulate them in not apologizing. “For what?” the lady who stepped on my friend’s foot would ask. We already have our toes crushed and up there they don’t want to recognize that they already have their soles “dirty.”
Graffiti on the barrel: Save. (in white: “that”) There isn’t much.
Very well said.
Sadly, this is not confined to Cuba. From what I’ve seen it’s universal. People calling each other “Sir” or “Ma’am” has also gone out of fashion. Please, Thank You and I’m Sorry are nearly extinct.
Is complaining the only out let you have? Everyone knows the world one lives in is greatly a result of one’s inner world.
If you can argue apples into oranges you may fool yourself or the others of a like weak mind, but have you every done any government work? Do you have any idea how hard it can be? how little the rewards are for it? It seems we all desire some rewards, like appreciation.
Is Cuba is your country, and you love it as a family, or if you can not, then understand that the world may not as well as they are outside any such desire to.
Most people can show a soft heart, especially in a family, but a family can show also a fierce strength and cohesion that few outside can go against, my guess is your family is divided, your words need that strength that brings the family together, complaining in this manner is childish, look for the roots to one’s own fears to regain peace.
As soon as you let go of Fidel he’ll not be there, not only has he held you, but you’all have held him, the 50 years of family has been both ways, are the “children” of Cuba ready for the big world and all the good & bad it will do? Will you see your Family and have that strength then? I hope so, because you may then see how hard Fidel’s job really was protecting and feeding you for 50 years.
Coré=)
Complaining is one of the things we all do when nothing else makes us as happy as to forget our troubles.
What makes you think that anyone should be happy because is “protected and feed” 50 years long ?
If Fidel´s job has been hard, it is exactly because he didn´t allowed anyone else to make on with tha job. In all these years he could´nt change anything…only kept in the defensive side, controlling, also controlling cuban people while stealing their motivation to work.
I hope Yoanis keeps on complaining, it is neccesary to tell the world that there is a lot more unjustice than what we actually believe.
Don´t give up!
Cor’e, it’s almost impossible to understand your English.
And let alone your comments.
what makes you think Fidel has been “feeding the Cuban people for 50 years”. your comment is strange and silly, I’m sorry to say. It’s not to offend you, it’s just what it is.
I wish you could read the comments in Spanish and learn a little bit about the subject.
If you think Cubans have a hard time apologizing, you should try living in Germany! It’s the ultimate pissing contest! I have known people (men) who spend a lifetime honing their “blame assignment” skills in order to never be at fault for anything, ever. The logic: if I step on your toe it’s more than likely your fault for having your foot in the way. And while saying “sorry” feels to many to be an unforgivable sign of weakness, the Germans have made complaining a science.
The essential difference, however, is between complaining for the sake of complaining or, in Yoanis’ case, voicing an opinion to achieve change and progress.
For my personal survival I have taken to heart the Golden Rule: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” – there’s even a popular saying in German that goes like this: “Wie du in den Wald hinein rufst, so schallt es auch heraus”. This can often diffuse potentially aggressive confrontations, which are always lurking around the corner in the daily pissing contest. Works for me.
Unlike the Germans in communist East Germany, the Cubans smile a lot and sing like they’re happy. I’ve just taken my first trip to Cuba and I still haven’t stopped smiling! At the same time, my heart is breaking for all the wonderful, intelligent and educated Cuban people I talked to about their lives, hopes and dreams. I enjoyed lengthy conversations with these folk, who were as fascinated about my stories of travel and life in other countries as I was about life in Cuba. One young man shared with me what he calls the Cuban philosophy: “Jodido pero contento” (fucked but happy). At the age of 32 he dreams of buying a computer for his daughter, but by the time he manages to save up 800 CUC she will probably be finished university. He gets his salary in national pesos, but is forced to buy many consumer goods in convertible pesos. He will never leave his island because he has little or no chance of ever getting a passport.
I gave away most of the contents of my suitcase to my new Cuban friends when I left, cos I can always go downtown and buy more – they can not. Maybe I helped make someone’s day – sure made mine. “Jodido pero contento” goes a long way when the sun is shining.
And maybe there is hope, if we can believe the promises made by Raúl Castro in his acceptance speech to the National Assembly that some of the restrictions that circumscribe Cubans’ daily lives will be lifted. Especially if Yoanis keeps it coming.
Apologies never – such men will always ask “what for?” like it’s your fault. Come to think of it, there must be a few people in my life to whom I owe an apology, why not make a start.
There’s much more to do than complaining, there will be change, Cuba will open up much more, some may understand the fears associated with change, complaining comes from nervousness, but if you want the country to go in your desired direction it is simple, go into politics.
Fidel was at the top, don’t complain, you all put him there for 50 years one way or another, try accepting that fact, the top is not such a shared position, try also accepting that fact.
He’s seen as good and bad because people have differing desires of a leader, one’s one responsibility is first to oneself, if you don’t know yourself then you need leaders to follow, your choice again, so don’t complain to feel powerful, because it is very weak to complain, and it is annoying to those actually doing something about what you’re not doing yourself.
The fact is that all are sometimes weak, we need time to rest and assess our selves, a person who knows themselves well will see the logic of all such things and recover that much faster, we all have time to commit to this world, people to Love and share our desires with, why speak out in confusion when the wisdom has shown to look to what is in our selves and hearts, at such times there is really little to complain about, we know what we must do.
PS Sorry, English is not my real language. =)
Coré
Fidel and Raul put themselves, with the help of the government and comunist party, there where they are to be elected. The rest of the bodyguards checked out that everybody agreed with their “candidates”. People are afraid and not knowing other candidates…The government on the other hand, is always inventing enemies from United States or proyecting them bigger than what they are if these really exist. Then this have been constantly manipulating people´s minds while motivating them for example: to defend themselves, warning them about terrorism against revolution, about the possibilities of loosing all what they have: a place to live, gratis education and medical attention…étc. It is indeed a very durty game and cuban people are very naive…
You cannot look the whole time inside your heart…There is a life to live, a family and friends to share with!
Cor’e,
it’s not a problem if your English is not that good, no problem at all, in fact it’s good that you’re trying. it’s what you say that it’s not right.
don’t judge what you don’t know.
Cor’e you are the one speaking out in confusion! If you think the Cuban people elected Fidel Castro 50 years ago, you haven’t got a clue.
OK, so maybe you weren’t there at the time. We’ll give you another chance: Do you think the Cuban people also elected Raúl Castro on 24 February 2008??
Greetings from Poland!
Lamentably, the same sort of failure to be humble exists in the United States where a simple apology can be seen as either an admission of weakness or a stipulation to liability. A heartfelt apology with immediate corrective behavior and even a dose of appropriate humor can fix so many problems. And even generate new relationships and possibly friendships.
Greetings from Poland! I read cuban authorities block the access to your blog ;/ But it’s impossible to shut someone’s mouth! The world knows the truth!
During the 90’s in Angola I had the pleasure to meet few of this beautiful, happy and resilient Cuban people. I remember some of them could not return to Cuba for 3 years because it represented expense for the government. The low paid Cubans could not even get sick, which also was costly, having relationship with the locals or expatriated community carried the risk to be send back immediately to Cuba, their bank accounts was always checked to see if they were drawing money to buy food, if not they were probably having dangerous relationship with the capitalists and in many cases also sent back to Cuba.
Many of these Cubanos used to work for the Angolan kleptocratic elite, their salaries were in average lower than the locals, even if they were much better and qualified workers, and paid directly to the Cuban Embassy. I never found one Cuban whom wanted to discuss their life back in Cuba, but I could remember a friend which stayed for 6 years in Angola economising money to buy a new fridge for his mother, their 45 years old Westinghouse could not work any longer, even with all the creativity and engineering of the Cubans.
In my memory I remember the friendly and happy people, always trying to smile and talk about tomorrow but never politics or the suffering back home. Freedom will come one day, libertas quæ sera tamen. After my 17 years in Africa in general and the years in Angola in particular I found myself not a socialist who I found I was but a real humanist free of the bullshit of politics or ideologies.
I am sure that one day the Cubans will be again the polite people that they are; the actual moment is just a reflection of decades of the “dancing alone” of the boots from Sierra Maestra. Even Chavez and his ayuda with the petrodollars, or better saying hatedollars, can not change the road to freedom and eventually politeness. Maybe people are just tired and this tireness became unpolitiness.
Um grande abraco from Brazil!
GenY… Do not stop.
Hello from Australia. Your story was on the front page of the Sydney Morning Herald’s website today (http://www.smh.com.au/news/web/cuba-takes-on-top-blogger/2008/03/25/1206207075945.html).
I hope you can soon enjoy the freedom to publish and to be read that we enjoy ‘down under’.
How is this for an Apology:
the Australian Government officially said SORRY for the policies that, for decades, led to the removal of Aboriginal kids from their families.
It gave us down under new hopes for a better future and,from what I’ve gathered, it gave the sufferers of these policies and their families a great deal of comfort.
The previous government ignored the recommendations of a parliamentary report on that matter and refused to say sorry. “We weren’t responsible for that. It wasn’t us who took those decissions…”
Well… We are lucky enough to be able to vote them out.
You’ll be able to elect your representatives in Cuba too. And I really hope that your beautiful patria won’t become a “Las Vegas del Caribe” when you finally achieve democracy.
Un saludo.
Ok. If you really want to change something sometimes, just sometimes you have to use action. And to use action against your own people who seek to repress requires universal support. Once you have done this, the job is then made a whole lot easier. Never be afraid to speak out, put words on to paper and distribute and influence a campaign at the grass roots level. It takes alot of brave and sometimes stupid people to achieve great things in a political movement.
Here are a few tips to achieve this.
1.) Talk openly about the problems with relatives and give consideration to discuss openly with relatives who serve the cuban government especially. Let each other know about the issues and dont be afraid to criticise if it is warranted. Start at the low level with family, move on to friends and if possible start smaller gatherings of neighbourhoods and work your way from there.
2.) Seek friendship and support from government and public service workers. This is sometimes seen to be controversial but eventually you can win over support. Remember most of the people who serve the government are opressed just like you. They should and would most certainly feel the same feelings.
3.) Finally dont be afraid to fight for freedom. Remember that following the first two steps is vital to avoiding the issue of fighting and hopefully very little conflict needs to be entered into. However there are stubborn supporters at the top who are entertained and given a lifestyle they wouldn’t want to give up in the event of free and fair elections.
If you follow these steps in the correct order you can and sometimes will be rewarded. However restraint and caution must be followed before and after each step.
Good Luck
Greetings from down under.
Sorry.
See the word isn’t that difficult, and with your post, it also seems difficult for Australians to say when the screw up. It’s not a local thing, it truely is a global thing.
Alvy, look at whats happening because our Government said Sorry, the Aboriginal’s are now lining up to sue the government, in todays litigious society, who didn’t see that coming.
An article about your blog appeared in the front page section of The Columbian in Vancouver, WA. Best wishes to you.
Ola Yoani, obrigado por seres humana, e tao dificil conseguir
identificar um ser humano neste mundo de extra-terrestres.
Como diz o Todd “Best wishes to you.”
NO.1
Hi!
I am canadien and want you to congradulate for your perseverence to continu you blog! This morning (march 24th) We can read in the newspapers about your government trying to shut you up. I red your blog and for me it look like just incredible that you can have problems for what you are writting in it.
I wich you good luck.
KEEP FIGHTING! Don’t back down. The news about your blog and the attempt of supression from the cuban government has made front page news in several cities around the world. The world is aware about the opression in Cuba. Take a stand! KEEP WRITING! I was born in the U.S. of Cuban parents who came to this country very young, but during my childhood (and presently) I have been given the gift of an amazing set of grandparents and great grandparents who have spoken to me about Cuba, the island, the heartbreaker “Havana” whom they left behind over 50 years ago…..The world has taken notice! Your thoughts and stories are inspirational, entertaining, and heartfelt. I have laughed, smiled, frowned and even cried reading through your blog. You have an amazing talent of connecting with people, I can only hope that one day you will be able to faciliate these talents in a country (hopefully in your own- when things change), where you can let them flourish and that your words can reach and stretch far beyond what you ever imagined…and I hope that, that day comes soon. Sending Love and well wishes from Miami- a fellow reader and supporter- Thais
I think you will find that pride and the inability to acknowledge when one has gone astray lies at the heart of a lot of troubles in the world today. Not just in Cuba but in many other places on both sides of the divide.
Greetings form Greece!
Your blog is international! It appeared on lots of newspapers and web-sites all over the world! I don’t know a lot of things about Cuban politics; what i know is that when someone tries to shut someone’s else mouth then he is afraid of something!
Hey Castro, what’s the point in leading people who don’t even had a chance to choose their leader? I know what the point is. Do they?
The “scenario” of Cuba reminds me of “Matrix”, that famous movie where humanity knew what the authorities wanted and nothing more! I think this blog is of someone who wants to have the right to choose whether he takes the blue or the red pill.
Mental freedom is on the move. Keep on rockin’ on a free world!
Humans Care Affairs
Saludos
A Todos Humanos
Hey Core,
What the heck? Have lived in Cuba? You say Castro fed and proctected us for fifty years as if Cubans never worked, as if everything was giving to us without us doing anything for it. Dude!!!!! To begin with Fidel has only giving us misery…..read dude, misery!!!!! Lots and lots of it. But, to end whatever food we have put on our table and protection we have provided to our families have been because we have fought and worked for it, and many times….. many times against the political will of your body Fidel Castro.
Besides, if you really want to criticize someone for complaning a lot, criticize Fidel. The guy has been complaning on and on and on all these 50 years about how the imperialism has done this and that. I dare you to send your suggestions to correo@granma.cip.cu (the national Cuban newspaper) and see if they have at least the decency to answer you.
Greetings from the Netherlands. The story about the Cuban dictatorship trying to block your weblog is also published in the Dutch press. Do not let them get you down. The freedom of the right to speak freely is a treasure to be protected. I will follow the news on your blog with interest and wish that through people like you the Cuban people one day soon can live in a democratic Cuba and reep the fruits of their rich country.
keep going and blogging!!!!!
internet must be free everywhere!!!!!
Your blog is very interesting and I hope you can keep it going, the Guardian in Britain has the story this morning about the Cubans blocking it which ironically has caused many more people to read it abroad if not at home.I was in Cuba recently and had a wonderful time in Havana , the wonderful architecture of Havana,the music the art and above all the warm friendly people of Cuba.Of course we picked up the desire for change and people didnt seem afraid to be critical and also of course the need to improve the economic situation.However you do seem to neglect some major points in your reflections for example the US invasion, economic and political embargo and the CIA attempts to overthrow your government.For example if you had a free press you can be sure you would have 15 CIA funded anti-government newspapers on the streets tomorrow.No doubt this explains why the State is restricting your blog although I do disagree with that decision.So keep your blog going as a window to the world and those of us who give solidarity to Cuba abroad can perhaps have fraternal words with the Cuban government to allow intelligent reflection such as yours.
Dear collegue,
I don’t know if you find pleasant what i have to say, but in my country as well (Greece) politicians never apologize. They diminish our salaries, they consummed our savings, they said we are going to get our pension much later, especially women, and never apologized. I have visited your country some years ago and I loved it. I saw educated people, not many enviromental dammages, a nice effort concerning tourism. I also saw people desiring freedom, free market etc. I believe in freedom and democracy and hope you get it one day. Just don’t expect miracles to happen. It is sadder to be treated like that in a democracy.
Guess what you have discovered the reality of politcs. Politicos never apologize they blame the other or say they will fix it if you send then money or elect them to office. The truth is the fix is out, if they actually did something they would have no reason to run for higher office.
Keep on blogging– Your work will inspire the Cuban people to be brave–I am sure the people seeking freedom out number the weak government drones. Unfortunately people must be willing to pay for freedom with their lives. Like many around the world, so many have died for me to live free. I believe the high power governments do not pay attention because there are no natural resources like OIL in Cuba. So sad that human life is not more important than OIL.
WELL YOY TALK ABOYT DEMOCRACY…I AM A GREEK COMMOUNIST!!!
A DONT WANT THIS DEMOCRACY.WE HATE EUs’ SYSTEM…I VE BEEN IN CUBA…THERE ARE SOME PROBLEMS BUT CUBAN PEOPLE MUST CONTINUE THE REVOLUTION…WITH FIDEL,WITH RAUL,WITH…MARTI,SIENFUEGOS AND CHE!!!
Cuba is similar to Haity not to USA .Biscouits of tilt mixt with vegetables and salt is their food.
“Any man who is not a communist at 18 does not have a heart. Any man who is still a communist at 30 does not have a brain.”
🙂
P.S. Read “The Road to Serfdom” by Friedrich Hayek.
Core said:
>>because you may then see how hard Fidel’s job really was protecting >>and feeding you for 50 years.
lol…this must be the most naive comment I have ever read. It almost makes it seem as if Fidel is a nice person. Yeah I’m sure Fidel is protecting, he’s protecting his swiss bank accounts. 🙂
I hope the Cubans will someday be free from the grips of modern day communism, no group of people should be controlled in such a way and no leader should ever have enough power to tell the people how and when to wipe their own ass. God bless you all.
Just starting new post of generation y with link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Generation_Y
who expres internet generation, your exsplanation is people wit y in the name.
I don t understod why cuban komunist ban your blog, is very unpolitical.
I hope your country be as soon as posible free anda demokratic coutry, without el comandad. Your blog is prove for changing, and continue with your ambasador of democracy work!
With best regards
Lordwales
Core, wake up friend! Read Charles Freimund piece published further up!
I had a very similar experience also in Angola and can confirm what he says.
Core, if you believe you have the right to complaint and to criticise openly, and I believe you should have that right, in other words, to speak your mind, or even better, to have the right to speak your mind, you should obviously also have the right to choose who voices and protects your views. Now listen…the right to choose or exercise your choice is called VOTE!
Yoni keep up your good work.
I love your passion! Yes! Continue speaking out and fighting for what you believe in. It is a shame for anyone to let passion such as yours for a country and a people go to waste based on others comments of mediocrity.
I cannot wait to visit your country!
Callie from Atlanta Georgia
USA
Freedom is something many of us take for granted, although I feel we are slowly being regulated to death here in the USA. For example, I doubt that seat belts are required in Cuba, and even though I agree that it saves lives, it should be up to me to wear it, not the government. It doesn’t affect anybody else other than me, therefore, why is this being enforced upon me? These and other silly rules undermine our freedoms. In all, this great land in the USA holds many great pleasures. We fight to keep them, as we also fight against other countries who oppress their people.
I am from florida and wish to say i wish we all could get along and respect each other. Best Wishes to all
God, grant me the serenity to accept the comments that some stupid communist slave makes on the web in order to help a dying system; the strenght to resist the temptation to look for him(her) and break his head, and the wisdom to recognize the enemies of my people and not to forget any of them when the right time comes, and we are free again.
silvio julio camacho
I think that you guys should go easy on Core here. He has a point. I think that what he is trying to say is that we should resolve issues rather than complaining about them. We should accept the mistakes that we make, in this case ( Cubans choose to live in a totalitarian government for 50 years) and will be more, since I have read that the latest Leader strongly warned that the former will have says in major decisions the country shall make.
Best ways to break away from totalitarian government is revolution. It’s not pretty. Maybe this is not a course of action, that the Cubans shall take.
Thus, complaining is fine, best self-defense mechanism to let out some steam, but often times it does not get us anywhere. Core, English is my third Language, you make sense only to those who try to see the truth in your words. No worries there. 🙂
To go back to the gist of this blog, government only overwhelms the feeble mind. Most Cubans’ inability to apologize in certain situations is not a result of the government’s incapacity to apologize for the decisions that it makes. This is two different cases.
The government does not teach people bad manners, our family, our interaction with others teach us the basics. I’d say that someone who steps on someone’s toes is required to apologize to the other. It should be an instant reaction. I say that cubans know good manners from bad ones, they choose to apply the bad ones.
I live in New York, I have my share of ill-mannered individuals. They are not cubans. Most of them are New Yorkers who are incapable to act decent. So, I can’t say that living in a totalitarian goverment promotes rudeness. We, civilized people choose to be rude.
To The Lion,
I am sure that there are many rules I must abide in the USA I personally think are ludicrous. But wearing a seatbelt is not one of them.
Your chances of survival increases tremendously if you wear your seatbelt. If it was up to you, you would have never worn it. So, wear your seatbelt friend when you drive. Or I’ll personally ask my brother who is in traffic regulation, if he sees you, ( more likely never lol,) to give you a nice traffic ticket.
As an Aboriginal Australian I would like to say I appreciate greatly the hubleness that derives from an apology. And have know the great positive impact it can have on people. See Alvy’s comment.
I beleive to admit fault shows great strength and responsibilty. But has been said responsibilty implies liabilty. And governments and polititions can not have this, as this in their eyes is weakness.
Beavis: In reply to the comment of Beavis, this remark only spikes with bitterness the sweet apology received from the Prime Minister on the 13/02/2008, from the 100’s of direct and extended Aboriginal families, Aboriginal freinds and their familes I do not know of nor heard of any of these people sueing the Parliament for compensation, I do feel however that it was opinions like your own that that slowed the goverment down, taking them this long to apologise.
This is interesting debate. Seeing this down under only enlivens the debate more and the spread of democracy worldwide. I recently watched a documentary which was aired on semi-state television about the Khmer Rouge and Pol Pot’s fight for communism. It was interesting to see the people opressed and killed for so long. Unfortunately the whold world watched and none other than the USA couldn’t even stop communists from seizing power illegally. This came out of the North Vietnamese’s instistance to go the communist way and all hell broke loose for a fight over something so silly. Killing your own fellow man. The world has not forgiven Pol Pot and his regime for what they did. No official has been brought to justice over what they did, however the UN is interested in setting up a tribunal which hopefully will answer alot of questions and bring those responsible to justice. We can only hope that in the future Cuban’s in their fight for freedom will someday be able to bring Cuba’s communist party and their officials to trial, and bear the very freedoms of a fair trial and the rule of law they have so deliberately seeked to take away from their fellow man.
Free Cuba!
t.v.c this is for you:
A mother that I have not been able to see for 28 years, remains in Cuba. You should see the pain that reflects on every picture that she sends me, and the amount of make up that she puts on her face trying to cover her face, so I would not suffer. A sick father that depends on the medications that my sister and I are able to send to him. The tumb of a brother killed by the goverment, that I got to see only five times in 47 years. The cries of hunger of my people.
I did not choose Castro, my family did not either. I was not even born when he stole our freedom.
Ignorance and lack of feelings will be the fall of people like you. I wish you the very same thing that you wish for my people, not less, not more. The punishment will be of inimaginable size. I will prey that you get what you wish for others. Write me then, all the cubans will cry for you, because WE DO KNOW the pain that you would be suffering. My best wishes to your mother, because I can not say that to mine; people like you are making sure of that.
Long live Cuba, and The United States of America.
Your story is worldwide!! I live in Southwest Florida, USA I have spoken to many people who have fled Cuba because of Castro-I can not believe anyone would be so naive to think he is “caring for and feeding his country”. The stories I have heard sadden me, so many Cubans risking their lives on make-shift boats to try and find freedom/life in the USA…families broken and separated..lives taken and hearts broken.So many Cubans who want to return to their country-but only with the rights and freedom all humans deserve.My hopes and prayers are with all of the people suffering-it is time for the people of Cuba to stand up and fight for what all humans deserve-FREEDOM……..
Who are you Core?? You said:
‘As soon as you let go of Fidel he’ll not be there, not only has he held you, but you’all have held him, the 50 years of family has been both ways, are the “children” of Cuba ready for the big world and all the good & bad it will do? Will you see your Family and have that strength then? I hope so, because you may then see how hard Fidel’s job really was protecting and feeding you for 50 years.’
The following is from the central intelligence agency:
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Cuba is a source country for women and children trafficked for the purposes of sexual exploitation and forced child labor; Cuba is a major destination for sex tourism, which largely caters to European, Canadian, and Latin American tourists and involves large numbers of minors; there are reports that Cuban women have been trafficked to Mexico for sexual exploitation; forced labor victims also include children coerced into working in commercial agriculture
tier rating: Tier 3 – Cuba does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so
So I ask you Core-Is this ‘protecting’ and ‘caring for’??? Why is the above happening in Cuba…? Because the people are desperate to survive-they are selling themselves and their children so THEY can survive under the present ‘leadership’
to george:
I wish you had the guts to say all that to a cuban on his face. We ALL KNOW the pedophiles that go to Cuba from Greece with the acceptance of the communist goverment. Noone in Cuba likes you. Any Cuban knows that I’m not lying, or trying to put you down. I would give you my address, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE! COME AND TELL ME THAT ON MY FACE!!!!! I would bet anything that you are not going to be able to rape another kid, again.
I am an educator who has traveled to Cuba three times. I have made friends with the wonderful Cuban people, have seen first-hand the situation there with rations and all the different kinds of currency.
I understand it is not illegal to own a computer anymore since Raul…that must be wonderful (if I can believe it). Like one post said, many of the youth were not even born when Fidel came into power–and like an abused person sometimes there is just no other way than to go along with things. 60% or more of the people are employed by the government (not to say they are loyal to the government), but they have to feed their families. Medicine costs a fortune, even though health care is free. It is very complicated to live in Cuba, more complicated than any of us who don’t live there can understand. I have been in the plane at Christmas to see families see each other for the first time in years (if they were fortunate to get permission). I cried with them. Cuba is so beautiful it fills your heart, yet it is so heart-breaking for the restrictions that my heart just aches. Thank you for this wonderful blog, Y, I am sharing Cuban news from you with my students. Bravo! J
Para Yoani,
Quiero poner mi comentario, no es para el blog de Marzo pero yo quiero presentar mi sientimientos para la gente de Cuba. Soy una americana de Nueva York. Tengo una hija de 6 anos y ella tiene abuelos y bisabuelos que son Cubanos. Yo creo que no es justo como el gobierno de Cuba quiere callar los comentos de la gente. La gente tienen que expresar como se siente porque (en mi mente) casi no hay nada para vivir en una vida asi. La mayoridad no quieren quedar a ya pero tambien no pueden salir. Estan en un carcel no es una vida. Yo no sabia mucho de la vida de los cubanos de la isla porque no soy cubana pero yo lei un libro de Mirta Ojitos se llaman: Finding Manana. El libro tiene cuenta de Mariel y las cosas de anos atras. Yo se que todo en la isla son peores que antes. Yo creo que el gobierno de los Estados Unidos en este momento que no hay Fidel, tiene que ayudar la gente de Cuba. Yo quiero ayudar pero una persona no puede hacer una diferencia. Yo le encomiendo porque tu quiere resistir el gobierno y sigue comentando en cosas que vale para ti y la gente de Cuba. Una persona que sigue y no pare es la esperanza que todos necesitan para el mejor futuro. Yo espero que un día que podré visitar a Cuba.
T.V.C says
>>Cubans choose to live in a totalitarian government for 50 years
===Yeah, same way you would choose to wear the same shoes for 50 years even though they are killing your feet? Give me
a break, it’s not their ‘choice’. It is clear that you have a vague understanding of a Dictatorship Government for
you to make a comment like this.
>>and will be more, since I have read that the latest Leader strongly warned that the former will
have says in major decisions the country shall make.
===Sorry to break your bubble of ‘fidel-mania’ but, his brother does not have the capabilities to continue how you would like.
Why don’t you go over there and give them a helping hand? It will be great learning experience for you. 🙂
>>Best ways to break away from totalitarian government is revolution. It’s not pretty. Maybe
>> this is not a course of action, that the Cubans shall take.
===Hello? You forgot about the bay of pigs invasion? It’s not easy to overthrow a government.
>>Core, English is my third Language, you make sense only to those who try to see the truth in your words.
===One blind man leading another. Both of you just don’t get it.
>>I’d say that someone who steps on someone’s toes is required to apologize to the other. It should be an instant reaction.
I say that cubans know good manners from bad ones, they choose to apply the bad ones.
===You failed again to grasp the meaning of her words. The toes crushed and not apolozied is the Government actions,
you took it as if it was a literal thing. Of course it’s wrong not to apoligize if you are refering to literal things.
I remember the day our house was obtruded upon and our measly belongings turned topsy-turvy by a small army of Castro’s puppets. I remember our house being locked up, while mom and dad were taken away and locked up … for their political beliefs. I remember my brother and I standing outside our house, with an armed guard standing in front of it, while we waited for our parents to come back. Ah yes, nothing like reliving those childhood memories …
… and yet, I agree with Cor’e.
Castro has indeed fed the Cuban people well. For fifty miserably-long years his oppressive totalitarian regime has fed us with lies, fear tactics, deprivation and bullshit promises.
Thank you Yoani, for continuing to maintain this site. Best wishes to you.
I am very surprised that the Cuban government is allowing the people to reach the WWW. I can’t see how the regime’s propaganda machine is going to preserve the effective brainwashing of the people.
For too many years now, Cuba has been nothing but a huge, and over crowded, jail house. The control and manipulation of the flow of information has always been one of the most important weapons to keep the people divided. Fidel managed to make us believe that our struggle was a sublime sacrifice and thus we never saw that we were instead victims of abuses. Nobody can grasp the magnitude of the damage from these abuses.
Hopefully, this concession made by the regime heralds the beginning of the end of the Dark Ages in Cuba.
Silvio Julio Camacho ,
I am positive that you have misunderstood my post. I am neither oblivious to the situation that is happening in Cuba nor do I feel no sympathy for the Cuban population. I feel great sympathy, and I respect Cubans. In fact, I respect all cultures.
I did make a few points in my latest post. If you felt that I was being heartless and harsh, I apologize. But my points remain the same. Complaining about a situation does not change it. Words are not enough without action.
“We change our situations” is my motto. If we don’t like the way we are living, we change it. If we have to fight, if we have to make a few people angry, no matter what the consequences will be, the deal is that if we do not like the way things are going, change then becomes a must. No one says that it’s going to be easy, but if this is what we have to do, then it is what we have to do.
And I am sorry about your family.
To Robert:
You make few points that are noted. You have your opinions.
The gist of my post was to point out that if Cubans do not like the way things are going in their country, they should change it rather than complaining about it.
At least, I encourage them to promote change. What have you been doing? If I were to analyze your post, like you have done mine, I’d say you subtly told them to accept that they are doomed. And they should accept their conditions and keep their mouth shut.
Nobody says that things will be easy as you have aptly pointed out, but have you brought solutions? Mine might have not been as efficient as yours would be, if you had something. But I had something. You know, maybe I should just keep in mind your offer and help. I am sure it will be a great learning experience. 🙂
>>I’d say that someone who steps on someone’s toes is required to apologize to the other. It should be an instant reaction.
I say that cubans know good manners from bad ones, they choose to apply the bad ones.
===You failed again to grasp the meaning of her words. The toes crushed and not apolozied is the Government actions,
you took it as if it was a literal thing. Of course it’s wrong not to apoligize if you are refering to literal things.
You failed to understand what I meant. I took it as if it was a literal thing, because this is what I meant to take it as. I was not refering to the government actions. It was just another similar example I used to make a point.
I am from the United States and I think it would do people here a lot of good to read the struggles of the Cuban People. I feel that a lot of American Citizens have gotten fat and lazy and choose not to stand up for their rights and they would rather give up some rights to feel more secure. The US government is snooping and spying on its own people. Everyday The US becomes more socialist. It scares the living hell out of me.
It is now clear to me that this blog is a propaganda médium
I had hoped it would be a fórum to air the legitímate problems of Cuba and its people.
It is only another rectum from Miami expelling toxic gas of lies.
Toxic gas of venom and frustration of those who exploited Cuba before the revolution and whom Fidel chased out.
Toxic Gas.
Those Cubans and Latinamericans who have such pride of ridding themselves of the yoke of those who dirtied the statues, of having successfully defied the great feudal lord;
The latinamericans who have the pride that Fidel provided, reject it as a weary hand rejects the standing of a fly on skin this latest Miami attack.
It is clear to me, Gusanos are parasites.
Slaves of their imperialist masters for whom they do the dirtiest jobs, the most indignant, for which their masters are not willing to do.
In return, the gusanos hope a return to that life of exploitation which they enjoyed in the time of Batista.
However, know this, parasites:
The great Cuban people, the best people in the world, are now educated.
Never again will they be under the yoke.
They will never be as they were when you exploited them.
Never again will you see children sleeping in the street.
Never will the people suffer health care neglect.
Never the ignorance.
All these symptoms of yankee exploitation through out Latinamerica.
Cuba has the support of Canada, my people
Cuba has the support of the whole intelectual world
Cuba has the support of anyone unsettled by exploitation.
The problems of Cuba, a dirty poor country, but with dignity as no other, are mainly due to the eternal attacks from the Miami mafia, terrorists such as Posada Carriles, Bosch and their yankee masters for whom they clean toilets.
But with or without an embargo, Cuba is free and shall NEVER again be subjugated.
It causes no small pleasure in me the punishment that those whose literacy was provided by the revolution as a human right: they are now condemned to slavery in the most demeaning tasks of those people and loathed by their masters.
Poetic Justice.
Viva Cuba,
Viva the great Cuban people
Viva Fidel
Viva the revolution
I lived in Cuba until 1960, I left when I was 18, I was a student at Havana University. My family was a lower middle class, no farms, sugar mills, etc. I know how Cuba was before Fidel and know how Cuba is now with Fidel and company.
There are many reason why Fidel is still there, some are people like the Greek person that send a message and some of the Canadians (like Francis Bird) that also wrote messages. If these people go to Cuba, they go to the nice hotels, they eat the food that Cubans can not get, the go to Cuba for the prostitutes that have to sell their bodies to be able to feed their families.
Cuba before Fidel had over 256 sugar mills, the are only 4 left. Cuba was the 2nd country behind the US in GNP in the Americas, yes ahead of Canada, Spain and Italy. The US embargo is just BS, Cuba can an is importing food and medicines when they decide instead of using the moneys the Cubans exiles in the whole world sent to their relatives in Cuba to use it to foment revolutions and support terrorist in the world (ETA, Sendero Luminoso, etc.). Why Fidel don’t buy what ever he wants in the open market, you know why, he doesn’t pay what he purchases, he owns billions to many countries but those countries don’t say a thing (France is one). Do you know how many billions of $ Russia gave him and how many billions of $ Chavez is giving them now? Where is the money? Cubans don’t see a penny of these billions of $, what ever is in Cuba most of it was there before Fidel, just see the cars, the houses, etc.
I don’t know how she has managed to do this blog, but this has open a window to the world to see and hear those that really know the Cuban misery and unfortunately there are still a few that say things with out knowing the real story.
What is going to happen in Cuba, I only see the say click still in power for the years unless Chavez goes and the exiles stop supporting Fidel indirectly (as hard as this sounds) by sending things and money (at the mafia rates) to their families in Cuba.
yell……..my litle friend……………..yell
your end is near
rejoice at the pain of my people…….for now.
We know what you are…………..for now.
I was expecting your cries…….like any communist coward, you are sensing your end. Then we will see who will be the happier ones.
Viva Cuba
Viva the great american people
Viva el marido de Fidel y el tortillero de Raul
Viva el que te lo partio a ti
POETIC JUSTICE
Francis Bird (your lastname tells alot about you, in this case) my last message was FOR YOU.
Wow! Accepting the anger of your expectations that any Leader should be what you want, when you won’t lead yourself(?), or even know yourself(?).
Examine those failed expectations and see that choice was there all the time, don’t act as if you don’t have a response inwardly to yourself, one does, and that alone should be heeded.
In any nation politics has the same bag of tricks to play on the minds of the populace, don’t think your Cuba alone is the only mistreated group of people/slaves, that’s the real ignorance and pride here.
What i’m saying is the pied-piper of ideals such as democracy or communism should be totally avoided, ideals are not realities, but one’s mind begs for such a world to live in, and it thinks it will be happy if it struggles for such ideals, that is a child mind.
What one expects, or rather what what one is free to expect, may lead one far from observable reality, and the reality is that politics do not generally dictate social mannerisms, nor is the one an excuse somehow for the other.
If you want to change the politics then clearly see politics for what it is and do the actions then required. Merging oneself into politics changes both one and the other, perhaps that is line few of you want to cross, one that Fidel crossed over 50 years ago.
Like sending oneself to Army Boot Camp most likely will change oneself, but consider the change to Boot Camp itself when sending one like Jesus or Buddha or Muhammad… Right? Who would change then? See what you have to become? Where’s the path to that power? Will you choose to be who you really are?
So, if one chooses not to lead oneself and becomes weak, angry, bitter, blind, then do not complain, just see it for what it is and start to fix that mistake. Both thanking and blaming outside of oneself is as important as the seasons of nature, but the truth is what is always constant inside of that nature.
I’m very glad the Cuban nation has found many who wish to speak out and comment, may it continue to evolve like the world it is in, may Granma also find these words as well.
I have had a keen interest in Cuba for many years.Watching from the outside I have been struck by the courage of Cuban artists and writers willing to speak and create art that is at odds with the regime.I see a movement developing in Cuba reminiscent of eastern europe,particularly chekoslovakia,that has the power to instigate real change.It is the creative people who tests the limits of freedom and the rest of the citizens who are influenced.In Cuba this movement appears to be reaching a critical mass, a point from which the regime is not willing to push back hard.
Shooting citizens in the street has not been a politically acceptable risk for the regime for years.Even mass arrests has become a problem.Repression has reached it limits and imposing further repression risks a situation where shooting in the streets becomes a greater possibility.
And that is no longer a politically realistic option.A Cuban “Tienanmen” would result in crippling international isolation.
Therefore the only remaining option is change.If the regime doesn’t embrace change rising dissatisfaction will create tension the regime can no longer be certain it will survive.
I happen to believe the way forward is through economic reform before major political reform.From economic opportunity all the other good things will come.First and foremost an improved standard of living.Access to technology and freer communication would also be two of the inevitable results.
Courts would have to function in a new way,dealing objectively with property,contract and business law.Banking and financial institutions in and out of government would have to function more realistically. It would serve as the foundation for changes in the political structure.
Cuba,unlike China,is very small.Change can sweep through a country of such size very quickly.I know that Cubans have been yearning for such changes for decades.
But the time has finally arrived.
I hope the regime moves from baby steps of economic reform to walking forward with full confidence.I also hope the US will encourage that reform by rewarding economic reform with greater trade.The US should drop demands for full libralization because the regime is not going to commit suicide.
But greater economic freedom will help Cuba to open up tremendously.Under those circumstances political change and greater freedom of expression will be inevitable.
It’s coming sooner than later.
Finally.
cor’e ….. the other little slave:
You may ask your master for my records, I know that you can. Just in case there is problem with the mail from Cuba (as usual):
I broke into the embasy of Peru in 1980. I’m the one who gave an interview to a female officer of the Ministry of the Interior-G2 promising to fight communism at any part of the world. For long time I was in every newspaper, magazines, and radio station. I was accused of being a C.I.A agent, at 17.
member of the paramilitary group Alpha 66 until the death of its founder three years ago, Andres Nasario Sargent.
Liutenant first class in charge of the security of the ship “Franklin”, and in command of 500 men during the “Invasion to Guantanamo base”, in 1981.
More I can not tell you, but I’m sure that your masters at G-2 can send you a copy of the picture they showed to my mother in Cuba after saying to her “We know what he is doing”. They thought that that would stop me.
Here I’m, still, little slave. MY NAME IS SHOWN. And like me, many more than what you think, here…..and THERE !!!
Cor’e…..my litle girl…..
What have you done, aside from being a servant of a dictator and assassin?…………Write in a web page on his favor?
yes, I’m proud to hate people like you, because I have feelings for my people and my country.
yes, I want my leader to do what my people wants. That is called “freedom”, ignorant little girl.
yes, I’m proud of visiting the web page of YONY, because, for example; she is more of a man than you can ever be. At least, she got more huevos than you and than any of the other servants of castro.
Don’t worry, we will get you another boyfriend after Castro dies, only that this time………………..IN PRISON…………IF you get lucky.
TO YOANI:
I’m sorry to read this. Please, let us know (my wife and I) how we can help. We do not have much, but, whatever we have is yours. You are our pride, even my wife that is american is very proud of you after she got to read few articles.
I’m, also, sorry for the way that I have expressed myself in your webpage against representatives of that regime, even though we both know that they deserve much more than hard words. My apology (to you).
If you get in trouble for expressing what is in your mind, remember, you are not alone, you have a family here; us.
Silvio:
It pleases me to no end the way you squirm,
It pleases me that you are vulgar; you prove my point more eloquently than I could ever hope to.
Remember my curse Silvio, remember my words next time you feel the loathing of your masters. You must feel them often, and they are not the only ones. Intellectuals throughout the world despise you: for you and your kind are terrorists, traitors and slaves.
No home, no hope and despised: I feel glee when I think of you.
I am impressed with Yoani’s blog site and found the CBC Television story in Canada a very balanced report of both Yoani’s efforts and frustrations and some of the issues in Cuba.
Without doubt change is necessary but to use an old English expression, the people of Cuba should be careful not “throw out the baby with the bathwater”.
Unfortunately this site has attracted comments that contribute nothing to the otherwise worthwhile discussion Yoani’s site has generated. I must single out one Robert who referred to Fidel having Swiss bank accounts. I have been to Cuba 13 times. No one believes Fidel would ever stoop to such depths, as have a multitude of dictators supported by the US in many Latin and South American countries over the years. Cuba has been a bold, successful also unsuccessful experiment but the motivation of its initial revolutionary leaders – Che and Fidel included – is definitely not self gain. Fidel may have made mistakes but he also led the creation of a society that provided opportunity for millions of Cubans to successfully pursue their academic, artistic, athletic and individual interests and potential – albeit without the usual monetary and materialistic rewards which I acknowledge as important.
Regretably, there is now much suspicion as to the motivation of those who currently have control of the levers of power and the various publicly owned corporate enterprises in Cuba – suspicions encouraged by inadequate accountability for the financial operations of these largely successful enterprises (ie. revenue, costs, and results/use of the profits – are these profits all going for public benefit or is there corruption at senior levels as there clearly is petty corruption in virtually every business activity in Cuba?)
I only hope that Cuba will not take advice (or direction, God forbid) from American Cubans of the Cuban mafiosa variety in Miami who are such an integral part of the anti-democratic Republican and CIA apparatum of the US. In the meantime five Cubans rot in American prisons for trying to help their nation avoid the impact of more than 45 years of terrorism aimed at Cuba and orchestrated by the Mafioso Cubano in Florida.
26 de Marzo, 2008 – 18:15
TO FRANCIS PAJARO:
MAMITA, CAN YOU GIVE ME THE ADDRESS OF THE CUBAN MAFIA EN MIAMI? I NEED SOME MONEY. MAYBE I SHOULD ASK TO YOUR BOYFRIEND CASTRO, HE GOT MORE THAN ANYONE ELSE HERE. SAY HI TO YOUR WONDERFUL MOTHER FROM ME, MY SON. NO WONDER YOU GOT THAT LAST NAME !!!! WHICH, THANKS TO GOD, IS NOT MINE.
BRIAN,
THAT ” FIDEL LED TO THE CREATION OF A SOCIETY THAT CREATED OPPORTUNITY FOR MILLIONS OF CUBANS’?
HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA …………………………..
THAT IS THE BEST JOKE THAT I HAVE HEARD IN LONG TIME……
WHY DIDN’T YOU TELL US THAT YOU WERE “PEPITO” EL DE LOS CUENTOS…..HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA ……………..THAT WAS A GOOD ONE…HA HA HA HA HA HA………….NEXT TIME YOU ARE GOING TO SAY THAT THERE IS ALOT OF FOOD IN CUBA, DIDN’T YOU?
HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA…….
PAJARITO,
FOR WHAT I KNOW, INTELLECTUALS LIKE YOURSELF ARE THE ONES THAT HELP TO IMPOSE DICTATORSHIPS ALL AROUND THE WORLD, THEY USE THEIR KNOWLEDGE TO MANIPULATE THE MINDS OF THE POOR; WHO ARE THE ONES THAT AT THE END END UP PAYING FOR EVERYTHING.
TO YOUR INFORMATION, I’M THE PEOPLE !!!!
I’M THE ONE THAT HAD TO GROW AFRAID TO SPEAK, IN A SMALL 4 BY 4 ROOM FOR SIX PEOPLE, IN THE POOREST BARRIO IN HABANA.
I’M THE ONE THAT HAD TO GO HUNGRY SO MY SISTER’S BABY WOULD HAVE ENOUGH MILK, AND GROW STRONG.
I’M THE ONE WHO GOT BEAT JUST FOR WANTING TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY, UP TO THE POINT THAT I’M SINCE AN EPILEPTIC.
I’M THE ONE THAT HAS NOT BEEN ALLOWED TO SEE MY MOTHER OR FATHER IN 28 YEARS.
I’M THE ONE WHOSE GRAND MOTHER DIED OF HUNGER.
I’M THE ONE………………………..
MY LITLE SISTER………………YOU SEE…………..I’M VULGAR………..AND PROUD………….BECAUSE I’M THE PEOPLE……NOT YOU
I’M PROUD OF WHAT I’M………….AND THAT IS MORE OF WHAT YOU CAN EVER SAY.
I’M A CUBAN. I HOLD THE HIGHEST HONOUR THAT ANYONE CAN HOLD, I’M A CUBAN………..IN A FREE COUNTRY…………AND I WILL DO WHATEVER IS NEEDED TO FREE MY COUNTRY, EVEN IF THAT TAKES TO TAKE ON SUCH AN SMALL SCOM LIKE YOU.
I’M A VULGAR, I’M ME !!!!!! THE PEOPLE !!!!!!
SORRY IF I SEEM TO BE TOO IGNORANT TO THE COMMUNIST INTELLECTUALS OF THE WORLD………..AT LEAST…….AND TO MY HAPPINESS………….I’M NOT YOU…I’M THE REAL PEOPLE !!!
Editorial Reviews
Book Description
This remarkable issue chronicles The New Dance Group (NDG), the radical dance group formed in New York City in 1932 in the depths of the Depression, which survives today although with a very different focus.
Most of the articles were contributed by creative forces who were closely associated with NDG as faculty, choreographers, or board members. The chronicle places the birth and development of NDG in the artistic, social and political context in which it was born. Many other radical dance groups with similar missions and ideologies arose at the same time, but only the NDG has managed to survive to this day. Subsequently, the changes in the New Dance Group reflect the vast changes in Society from the 1940’s to the present.
In 1993, a memorable retrospective concert of NDG works from 1936-1979 was held. An account of that concert is included.
The issue offers appendices of students, artists, and staff, and both chronological and alphabetical lists of events presented by NDG from 1933-1970. C
Editorial Reviews
Book Description
This remarkable issue chronicles The New Dance Group (NDG), the radical dance group formed in New York City in 1932 in the depths of the Depression, which survives today although with a very different focus.
Most of the articles were contributed by creative forces who were closely associated with NDG as faculty, choreographers, or board members. The chronicle places the birth and development of NDG in the artistic, social and political context in which it was born. Many other radical dance groups with similar missions and ideologies arose at the same time, but only the NDG has managed to survive to this day. Subsequently, the changes in the New Dance Group reflect the vast changes in Society from the 1940’s to the present.
In 1993, a memorable retrospective concert of NDG works from 1936-1979 was held. An account of that concert is included.
The issue offers appendices of students, artists, and staff, and both chronological and alphabetical lists of events presented by NDG from 1933-1970. C
m
Editorial Reviews
Book Description
This remarkable issue chronicles The New Dance Group (NDG), the radical dance group formed in New York City in 1932 in the depths of the Depression, which survives today although with a very different focus.
Most of the articles were contributed by creative forces who were closely associated with NDG as faculty, choreographers, or board members. The chronicle places the birth and development of NDG in the artistic, social and political context in which it was born. Many other radical dance groups with similar missions and ideologies arose at the same time, but only the NDG has managed to survive to this day. Subsequently, the changes in the New Dance Group reflect the vast changes in Society from the 1940’s to the present.
In 1993, a memorable retrospective concert of NDG works from 1936-1979 was held. An account of that concert is included.
The issue offers appendices of students, artists, and staff, and both chronological and alphabetical lists of events presented by NDG from 1933-1970. C
,,
Editorial Reviews
Book Description
This remarkable issue chronicles The New Dance Group (NDG), the radical dance group formed in New York City in 1932 in the depths of the Depression, which survives today although with a very different focus.
Most of the articles were contributed by creative forces who were closely associated with NDG as faculty, choreographers, or board members. The chronicle places the birth and development of NDG in the artistic, social and political context in which it was born. Many other radical dance groups with similar missions and ideologies arose at the same time, but only the NDG has managed to survive to this day. Subsequently, the changes in the New Dance Group reflect the vast changes in Society from the 1940’s to the present.
In 1993, a memorable retrospective concert of NDG works from 1936-1979 was held. An account of that concert is included.
The issue offers appendices of students, artists, and staff, and both chronological and alphabetical lists of events presented by NDG from 1933-1970. C
—
HAVANA — Cuba said Friday that it would allow all Cubans to buy and use cellphones, the latest step by new President Raul Castro to improve access to consumer goods.
What a joke….the government acts like they gave the population something, when in fact, Raul knows ordinary Cubans are unable to afford cell phones. Raul should say, “Sorry for the April Fools joke.”
The communists are trying to stop us from freely speaking our minds, even when we are in another country, what kind of sick people are they that can not even read the word “freedom”?
Check it out, yourselves, you now have another proof !!
hasta el pionero mas inocente del ultimo pueblo de Pinar del Rio, sabe que eso de los telefonos celulares es una broma de mal gusto, que alguien me explique, como es posible que con los salarios en Cuba que no alcanzan para comer , se puede mantener un Celular, ademas los que lo pueden pagar , pues tienen su invento etc,etc ya lo tenian, antes que se autorizara oficialmente, vedad que si Raulin?
La disidencia en su afan, de encender el reververo, dice que si abren en Niquero, Manzanillo o Cabaiguan, aunque alli el mar no exista, se va a formar una lista, y yo si no digo na, pero sigo con mi afan, aunque nadie lo mensione, pues creo que los Diez millones, de verdad que ahora se van. 2008..
Si, a Luis Posada Carriles, lo quieren pa’ejecucion, yo no vivo de ilusion, y siempre lo comprendi, por lo que yo escribo aqui, me triplican la racion….
hi i am from Greece. I saw about your blog to our news. I thing that you are doing a great job just writing those thing about your country. In our country is more free, but always the police doing whatever the rich and the “strong” people want. I wrote about your blog to my blog.
hi i am from Greece. I saw about your blog to our news. I thing that you are doing a great job just writing those thing about your country. In our country is more free, but always the police doing whatever the rich and the “strong” people want. I wrote about your blog to my blog. nice blog
Cuba will allow its citizens to stay in hotels previously reserved for foreigners, the latest in a series of decisions to lift bans on goods and services that the average Cuban can’t afford.
Another joke….again, the government acts like they gave the population something, when in fact, Raul knows ordinary Cubans are unable to afford to stay in Cuban hotels. As before, Raul should say, “Sorry for the April Fools joke.”
Somebody should stuff a Mojito up Raul and Fidel’s ass and light it.
there are so many reasons why the people of Cuba feel disenfranchise and disenchanted with their political leaders failures to deliver the promises of the revolution. Dependancy on the Soviet Union, the country’s inability to deliver a standard of living or quality of life acceptable to cubans. The Special Period after the fall of the Soviet Union which forced the country to be more self reliant revealed the character of the cuban people. If the new government in Cuba holds to its promise of change… What form would it take? New alliances have been formed with European countries, Canada, Mexico, Venezuela, Bolivia. The later two of particular importance. What will it take for cubans to have one national currency again? I have my doughts about whether or not the island’s economy can deliver the quality of life desired by cubans under an economy based on supply and demand forces. Do politicians need to apologize to the Cuban people? I think many have done so already. Unfortunately, this does not relieve scarcity of basic necesitities. Privatization and deregulation for small enterprises should be part of the change. There most be more money placed in the hands of the people. I am not suggesting a revolution, but, socialism with a small market economy.
Posada Carriles: Another Bin Laden of the Cuban exile
One of the bloodiest terrorists of the Cuban exile. This was another CIA agent that was trained in sabotage and the use of bombs This terrorist was an intimate friend of Jorge Mas Canosa, the now deceased and former head of the Cuban American National Foundation (CANF). Further evidence of this terrorist ties with the CANF can be found in an article published by the NY Times; an article which describes the close ties of both and how the CANF financed Posada’s terrorist activities in Central America.
Posada Carriles: Another Bin Laden of the Cuban exile
One of the bloodiest terrorists of the Cuban exile. This was another CIA agent that was trained in sabotage and the use of bombs This terrorist was an intimate friend of Jorge Mas Canosa, the now deceased and former head of the Cuban American National Foundation (CANF). Further evidence of this terrorist ties with the CANF can be found in an article published by the NY Times; an article which describes the close ties of both and how the CANF financed Posada’s terrorist activities in Central America.–
Posada Carriles: Another Bin Laden of the Cuban exile
One of the bloodiest terrorists of the Cuban exile. This was another CIA agent that was trained in sabotage and the use of bombs This terrorist was an intimate friend of Jorge Mas Canosa, the now deceased and former head of the Cuban American National Foundation (CANF). Further evidence of this terrorist ties with the CANF can be found in an article published by the NY Times; an article which describes the close ties of both and how the CANF financed Posada’s terrorist activities in Central America.—-
Posada Carriles: Another Bin Laden of the Cuban exile
One of the bloodiest terrorists of the Cuban exile. This was another CIA agent that was trained in sabotage and the use of bombs This terrorist was an intimate friend of Jorge Mas Canosa, the now deceased and former head of the Cuban American National Foundation (CANF). Further evidence of this terrorist ties with the CANF can be found in an article published by the NY Times; an article which describes the close ties of both and how the CANF financed Posada’s terrorist activities in Central America.—-V
Posada Carriles: Another Bin Laden of the Cuban exile
One of the bloodiest terrorists of the Cuban exile. This was another CIA agent that was trained in sabotage and the use of bombs This terrorist was an intimate friend of Jorge Mas Canosa, the now deceased and former head of the Cuban American National Foundation (CANF). Further evidence of this terrorist ties with the CANF can be found in an article published by the NY Times; an article which describes the close ties of both and how the CANF financed Posada’s terrorist activities in Central America.M,,,,
Posada Carriles: Another Bin Laden of the Cuban exile
One of the bloodiest terrorists of the Cuban exile. This was another CIA agent that was trained in sabotage and the use of bombs This terrorist was an intimate friend of Jorge Mas Canosa, the now deceased and former head of the Cuban American National Foundation (CANF). Further evidence of this terrorist ties with the CANF can be found in an article published by the NY Times; an article which describes the close ties of both and how the CANF financed Posada’s terrorist activities in Central America.VV
Posada Carriles: Another Bin Laden of the Cuban exile
One of the bloodiest terrorists of the Cuban exile. This was another CIA agent that was trained in sabotage and the use of bombs This terrorist was an intimate friend of Jorge Mas Canosa, the now deceased and former head of the Cuban American National Foundation (CANF). Further evidence of this terrorist ties with the CANF can be found in an article published by the NY Times; an article which describes the close ties of both and how the CANF financed Posada’s terrorist activities in Central America.VCBVCX
Posada Carriles: Another Bin Laden of the Cuban exile
One of the bloodiest terrorists of the Cuban exile. This was another CIA agent that was trained in sabotage and the use of bombs This terrorist was an intimate friend of Jorge Mas Canosa, the now deceased and former head of the Cuban American National Foundation (CANF). Further evidence of this terrorist ties with the CANF can be found in an article published by the NY Times; an article which describes the close ties of both and how the CANF financed Posada’s terrorist activities in Central America.M,MM
Humberto Matos
As he was a small landowner, and like some of the bourgeoisie in Cuba, he joined the revolution only to rebel after it went against his own interests. He was promoted to Major in the revolutionary army and on October of 1959, accusing the government of being communist, he rebelled. Days before his rebellion a plan directed by then Dominican dictator Trujillo to overthrow the new government had been discovered and defeated. One of the mercenaries implicated in this plot had in his possession documents implicating Matos.
In 1979, after serving 20 years in prison for conspiracy he immigrates to Costa Rica; and becomes, according to a newspaperman Luis Martinez a defender of Cuban dictator Batista, a CIA agent.
The following year the US government thru different agencies gives Matos 200,000 dollars to create the Independent and Democratic Cuba organization (CID), with the aim of spreading anti Cuban propaganda among political parties and government in all continents. He was highly touted as Washington constantly played out the fact that he had been a Major in the revolutionary army and that he had been a political prisoner.
In 1981, with the aid of the Reagan administration he launches a radio station named the Voice of CID. This station like all the stations of this genre, is financed by Washington and the extreme right wing in Miami. This station which can be heard in Cuba as well as the US, has as it’s principal objective, like all of the exile radio stations, to bombard the airwaves with misinformation and slander on issues concerning the island, in addition to inciting the people of Cuba to rebel against the Socialist government. It is important to note that there are 20 stations continuously bombarding the island with anti Cuban propaganda; propaganda that in 1997 for example reached a record 700,000 hours. It must be added that all of these transmission have been deemed illegal by international broadcasting organizations and watch groups and that Washington has cared very little about worldwide opinions on this subject.
When Bill Clinton signed another anti-Cuban bill named the Helms Burton Act there was Mr. Matos celebrating it. He was elated by a provision of the legislation which apportioned 4 to 8 millions of dollars to stimulate the Cuban armed forces to betray their country. It seems that he does not care that this money is being used to buy souls and that this huge sum of money has to be paid with political favors. Further evidence of Matos moral character are the comments he has made to president Aznar of Spain and officials of Aznar’s right wing party, Partido Popular, that, “the fall of Castro would be best for you, the Europeans and the Americans.” Mr. Matos comments seems as though a head of a mafia was talking about redistributing the wealth.
As a good anexionist ( a Cuban-American who believes that living under the boots of the US is the greatest thing ever ) he has stated in numerous occasions that the US is the greatest country on the planet and that it’s institutions are the best in the world (like Enron?); and that it affords an opportunity to all those who are willing to make an effort. This is of course to be expected as Uncle Sam has been more than generous with the exile “leaders”, giving them a free hand and rewarding them with fabulous perks.
It seems as though this axenionist is living in Disneyland as he does not see that more and more people despite an economic boom are falling behind; the standard of living is falling for the majority of the people. And that in real terms the opportunity for all does not exist, for there still exists discrimination against Hispanics and Blacks.
Note from the author: I had the opportunity to meet a member of Humberto Matos organization, as a friend of mine brought him over to my house. To entertain him I showed him a video of the Cuban Musical group Los Van Van playing in a theater in Havana. Shortly thereafter, he started to make some rather racist remarks about the members of Van Van. Referring to the fact that most of the members of the Van Van were blacks or mulattos, he stated, “even if you dress them in silk, they are still monkeys”. He also went on to rave that the people in the audience had holes in their shoes and pants with holes – this as the Cuban cameras showed the people dancing in the auditorium. Out of decency and as I was a not as yet a militant defender of the Cuban revolution I did not send him to hell. I had the opportunity to see this person a few times more over the course of time and I came to realize what a piece of scum he was. After initially passing himself of as victim of the Castro regime, a political prisoner, I learned from his own lips the real truth: he was a truck driver who used to steal milk destined to children, furthermore he was imprisoned for having homemade bombs. After declaring himself a political prisoner (he was more a terrorist) he was given political asylum by the US.
I will never forget how many times he took out a card showing himself to be a member of Mato’s organization CID, and how many times I thought if he characterizes the type of people that belong to this exile organization, then this group like most exile groups are made up of human scum.
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Eloy Gutierrez Menoyo
This Spaniard was a leader of the troops of the Cuban revolution, only to later rebel against it. While Dominican dictator Trujillo was planning an attack against the new government Menoyo was a double agent.
In 1961 after the US gives him political he founds the terrorist organization Alpha 66.
In 1965 after entering Cuba illegally he is captured in Cuba while trying to organize counterrevolutionary groups inside the island. After being released in 1986 he returns to the US.
Recently founded an organization in Miami named Cubans for Change; a group whose platform expresses a necessity for a dialogue between the Cuban government and the Cuban exile. It seems that he has taken this position so as to insure a new niche for his organization. He has participated by invitation of the Cuban government in conferences involving political discussions and in themes relating to immigration.
To his credit Menoyo returned to Cuba in 2003 and decided to stay. The word on the street is that he went back because he figures that he will be there should there be a regime change.
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Carlos Alberto Montaner
In 1961 he was imprisoned for being a member of a terrorist organization financed by the CIA. After escaping from jail he asks and receives political asylum from the US ( his escape and his asylum could only have come from the fact that he was working for the CIA).
In 1970 he moves to Spain and founds Playor Press. A press specializing in counterrevolutionary books; books which try to demonize Cuba and it’s leaders. He also creates Firmas News. A news service whose main purpose is to divulge anti Cuban propaganda to news agencies in Europe and America. In Spain he has huge offices fully equipped and fully staffed working 24 hours a day. Where does he get the financing? Many people say that he gets the resources from the CIA and Washington. It has been said that Montaner helped the terrorist Juan Felipe de la Cruz gain entry into Spain. It must be added that this terrorist died when a bomb he was making exploded.
During the 80’s he organized many conferences and congresses in Europe and Latin America, many of them financed by the National Endowment for Democracy. And as is the case of many exile groups to get a piece of the action and to receive perks from the CIA and Washington and to make it appear as dissidents groups are larger than they really are, in 1990 Montaner founded the Cuban Liberal Union, a group that later became affiliated with counterrevolutionary right wing groups in Miami, among them Cuban Democratic Platform. In midst of all this inside of Cuba he was able to recruit Elizardo Sánchez and other so called dissidents to form Cuban Democratic Arrangement. Although he has been presented as a moderate, as some one who insists on a peaceful transition to a “democracy”, he is an extremist, who is very vindictive and intolerant in his writings, specially when it comes to Cuba’s Socialist government and it’s leaders. He along with other right wing exiles have repeatedly stated that Fidel Castro must be assassinated and that should they be victorious there will take reprisals against all those who have invested in the island.
His writings show a deep admiration for neo-liberal policies and Vargas Llosa, a Peruvian writer, and extreme right winger. Both wrote a book describing as idiots all those who have fought for social justice, specially leftists and progressive people.
What does Montaner think of nearly two decades of neo-liberal policies in light of the collapse of Argentina? He still rants about how capitalism is the best thing there is and how neo-liberal policies should be a model for the planet.
He is one of the major spokesman for the Cuban exile, his editorials appearing often in the such Hispanic newspapers as, El Nuevo Herald, El Diario de Las Americas and El Hoy, newspapers that are controlled by the Cuban exile right wing exile. His writings clearly shows his right wing tendencies and his hate not only for President Fidel Castro but the Cuban people as well – as he is constantly slandering the people of the island.
Although he proclaims himself to be a liberal he supports the agendas of the right and the interests of the US empire. His articles and commentaries, as is the case with most of the writings of the Cuban exile reflect a totally pro US stance in which Latin American countries should adhere to their neo-colonial status with the exploiter. In a recent article written in a Spanish paper he describes the US as benevolent. It seems as though this stooge has conveniently forgotten the brutal history of the US empire with respect to the nations of Latin America, it’s bloody invasions, it’s plots against freely elected governments, it’s support of and accommodations with bloody tyrants and corrupt officials; all of this costing the lives of hundreds of thousands of men, women and children. Montaner must have also forgotten that the US is an inhumane, racist and violent society, in which the police can shoot an innocent man 41 times with totak impunity of the law.
For many years Montaner has had the support of the right wing Popular Party of Spain and José María Aznar, the current president of Spain. The romance between these two is so great that Aznar wrote a prologue in one of Montaner’s books.
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Otto Reich
THROUGHOUT their lives they have pursued their personal interests, within the CIA and its networks, displaying total disdain for their adopted country, which they systematically discredit and deceive. They form the most dangerous axis that has ever penetrated the United States of America, the Axis of Deceit, and one of the many symptoms of a cancer which is slowly but surely leading that country down the road to perdition.
One of them works in the White House. He is Otto Reich, currently assistant secretary of state for Western Hemisphere affairs – in other words, the U.S. government’s Number One man in Latin America.
The second is “Dr. Death” Orlando Bosch, the “capo” of the most fanatical terrorist group in Miami and the “godfather” of the Commando of United Revolutionary Organizations (CORU), the extremist secret society responsible for more than 50 murders in the United States, Cuba and other nations. He was “liberated” from a Venezuelan jail and absolved thanks to Number One.
The third, Luis Posada Carriles, is now in a Panamanian prison along with four accomplices in murder. He is another former “godfather” of CORU and guilty of innumerable attacks, was once the head of Venezuela’s political police, is a proven drug trafficker involved in the Iran-Contra scandal and a buddy of all the Miami and Central American mafiosos, and he now awaits his release – announced by his dru
31 de marzo de 2008
EEUU dará menos ayuda a los grupos de Miami
PABLO BACHELET / The Miami Herald
WASHINGTON
El gobierno de Bush está revisando marcadamente los controversiales subsidios para la democracia en Cuba, restringiendo los fondos de los grupos anticastristas en Miami y dirigiendo más recursos hacia organizaciones internacionales que no están en Estados Unidos, según indican algunos funcionarios familiarizados con esos programas.
La nueva orientación, que ha causado incertidumbre entre muchos beneficiarios de subsidios del sur de la Florida, viene mientras el Departamento de Estado y la Agencia de Desarrollo Internacional de EEUU se preparan para otorgarle $47.5 millones en subsidios a las organizaciones para la democracia cubana, o más del triple de los niveles del 2007.
El objetivo del dinero es promover una transición a la democracia en Cuba, pero desde hace mucho se ha alegado que siempre se ha favorecido a más cubanoamericanos en Miami que a personas en la isla. El viernes, un ayudante de la Casa Blanca renunció en medio de alegaciones de que el dinero de programas pro democracia en Cuba se ha utilizado indebidamente.
Los fondos ahora se concederán mediante licitación competitiva, y los funcionarios están instando a grupos de Latinoamérica y Europa Oriental. El ejecutivo de EEUU está especialmente ansioso de recibir propuestas que sirvan para suministrarles tecnologías de comunicación a activistas en Cuba. Se dice que el acceso a la internet, los videos de YouTube y los mensajes de texto en teléfonos celulares han impulsado los movimientos de desafío a los gobiernos en lugares tales como Birmania y el Tíbet.
El acceso a esas tecnologías está restringido por el gobierno comunista de Cuba, aunque el viernes La Habana anunció que se facilitaría más la adquisición de teléfonos celulares. El gobierno ya había dicho anteriormente que se les venderían computadoras a todos los cubanos.
“No estamos excluyendo a nadie del proceso”, dijo José Cárdenas, el viceadministrador adjunto para Cuba y Sudamérica de USAID (US Agency for International Development), “pero con muchísimos más recursos, decididamente queremos nuevos participantes en el programa.
“Nos gustaría ver más grupos e individuos de lo que fue el bloque de Europa Oriental”, siguió diciendo, “y más intereses y actividades privadas de Latinoamérica”.
Hasta ahora, la mayor parte de los subsidios han ido a grupos de Miami y hay detractores que dicen que con ese dinero se aplacaba a los grupos cubanoamericanos, pero se hacía poco por llevar la democracia a Cuba. La Habana normalmente se refiere a los cubanos que reciben ayuda de esos programas en EEUU como “mercenarios del imperio”.
Un informe del Tribunal de Cuentas (GAO) de noviembre del 2006 criticó a USAID por haber suministrado subsidios de $74 millones desde 1996 sin licitación competitiva. La GAO encontró algunos ejemplos de abusos,incluyendo el uso de subsidios para comprar juegos de computadoras y suéteres de cachemira.
Y el viernes, la Casa Blanca anunció que Felipe Sixto, el funcionario de mayor conexión con la comunidad cubanoamericana en la Casa Blanca, renunció por alegaciones de que él tal vez obtuvo indebidamente cientos de miles de dólares provenientes de subsidios en un empleo anterior con la organización Centro Para Una Cuba Libre, con base en Washington.
Pero los que respaldan el programa dicen que el informe del GAO también halló que algunos programas llevaron grandes cantidades de equipos de comunicación y otros suministros a disidentes de la isla. El aumento de recursos para subsidios pro democracia en Cuba fue aprobado fácilmente por el Congreso el año pasado.
Algunos funcionarios dicen que las organizaciones de Miami ahora tendrán que demostrar que pueden suministrar entrenamiento, equipos y otros recursos a grupos en la isla. “Queremos ver un impacto en Cuba, no en alguna parte de EEUU”, dijo un funcionario que ayudó a esbozar las nuevas pautas y accedió a hablar francamente, siempre que no se diera su nombre.
El concepto es de capacitar a los cubanos para operar independientemente del sistema comunista, que lo controla todo, desde el acceso a los medios de transmisión hasta los empleos. Habiéndose retirado Fidel Castro, su hermano y sucesor Raúl ha dado algunos tímidos pasos hacia el debate y las reformas, aunque Cárdenas dice que el debate sigue estando “severamente controlado” por el gobierno.
El gobierno de EEUU dice que organizaciones de Washington tales como Freedom House, el International Republican Institute (IRI) y el National Endowment for Democracy (NED) también se verán favorecidas por las nuevas normas, porque han tenido desde hace mucho tiempo vínculos con grupos pro democráticos que no están en EEUU y que este gobierno quiere ahora que se movilicen a favor de Cuba.
Ya algunos grupos tales como People In Need (Pueblos Necesitados), una agrupación checa, han suministrado algunos fondos.
A los activistas europeos y latinoamericanos les resulta más fácil entrar y circular en Cuba que a los ciudadanos de EEUU.
Paul Fagan, el jefe de programas latinoamericanos de IRI, dice que su grupo frecuentemente usa a latinoamericanos para efectuar seminarios de entrenamiento para activistas cubanos, y está gestionando el establecimiento de programas para Cuba en estados bálticos como Latvia.
Cuando le preguntaron cómo emplearía dinero extra, Fagan dijo: “No tengo idea, es un proceso abierto. Estamos licitando como los demás”.
Cárdenas dice que espera que los recursos adicionales estén disponibles en las próximas semanas una vez que se le haya notificado al Congreso cómo se asignarán los recursos.
El ejecutivo ya empezó a promover los subsidios fuera de EEUU.
Elaine Grigsby, que administra los programas de Cuba en USAID, fue a Buenos Aires esta semana para tomar parte en una conferencia sobre la democracia. Este mes. Grigsby y el viceadministrador de USAID para Latinoamérica Paul Bonicelli estuvieron en Hungría y en Eslovenia.
El cambio de orientación ha causado incertidumbre entre personas y entidades que reciben subsidios en Miami, especialmente académicos que no tienen trato directo con grupos de la sociedad civil de Cuba.
Jaime Suchlicki dice que seguirá operando su Proyecto de Transición Cubana (CTP), una unidad del Instituto de Estudios Cubanos y Cubanoamericanos de la Universidad de Miami (UM) sin importar lo que haga el gobierno de EEUU.
“El CTP no se acabará, lo mismo si recibimos fondos que si no”, dice Suchlicki, que es historiador y ha dirigido el instituto durante mucho tiempo. “Es demasiado importante para acabarse. Esperemos recibir algún dinero del gobierno”.
USAID suministraba $500,000 anualmente para costear a siete analistas con un enfoque en la Cuba poscastrista. A fines del año pasado, USAID dijo que el programa no se iba a renovar, aunque Suchlicki planea solicitar de nuevo subsidios del gobierno este año.
Frank Calzón, jefe del Center for a Free Cuba, dice que su programa de USAID terminó recientemente, pero que él tenía suficientes fondos para mantenerse en funciones hasta que las nuevas pautas se establezcan claramente. El centro brinda asistencia y equipos a disidentes de la isla, y trabaja con organizaciones internacionales de derechos humanos y gobiernos extranjeros para mejorar el conocimiento de los abusos que se cometen en Cuba.
Calzón dice que los programas están evolucionando con el tiempo.
“Hay otros medios, otros instrumentos”, dice. “Ahora hay personas en Europa y en Latinoamérica que quieren ayudar al pueblo cubano enviándoles libros y yendo a la isla”.
31 de marzo de 2008
EEUU dará menos ayuda a los grupos de Miami
PABLO BACHELET / The Miami Herald
WASHINGTON
El gobierno de Bush está revisando marcadamente los controversiales subsidios para la democracia en Cuba, restringiendo los fondos de los grupos anticastristas en Miami y dirigiendo más recursos hacia organizaciones internacionales que no están en Estados Unidos, según indican algunos funcionarios familiarizados con esos programas.
La nueva orientación, que ha causado incertidumbre entre muchos beneficiarios de subsidios del sur de la Florida, viene mientras el Departamento de Estado y la Agencia de Desarrollo Internacional de EEUU se preparan para otorgarle $47.5 millones en subsidios a las organizaciones para la democracia cubana, o más del triple de los niveles del 2007.
El objetivo del dinero es promover una transición a la democracia en Cuba, pero desde hace mucho se ha alegado que siempre se ha favorecido a más cubanoamericanos en Miami que a personas en la isla. El viernes, un ayudante de la Casa Blanca renunció en medio de alegaciones de que el dinero de programas pro democracia en Cuba se ha utilizado indebidamente.
Los fondos ahora se concederán mediante licitación competitiva, y los funcionarios están instando a grupos de Latinoamérica y Europa Oriental. El ejecutivo de EEUU está especialmente ansioso de recibir propuestas que sirvan para suministrarles tecnologías de comunicación a activistas en Cuba. Se dice que el acceso a la internet, los videos de YouTube y los mensajes de texto en teléfonos celulares han impulsado los movimientos de desafío a los gobiernos en lugares tales como Birmania y el Tíbet.
El acceso a esas tecnologías está restringido por el gobierno comunista de Cuba, aunque el viernes La Habana anunció que se facilitaría más la adquisición de teléfonos celulares. El gobierno ya había dicho anteriormente que se les venderían computadoras a todos los cubanos.
“No estamos excluyendo a nadie del proceso”, dijo José Cárdenas, el viceadministrador adjunto para Cuba y Sudamérica de USAID (US Agency for International Development), “pero con muchísimos más recursos, decididamente queremos nuevos participantes en el programa.
“Nos gustaría ver más grupos e individuos de lo que fue el bloque de Europa Oriental”, siguió diciendo, “y más intereses y actividades privadas de Latinoamérica”.
Hasta ahora, la mayor parte de los subsidios han ido a grupos de Miami y hay detractores que dicen que con ese dinero se aplacaba a los grupos cubanoamericanos, pero se hacía poco por llevar la democracia a Cuba. La Habana normalmente se refiere a los cubanos que reciben ayuda de esos programas en EEUU como “mercenarios del imperio”.
Un informe del Tribunal de Cuentas (GAO) de noviembre del 2006 criticó a USAID por haber suministrado subsidios de $74 millones desde 1996 sin licitación competitiva. La GAO encontró algunos ejemplos de abusos,incluyendo el uso de subsidios para comprar juegos de computadoras y suéteres de cachemira.
Y el viernes, la Casa Blanca anunció que Felipe Sixto, el funcionario de mayor conexión con la comunidad cubanoamericana en la Casa Blanca, renunció por alegaciones de que él tal vez obtuvo indebidamente cientos de miles de dólares provenientes de subsidios en un empleo anterior con la organización Centro Para Una Cuba Libre, con base en Washington.
Pero los que respaldan el programa dicen que el informe del GAO también halló que algunos programas llevaron grandes cantidades de equipos de comunicación y otros suministros a disidentes de la isla. El aumento de recursos para subsidios pro democracia en Cuba fue aprobado fácilmente por el Congreso el año pasado.
Algunos funcionarios dicen que las organizaciones de Miami ahora tendrán que demostrar que pueden suministrar entrenamiento, equipos y otros recursos a grupos en la isla. “Queremos ver un impacto en Cuba, no en alguna parte de EEUU”, dijo un funcionario que ayudó a esbozar las nuevas pautas y accedió a hablar francamente, siempre que no se diera su nombre.
El concepto es de capacitar a los cubanos para operar independientemente del sistema comunista, que lo controla todo, desde el acceso a los medios de transmisión hasta los empleos. Habiéndose retirado Fidel Castro, su hermano y sucesor Raúl ha dado algunos tímidos pasos hacia el debate y las reformas, aunque Cárdenas dice que el debate sigue estando “severamente controlado” por el gobierno.
El gobierno de EEUU dice que organizaciones de Washington tales como Freedom House, el International Republican Institute (IRI) y el National Endowment for Democracy (NED) también se verán favorecidas por las nuevas normas, porque han tenido desde hace mucho tiempo vínculos con grupos pro democráticos que no están en EEUU y que este gobierno quiere ahora que se movilicen a favor de Cuba.
Ya algunos grupos tales como People In Need (Pueblos Necesitados), una agrupación checa, han suministrado algunos fondos.
A los activistas europeos y latinoamericanos les resulta más fácil entrar y circular en Cuba que a los ciudadanos de EEUU.
Paul Fagan, el jefe de programas latinoamericanos de IRI, dice que su grupo frecuentemente usa a latinoamericanos para efectuar seminarios de entrenamiento para activistas cubanos, y está gestionando el establecimiento de programas para Cuba en estados bálticos como Latvia.
Cuando le preguntaron cómo emplearía dinero extra, Fagan dijo: “No tengo idea, es un proceso abierto. Estamos licitando como los demás”.
Cárdenas dice que espera que los recursos adicionales estén disponibles en las próximas semanas una vez que se le haya notificado al Congreso cómo se asignarán los recursos.
El ejecutivo ya empezó a promover los subsidios fuera de EEUU.
Elaine Grigsby, que administra los programas de Cuba en USAID, fue a Buenos Aires esta semana para tomar parte en una conferencia sobre la democracia. Este mes. Grigsby y el viceadministrador de USAID para Latinoamérica Paul Bonicelli estuvieron en Hungría y en Eslovenia.
El cambio de orientación ha causado incertidumbre entre personas y entidades que reciben subsidios en Miami, especialmente académicos que no tienen trato directo con grupos de la sociedad civil de Cuba.
Jaime Suchlicki dice que seguirá operando su Proyecto de Transición Cubana (CTP), una unidad del Instituto de Estudios Cubanos y Cubanoamericanos de la Universidad de Miami (UM) sin importar lo que haga el gobierno de EEUU.
“El CTP no se acabará, lo mismo si recibimos fondos que si no”, dice Suchlicki, que es historiador y ha dirigido el instituto durante mucho tiempo. “Es demasiado importante para acabarse. Esperemos recibir algún dinero del gobierno”.
USAID suministraba $500,000 anualmente para costear a siete analistas con un enfoque en la Cuba poscastrista. A fines del año pasado, USAID dijo que el programa no se iba a renovar, aunque Suchlicki planea solicitar de nuevo subsidios del gobierno este año.
Frank Calzón, jefe del Center for a Free Cuba, dice que su programa de USAID terminó recientemente, pero que él tenía suficientes fondos para mantenerse en funciones hasta que las nuevas pautas se establezcan claramente. El centro brinda asistencia y equipos a disidentes de la isla, y trabaja con organizaciones internacionales de derechos humanos y gobiernos extranjeros para mejorar el conocimiento de los abusos que se cometen en Cuba.
Calzón dice que los programas están evolucionando con el tiempo.
“Hay otros medios, otros instrumentos”, dice. “Ahora hay personas en Europa y en Latinoamérica que quieren ayudar al pueblo cubano enviándoles libros y yendo a la isla”.
.-.-.
31 de marzo de 2008
EEUU dará menos ayuda a los grupos de Miami
PABLO BACHELET / The Miami Herald
WASHINGTON
El gobierno de Bush está revisando marcadamente los controversiales subsidios para la democracia en Cuba, restringiendo los fondos de los grupos anticastristas en Miami y dirigiendo más recursos hacia organizaciones internacionales que no están en Estados Unidos, según indican algunos funcionarios familiarizados con esos programas.
La nueva orientación, que ha causado incertidumbre entre muchos beneficiarios de subsidios del sur de la Florida, viene mientras el Departamento de Estado y la Agencia de Desarrollo Internacional de EEUU se preparan para otorgarle $47.5 millones en subsidios a las organizaciones para la democracia cubana, o más del triple de los niveles del 2007.
El objetivo del dinero es promover una transición a la democracia en Cuba, pero desde hace mucho se ha alegado que siempre se ha favorecido a más cubanoamericanos en Miami que a personas en la isla. El viernes, un ayudante de la Casa Blanca renunció en medio de alegaciones de que el dinero de programas pro democracia en Cuba se ha utilizado indebidamente.
Los fondos ahora se concederán mediante licitación competitiva, y los funcionarios están instando a grupos de Latinoamérica y Europa Oriental. El ejecutivo de EEUU está especialmente ansioso de recibir propuestas que sirvan para suministrarles tecnologías de comunicación a activistas en Cuba. Se dice que el acceso a la internet, los videos de YouTube y los mensajes de texto en teléfonos celulares han impulsado los movimientos de desafío a los gobiernos en lugares tales como Birmania y el Tíbet.
El acceso a esas tecnologías está restringido por el gobierno comunista de Cuba, aunque el viernes La Habana anunció que se facilitaría más la adquisición de teléfonos celulares. El gobierno ya había dicho anteriormente que se les venderían computadoras a todos los cubanos.
“No estamos excluyendo a nadie del proceso”, dijo José Cárdenas, el viceadministrador adjunto para Cuba y Sudamérica de USAID (US Agency for International Development), “pero con muchísimos más recursos, decididamente queremos nuevos participantes en el programa.
“Nos gustaría ver más grupos e individuos de lo que fue el bloque de Europa Oriental”, siguió diciendo, “y más intereses y actividades privadas de Latinoamérica”.
Hasta ahora, la mayor parte de los subsidios han ido a grupos de Miami y hay detractores que dicen que con ese dinero se aplacaba a los grupos cubanoamericanos, pero se hacía poco por llevar la democracia a Cuba. La Habana normalmente se refiere a los cubanos que reciben ayuda de esos programas en EEUU como “mercenarios del imperio”.
Un informe del Tribunal de Cuentas (GAO) de noviembre del 2006 criticó a USAID por haber suministrado subsidios de $74 millones desde 1996 sin licitación competitiva. La GAO encontró algunos ejemplos de abusos,incluyendo el uso de subsidios para comprar juegos de computadoras y suéteres de cachemira.
Y el viernes, la Casa Blanca anunció que Felipe Sixto, el funcionario de mayor conexión con la comunidad cubanoamericana en la Casa Blanca, renunció por alegaciones de que él tal vez obtuvo indebidamente cientos de miles de dólares provenientes de subsidios en un empleo anterior con la organización Centro Para Una Cuba Libre, con base en Washington.
Pero los que respaldan el programa dicen que el informe del GAO también halló que algunos programas llevaron grandes cantidades de equipos de comunicación y otros suministros a disidentes de la isla. El aumento de recursos para subsidios pro democracia en Cuba fue aprobado fácilmente por el Congreso el año pasado.
Algunos funcionarios dicen que las organizaciones de Miami ahora tendrán que demostrar que pueden suministrar entrenamiento, equipos y otros recursos a grupos en la isla. “Queremos ver un impacto en Cuba, no en alguna parte de EEUU”, dijo un funcionario que ayudó a esbozar las nuevas pautas y accedió a hablar francamente, siempre que no se diera su nombre.
El concepto es de capacitar a los cubanos para operar independientemente del sistema comunista, que lo controla todo, desde el acceso a los medios de transmisión hasta los empleos. Habiéndose retirado Fidel Castro, su hermano y sucesor Raúl ha dado algunos tímidos pasos hacia el debate y las reformas, aunque Cárdenas dice que el debate sigue estando “severamente controlado” por el gobierno.
El gobierno de EEUU dice que organizaciones de Washington tales como Freedom House, el International Republican Institute (IRI) y el National Endowment for Democracy (NED) también se verán favorecidas por las nuevas normas, porque han tenido desde hace mucho tiempo vínculos con grupos pro democráticos que no están en EEUU y que este gobierno quiere ahora que se movilicen a favor de Cuba.
Ya algunos grupos tales como People In Need (Pueblos Necesitados), una agrupación checa, han suministrado algunos fondos.
A los activistas europeos y latinoamericanos les resulta más fácil entrar y circular en Cuba que a los ciudadanos de EEUU.
Paul Fagan, el jefe de programas latinoamericanos de IRI, dice que su grupo frecuentemente usa a latinoamericanos para efectuar seminarios de entrenamiento para activistas cubanos, y está gestionando el establecimiento de programas para Cuba en estados bálticos como Latvia.
Cuando le preguntaron cómo emplearía dinero extra, Fagan dijo: “No tengo idea, es un proceso abierto. Estamos licitando como los demás”.
Cárdenas dice que espera que los recursos adicionales estén disponibles en las próximas semanas una vez que se le haya notificado al Congreso cómo se asignarán los recursos.
El ejecutivo ya empezó a promover los subsidios fuera de EEUU.
Elaine Grigsby, que administra los programas de Cuba en USAID, fue a Buenos Aires esta semana para tomar parte en una conferencia sobre la democracia. Este mes. Grigsby y el viceadministrador de USAID para Latinoamérica Paul Bonicelli estuvieron en Hungría y en Eslovenia.
El cambio de orientación ha causado incertidumbre entre personas y entidades que reciben subsidios en Miami, especialmente académicos que no tienen trato directo con grupos de la sociedad civil de Cuba.
Jaime Suchlicki dice que seguirá operando su Proyecto de Transición Cubana (CTP), una unidad del Instituto de Estudios Cubanos y Cubanoamericanos de la Universidad de Miami (UM) sin importar lo que haga el gobierno de EEUU.
“El CTP no se acabará, lo mismo si recibimos fondos que si no”, dice Suchlicki, que es historiador y ha dirigido el instituto durante mucho tiempo. “Es demasiado importante para acabarse. Esperemos recibir algún dinero del gobierno”.
USAID suministraba $500,000 anualmente para costear a siete analistas con un enfoque en la Cuba poscastrista. A fines del año pasado, USAID dijo que el programa no se iba a renovar, aunque Suchlicki planea solicitar de nuevo subsidios del gobierno este año.
Frank Calzón, jefe del Center for a Free Cuba, dice que su programa de USAID terminó recientemente, pero que él tenía suficientes fondos para mantenerse en funciones hasta que las nuevas pautas se establezcan claramente. El centro brinda asistencia y equipos a disidentes de la isla, y trabaja con organizaciones internacionales de derechos humanos y gobiernos extranjeros para mejorar el conocimiento de los abusos que se cometen en Cuba.
Calzón dice que los programas están evolucionando con el tiempo.
“Hay otros medios, otros instrumentos”, dice. “Ahora hay personas en Europa y en Latinoamérica que quieren ayudar al pueblo cubano enviándoles libros y yendo a la isla”.-.-
31 de marzo de 2008
EEUU dará menos ayuda a los grupos de Miami
PABLO BACHELET / The Miami Herald
WASHINGTON
El gobierno de Bush está revisando marcadamente los controversiales subsidios para la democracia en Cuba, restringiendo los fondos de los grupos anticastristas en Miami y dirigiendo más recursos hacia organizaciones internacionales que no están en Estados Unidos, según indican algunos funcionarios familiarizados con esos programas.
La nueva orientación, que ha causado incertidumbre entre muchos beneficiarios de subsidios del sur de la Florida, viene mientras el Departamento de Estado y la Agencia de Desarrollo Internacional de EEUU se preparan para otorgarle $47.5 millones en subsidios a las organizaciones para la democracia cubana, o más del triple de los niveles del 2007.
El objetivo del dinero es promover una transición a la democracia en Cuba, pero desde hace mucho se ha alegado que siempre se ha favorecido a más cubanoamericanos en Miami que a personas en la isla. El viernes, un ayudante de la Casa Blanca renunció en medio de alegaciones de que el dinero de programas pro democracia en Cuba se ha utilizado indebidamente.
Los fondos ahora se concederán mediante licitación competitiva, y los funcionarios están instando a grupos de Latinoamérica y Europa Oriental. El ejecutivo de EEUU está especialmente ansioso de recibir propuestas que sirvan para suministrarles tecnologías de comunicación a activistas en Cuba. Se dice que el acceso a la internet, los videos de YouTube y los mensajes de texto en teléfonos celulares han impulsado los movimientos de desafío a los gobiernos en lugares tales como Birmania y el Tíbet.
El acceso a esas tecnologías está restringido por el gobierno comunista de Cuba, aunque el viernes La Habana anunció que se facilitaría más la adquisición de teléfonos celulares. El gobierno ya había dicho anteriormente que se les venderían computadoras a todos los cubanos.
“No estamos excluyendo a nadie del proceso”, dijo José Cárdenas, el viceadministrador adjunto para Cuba y Sudamérica de USAID (US Agency for International Development), “pero con muchísimos más recursos, decididamente queremos nuevos participantes en el programa.
“Nos gustaría ver más grupos e individuos de lo que fue el bloque de Europa Oriental”, siguió diciendo, “y más intereses y actividades privadas de Latinoamérica”.
Hasta ahora, la mayor parte de los subsidios han ido a grupos de Miami y hay detractores que dicen que con ese dinero se aplacaba a los grupos cubanoamericanos, pero se hacía poco por llevar la democracia a Cuba. La Habana normalmente se refiere a los cubanos que reciben ayuda de esos programas en EEUU como “mercenarios del imperio”.
Un informe del Tribunal de Cuentas (GAO) de noviembre del 2006 criticó a USAID por haber suministrado subsidios de $74 millones desde 1996 sin licitación competitiva. La GAO encontró algunos ejemplos de abusos,incluyendo el uso de subsidios para comprar juegos de computadoras y suéteres de cachemira.
Y el viernes, la Casa Blanca anunció que Felipe Sixto, el funcionario de mayor conexión con la comunidad cubanoamericana en la Casa Blanca, renunció por alegaciones de que él tal vez obtuvo indebidamente cientos de miles de dólares provenientes de subsidios en un empleo anterior con la organización Centro Para Una Cuba Libre, con base en Washington.
Pero los que respaldan el programa dicen que el informe del GAO también halló que algunos programas llevaron grandes cantidades de equipos de comunicación y otros suministros a disidentes de la isla. El aumento de recursos para subsidios pro democracia en Cuba fue aprobado fácilmente por el Congreso el año pasado.
Algunos funcionarios dicen que las organizaciones de Miami ahora tendrán que demostrar que pueden suministrar entrenamiento, equipos y otros recursos a grupos en la isla. “Queremos ver un impacto en Cuba, no en alguna parte de EEUU”, dijo un funcionario que ayudó a esbozar las nuevas pautas y accedió a hablar francamente, siempre que no se diera su nombre.
El concepto es de capacitar a los cubanos para operar independientemente del sistema comunista, que lo controla todo, desde el acceso a los medios de transmisión hasta los empleos. Habiéndose retirado Fidel Castro, su hermano y sucesor Raúl ha dado algunos tímidos pasos hacia el debate y las reformas, aunque Cárdenas dice que el debate sigue estando “severamente controlado” por el gobierno.
El gobierno de EEUU dice que organizaciones de Washington tales como Freedom House, el International Republican Institute (IRI) y el National Endowment for Democracy (NED) también se verán favorecidas por las nuevas normas, porque han tenido desde hace mucho tiempo vínculos con grupos pro democráticos que no están en EEUU y que este gobierno quiere ahora que se movilicen a favor de Cuba.
Ya algunos grupos tales como People In Need (Pueblos Necesitados), una agrupación checa, han suministrado algunos fondos.
A los activistas europeos y latinoamericanos les resulta más fácil entrar y circular en Cuba que a los ciudadanos de EEUU.
Paul Fagan, el jefe de programas latinoamericanos de IRI, dice que su grupo frecuentemente usa a latinoamericanos para efectuar seminarios de entrenamiento para activistas cubanos, y está gestionando el establecimiento de programas para Cuba en estados bálticos como Latvia.
Cuando le preguntaron cómo emplearía dinero extra, Fagan dijo: “No tengo idea, es un proceso abierto. Estamos licitando como los demás”.
Cárdenas dice que espera que los recursos adicionales estén disponibles en las próximas semanas una vez que se le haya notificado al Congreso cómo se asignarán los recursos.
El ejecutivo ya empezó a promover los subsidios fuera de EEUU.
Elaine Grigsby, que administra los programas de Cuba en USAID, fue a Buenos Aires esta semana para tomar parte en una conferencia sobre la democracia. Este mes. Grigsby y el viceadministrador de USAID para Latinoamérica Paul Bonicelli estuvieron en Hungría y en Eslovenia.
El cambio de orientación ha causado incertidumbre entre personas y entidades que reciben subsidios en Miami, especialmente académicos que no tienen trato directo con grupos de la sociedad civil de Cuba.
Jaime Suchlicki dice que seguirá operando su Proyecto de Transición Cubana (CTP), una unidad del Instituto de Estudios Cubanos y Cubanoamericanos de la Universidad de Miami (UM) sin importar lo que haga el gobierno de EEUU.
“El CTP no se acabará, lo mismo si recibimos fondos que si no”, dice Suchlicki, que es historiador y ha dirigido el instituto durante mucho tiempo. “Es demasiado importante para acabarse. Esperemos recibir algún dinero del gobierno”.
USAID suministraba $500,000 anualmente para costear a siete analistas con un enfoque en la Cuba poscastrista. A fines del año pasado, USAID dijo que el programa no se iba a renovar, aunque Suchlicki planea solicitar de nuevo subsidios del gobierno este año.
Frank Calzón, jefe del Center for a Free Cuba, dice que su programa de USAID terminó recientemente, pero que él tenía suficientes fondos para mantenerse en funciones hasta que las nuevas pautas se establezcan claramente. El centro brinda asistencia y equipos a disidentes de la isla, y trabaja con organizaciones internacionales de derechos humanos y gobiernos extranjeros para mejorar el conocimiento de los abusos que se cometen en Cuba.
Calzón dice que los programas están evolucionando con el tiempo.
“Hay otros medios, otros instrumentos”, dice. “Ahora hay personas en Europa y en Latinoamérica que quieren ayudar al pueblo cubano enviándoles libros y yendo a la isla”.
,,,,,
31 de marzo de 2008
EEUU dará menos ayuda a los grupos de Miami
PABLO BACHELET / The Miami Herald
WASHINGTON
El gobierno de Bush está revisando marcadamente los controversiales subsidios para la democracia en Cuba, restringiendo los fondos de los grupos anticastristas en Miami y dirigiendo más recursos hacia organizaciones internacionales que no están en Estados Unidos, según indican algunos funcionarios familiarizados con esos programas.
La nueva orientación, que ha causado incertidumbre entre muchos beneficiarios de subsidios del sur de la Florida, viene mientras el Departamento de Estado y la Agencia de Desarrollo Internacional de EEUU se preparan para otorgarle $47.5 millones en subsidios a las organizaciones para la democracia cubana, o más del triple de los niveles del 2007.
El objetivo del dinero es promover una transición a la democracia en Cuba, pero desde hace mucho se ha alegado que siempre se ha favorecido a más cubanoamericanos en Miami que a personas en la isla. El viernes, un ayudante de la Casa Blanca renunció en medio de alegaciones de que el dinero de programas pro democracia en Cuba se ha utilizado indebidamente.
Los fondos ahora se concederán mediante licitación competitiva, y los funcionarios están instando a grupos de Latinoamérica y Europa Oriental. El ejecutivo de EEUU está especialmente ansioso de recibir propuestas que sirvan para suministrarles tecnologías de comunicación a activistas en Cuba. Se dice que el acceso a la internet, los videos de YouTube y los mensajes de texto en teléfonos celulares han impulsado los movimientos de desafío a los gobiernos en lugares tales como Birmania y el Tíbet.
El acceso a esas tecnologías está restringido por el gobierno comunista de Cuba, aunque el viernes La Habana anunció que se facilitaría más la adquisición de teléfonos celulares. El gobierno ya había dicho anteriormente que se les venderían computadoras a todos los cubanos.
“No estamos excluyendo a nadie del proceso”, dijo José Cárdenas, el viceadministrador adjunto para Cuba y Sudamérica de USAID (US Agency for International Development), “pero con muchísimos más recursos, decididamente queremos nuevos participantes en el programa.
“Nos gustaría ver más grupos e individuos de lo que fue el bloque de Europa Oriental”, siguió diciendo, “y más intereses y actividades privadas de Latinoamérica”.
Hasta ahora, la mayor parte de los subsidios han ido a grupos de Miami y hay detractores que dicen que con ese dinero se aplacaba a los grupos cubanoamericanos, pero se hacía poco por llevar la democracia a Cuba. La Habana normalmente se refiere a los cubanos que reciben ayuda de esos programas en EEUU como “mercenarios del imperio”.
Un informe del Tribunal de Cuentas (GAO) de noviembre del 2006 criticó a USAID por haber suministrado subsidios de $74 millones desde 1996 sin licitación competitiva. La GAO encontró algunos ejemplos de abusos,incluyendo el uso de subsidios para comprar juegos de computadoras y suéteres de cachemira.
Y el viernes, la Casa Blanca anunció que Felipe Sixto, el funcionario de mayor conexión con la comunidad cubanoamericana en la Casa Blanca, renunció por alegaciones de que él tal vez obtuvo indebidamente cientos de miles de dólares provenientes de subsidios en un empleo anterior con la organización Centro Para Una Cuba Libre, con base en Washington.
Pero los que respaldan el programa dicen que el informe del GAO también halló que algunos programas llevaron grandes cantidades de equipos de comunicación y otros suministros a disidentes de la isla. El aumento de recursos para subsidios pro democracia en Cuba fue aprobado fácilmente por el Congreso el año pasado.
Algunos funcionarios dicen que las organizaciones de Miami ahora tendrán que demostrar que pueden suministrar entrenamiento, equipos y otros recursos a grupos en la isla. “Queremos ver un impacto en Cuba, no en alguna parte de EEUU”, dijo un funcionario que ayudó a esbozar las nuevas pautas y accedió a hablar francamente, siempre que no se diera su nombre.
El concepto es de capacitar a los cubanos para operar independientemente del sistema comunista, que lo controla todo, desde el acceso a los medios de transmisión hasta los empleos. Habiéndose retirado Fidel Castro, su hermano y sucesor Raúl ha dado algunos tímidos pasos hacia el debate y las reformas, aunque Cárdenas dice que el debate sigue estando “severamente controlado” por el gobierno.
El gobierno de EEUU dice que organizaciones de Washington tales como Freedom House, el International Republican Institute (IRI) y el National Endowment for Democracy (NED) también se verán favorecidas por las nuevas normas, porque han tenido desde hace mucho tiempo vínculos con grupos pro democráticos que no están en EEUU y que este gobierno quiere ahora que se movilicen a favor de Cuba.
Ya algunos grupos tales como People In Need (Pueblos Necesitados), una agrupación checa, han suministrado algunos fondos.
A los activistas europeos y latinoamericanos les resulta más fácil entrar y circular en Cuba que a los ciudadanos de EEUU.
Paul Fagan, el jefe de programas latinoamericanos de IRI, dice que su grupo frecuentemente usa a latinoamericanos para efectuar seminarios de entrenamiento para activistas cubanos, y está gestionando el establecimiento de programas para Cuba en estados bálticos como Latvia.
Cuando le preguntaron cómo emplearía dinero extra, Fagan dijo: “No tengo idea, es un proceso abierto. Estamos licitando como los demás”.
Cárdenas dice que espera que los recursos adicionales estén disponibles en las próximas semanas una vez que se le haya notificado al Congreso cómo se asignarán los recursos.
El ejecutivo ya empezó a promover los subsidios fuera de EEUU.
Elaine Grigsby, que administra los programas de Cuba en USAID, fue a Buenos Aires esta semana para tomar parte en una conferencia sobre la democracia. Este mes. Grigsby y el viceadministrador de USAID para Latinoamérica Paul Bonicelli estuvieron en Hungría y en Eslovenia.
El cambio de orientación ha causado incertidumbre entre personas y entidades que reciben subsidios en Miami, especialmente académicos que no tienen trato directo con grupos de la sociedad civil de Cuba.
Jaime Suchlicki dice que seguirá operando su Proyecto de Transición Cubana (CTP), una unidad del Instituto de Estudios Cubanos y Cubanoamericanos de la Universidad de Miami (UM) sin importar lo que haga el gobierno de EEUU.
“El CTP no se acabará, lo mismo si recibimos fondos que si no”, dice Suchlicki, que es historiador y ha dirigido el instituto durante mucho tiempo. “Es demasiado importante para acabarse. Esperemos recibir algún dinero del gobierno”.
USAID suministraba $500,000 anualmente para costear a siete analistas con un enfoque en la Cuba poscastrista. A fines del año pasado, USAID dijo que el programa no se iba a renovar, aunque Suchlicki planea solicitar de nuevo subsidios del gobierno este año.
Frank Calzón, jefe del Center for a Free Cuba, dice que su programa de USAID terminó recientemente, pero que él tenía suficientes fondos para mantenerse en funciones hasta que las nuevas pautas se establezcan claramente. El centro brinda asistencia y equipos a disidentes de la isla, y trabaja con organizaciones internacionales de derechos humanos y gobiernos extranjeros para mejorar el conocimiento de los abusos que se cometen en Cuba.
Calzón dice que los programas están evolucionando con el tiempo.
“Hay otros medios, otros instrumentos”, dice. “Ahora hay personas en Europa y en Latinoamérica que quieren ayudar al pueblo cubano enviándoles libros y yendo a la isla”.
——————–
31 de marzo de 2008
EEUU dará menos ayuda a los grupos de Miami
PABLO BACHELET / The Miami Herald
WASHINGTON
El gobierno de Bush está revisando marcadamente los controversiales subsidios para la democracia en Cuba, restringiendo los fondos de los grupos anticastristas en Miami y dirigiendo más recursos hacia organizaciones internacionales que no están en Estados Unidos, según indican algunos funcionarios familiarizados con esos programas.
La nueva orientación, que ha causado incertidumbre entre muchos beneficiarios de subsidios del sur de la Florida, viene mientras el Departamento de Estado y la Agencia de Desarrollo Internacional de EEUU se preparan para otorgarle $47.5 millones en subsidios a las organizaciones para la democracia cubana, o más del triple de los niveles del 2007.
El objetivo del dinero es promover una transición a la democracia en Cuba, pero desde hace mucho se ha alegado que siempre se ha favorecido a más cubanoamericanos en Miami que a personas en la isla. El viernes, un ayudante de la Casa Blanca renunció en medio de alegaciones de que el dinero de programas pro democracia en Cuba se ha utilizado indebidamente.
Los fondos ahora se concederán mediante licitación competitiva, y los funcionarios están instando a grupos de Latinoamérica y Europa Oriental. El ejecutivo de EEUU está especialmente ansioso de recibir propuestas que sirvan para suministrarles tecnologías de comunicación a activistas en Cuba. Se dice que el acceso a la internet, los videos de YouTube y los mensajes de texto en teléfonos celulares han impulsado los movimientos de desafío a los gobiernos en lugares tales como Birmania y el Tíbet.
El acceso a esas tecnologías está restringido por el gobierno comunista de Cuba, aunque el viernes La Habana anunció que se facilitaría más la adquisición de teléfonos celulares. El gobierno ya había dicho anteriormente que se les venderían computadoras a todos los cubanos.
“No estamos excluyendo a nadie del proceso”, dijo José Cárdenas, el viceadministrador adjunto para Cuba y Sudamérica de USAID (US Agency for International Development), “pero con muchísimos más recursos, decididamente queremos nuevos participantes en el programa.
“Nos gustaría ver más grupos e individuos de lo que fue el bloque de Europa Oriental”, siguió diciendo, “y más intereses y actividades privadas de Latinoamérica”.
Hasta ahora, la mayor parte de los subsidios han ido a grupos de Miami y hay detractores que dicen que con ese dinero se aplacaba a los grupos cubanoamericanos, pero se hacía poco por llevar la democracia a Cuba. La Habana normalmente se refiere a los cubanos que reciben ayuda de esos programas en EEUU como “mercenarios del imperio”.
Un informe del Tribunal de Cuentas (GAO) de noviembre del 2006 criticó a USAID por haber suministrado subsidios de $74 millones desde 1996 sin licitación competitiva. La GAO encontró algunos ejemplos de abusos,incluyendo el uso de subsidios para comprar juegos de computadoras y suéteres de cachemira.
Y el viernes, la Casa Blanca anunció que Felipe Sixto, el funcionario de mayor conexión con la comunidad cubanoamericana en la Casa Blanca, renunció por alegaciones de que él tal vez obtuvo indebidamente cientos de miles de dólares provenientes de subsidios en un empleo anterior con la organización Centro Para Una Cuba Libre, con base en Washington.
Pero los que respaldan el programa dicen que el informe del GAO también halló que algunos programas llevaron grandes cantidades de equipos de comunicación y otros suministros a disidentes de la isla. El aumento de recursos para subsidios pro democracia en Cuba fue aprobado fácilmente por el Congreso el año pasado.
Algunos funcionarios dicen que las organizaciones de Miami ahora tendrán que demostrar que pueden suministrar entrenamiento, equipos y otros recursos a grupos en la isla. “Queremos ver un impacto en Cuba, no en alguna parte de EEUU”, dijo un funcionario que ayudó a esbozar las nuevas pautas y accedió a hablar francamente, siempre que no se diera su nombre.
El concepto es de capacitar a los cubanos para operar independientemente del sistema comunista, que lo controla todo, desde el acceso a los medios de transmisión hasta los empleos. Habiéndose retirado Fidel Castro, su hermano y sucesor Raúl ha dado algunos tímidos pasos hacia el debate y las reformas, aunque Cárdenas dice que el debate sigue estando “severamente controlado” por el gobierno.
El gobierno de EEUU dice que organizaciones de Washington tales como Freedom House, el International Republican Institute (IRI) y el National Endowment for Democracy (NED) también se verán favorecidas por las nuevas normas, porque han tenido desde hace mucho tiempo vínculos con grupos pro democráticos que no están en EEUU y que este gobierno quiere ahora que se movilicen a favor de Cuba.
Ya algunos grupos tales como People In Need (Pueblos Necesitados), una agrupación checa, han suministrado algunos fondos.
A los activistas europeos y latinoamericanos les resulta más fácil entrar y circular en Cuba que a los ciudadanos de EEUU.
Paul Fagan, el jefe de programas latinoamericanos de IRI, dice que su grupo frecuentemente usa a latinoamericanos para efectuar seminarios de entrenamiento para activistas cubanos, y está gestionando el establecimiento de programas para Cuba en estados bálticos como Latvia.
Cuando le preguntaron cómo emplearía dinero extra, Fagan dijo: “No tengo idea, es un proceso abierto. Estamos licitando como los demás”.
Cárdenas dice que espera que los recursos adicionales estén disponibles en las próximas semanas una vez que se le haya notificado al Congreso cómo se asignarán los recursos.
El ejecutivo ya empezó a promover los subsidios fuera de EEUU.
Elaine Grigsby, que administra los programas de Cuba en USAID, fue a Buenos Aires esta semana para tomar parte en una conferencia sobre la democracia. Este mes. Grigsby y el viceadministrador de USAID para Latinoamérica Paul Bonicelli estuvieron en Hungría y en Eslovenia.
El cambio de orientación ha causado incertidumbre entre personas y entidades que reciben subsidios en Miami, especialmente académicos que no tienen trato directo con grupos de la sociedad civil de Cuba.
Jaime Suchlicki dice que seguirá operando su Proyecto de Transición Cubana (CTP), una unidad del Instituto de Estudios Cubanos y Cubanoamericanos de la Universidad de Miami (UM) sin importar lo que haga el gobierno de EEUU.
“El CTP no se acabará, lo mismo si recibimos fondos que si no”, dice Suchlicki, que es historiador y ha dirigido el instituto durante mucho tiempo. “Es demasiado importante para acabarse. Esperemos recibir algún dinero del gobierno”.
USAID suministraba $500,000 anualmente para costear a siete analistas con un enfoque en la Cuba poscastrista. A fines del año pasado, USAID dijo que el programa no se iba a renovar, aunque Suchlicki planea solicitar de nuevo subsidios del gobierno este año.
Frank Calzón, jefe del Center for a Free Cuba, dice que su programa de USAID terminó recientemente, pero que él tenía suficientes fondos para mantenerse en funciones hasta que las nuevas pautas se establezcan claramente. El centro brinda asistencia y equipos a disidentes de la isla, y trabaja con organizaciones internacionales de derechos humanos y gobiernos extranjeros para mejorar el conocimiento de los abusos que se cometen en Cuba.
Calzón dice que los programas están evolucionando con el tiempo.
“Hay otros medios, otros instrumentos”, dice. “Ahora hay personas en Europa y en Latinoamérica que quieren ayudar al pueblo cubano enviándoles libros y yendo a la isla”.
-……………….
It is so interesting as well as sad to read when people say “you put Fidel in there” and then “you kept them for 50 years” as if you had a choice!Interesting, because people that write that type of comment does not know what it is like to live in Cuba. Sad, because in most countries on this earth one can walk on any store and buy what they might need. Not in Cuba, unless you have a friend or a friend of a friend in a high position. True, complaining gets old, but when it makes sense, when it is intelligent as well as reasonable, complaining is a GREAT tool. I left in a long time ago, and to be honest, I do not know if I could do what you do, or live the way that you are forced to live.
I do admire you, greatly!
Dear Raul,
you are right when you say that complaining is a gret tool, but I believe that you, as well as the majority of the people in this blog, are wrong when you focus on Fidel. Do you really believe the shortage of food and other neccessity is due to Him??? don’t u think it may be due to the economic blockage of US? and even more important, do u really believe that other South American fellows have the concrete possibility to buy what they want?? the answer is no and once again is due to the colonialistic foreign policy of the US, which keep their economies under the cosh and deeply control their domestic policy. As such if you want to complain why dont u do so against the US as, without them that would not have been the necessity of the revolution. When time will come and Fidel will not be there, I really want to see how happy you will be about your freedom..yes freedom of not being able to pay medical assistance, not been able to pay the school, deliquency, drug industry and so on and so for.. great..
Regards,
Lorenzo
FREE CUBA!!!!!!
Very Well Said Yoani, my thoughts are with you
La lectura de su blog realmente me ha tocado. Usted es muy valiente en compartir su historia con el mundo. En los Estados Unidos, nosotros oímos retumbamos del “cambio” tan llamado en Cuba. Desgraciadamente, Cubanos-Americanos entienden que es mera propaganda y no es un progreso verdadero para las personas Cubanas.
Usted tiene cada derecho de sentirse la manera que usted hace acerca de su gobierno, ellos han oprimido a las personas Cubanas hermosas para más de 50 años. Ellos le prometen la luna y no entregan, entonces tienen “la gandinga” de promeser “lujos” como telephonos cellulares antes ustedes.
Optimistamente Raul Castro caerá muerto y verdadero cambio ocurrirá.
Mantenga por favor la fe, sigue Generacion Y y nosotros le encomendamos para su honradez.
Muchos abrazos y besos a usted & su familia.
I see you on the italian Tv, we are all with you, and hope in Cuba will go all better for you and the other people very soon!!!
oh yes…i forgot…Nice Blog 🙂 !!! One big Hug from Italy!!!
Hi! I’m writing from Italy, I’ve just seen you on ‘Le Iene’. I think that people like you mustn’t stop their fight! I hope that in future, I’m young and I represent a little part of it, anyone will forget what is happening in Cuba and that altogether can destroy this kind of system… I’m feeling so impotent now… the next year I’ll take law, I sincerely hope that something will change for you, also thanks to the help of the other States if they will governed by people with strong ideals of freedom and democracy for all the world.
I’ven’t got a good English but I think that my message is arrived.
a great hug.
hi,
I saw you on TV from Italy… it’s unbelievable that in 2008, some people still live in such conditions, oppressed by a “system”… no freedom of speech, of opinion, of information, no DEMOCRACY… things ESSENTIAL for life.
And I apologize for our guilts, because the Western rich world has a great responsibility in these democratic disasters.
I hope Cuba and Cubans will be set free soon by this situation… HOLD OUT, my friends! I hope Democracy will blossom for Cuba and for all people imprisoned in thier own states, by their own “politicians”…
nice blog… 🙂
See ya
erriquezz
Please notice that TV show “Le Iene” is very popular in Italy…:D:D:D
I see you in a enterview on a program television in my country, Italy. You are a greath woman!
I have seen a programme on an Italian television programme (Le Iene) which talked about you- I have utterly enjoyed your wittness, sharpness of mind, and humanity and I have subsequently went to your blog to read your thoughts.
I found them very interesting and I would like to thank you for your courage and the hope you hold in the future . It’s inspiring for us all.
best wishes to you and your family
God Bless
cristina
every criticism is important if it’s true, but before doing against cuban government and society,that has a lot of limits, everybody must look inside home(Florida,Usa,at first).
1) only 200 hundreds people in the world have about the same richness has half of the world’s population (I mean more than 3 billion people);
these few ones have only one “political tool” to keep power and get more and more income: “divide et impera” and so they, expecially using their monopolist or oligopolist Media divided, are dividing and will divide all us,
that have the same basic needs as work,enough income,food,health, free-timepleau by
To non-Cubans:
Yoani expresses the feelings, ideas, dreams, frustration, hopes of our generation. what she says is exactly what I think, what I would’ve written in Cuba if I only would’ve had her courage.
Please do not think that those Cubans who write messages of hatred here are the majority. They are not.
the majority are the people who just want to live the life they have been taken away.
stop the hatred, stop the wars, stop the politicians, stop the rightist, stop the leftists, stop those who still think our government is good, because it’s not. you don’t know how Cubans live, do you still need more proof to understand that socialism is not going to work?
we are tired. we just want to LIVE. we want a normal life.
thanks for visiting and taking the time to read.
Every criticism is important if it’s true, but before doing against cuban government and society,that has a lot of limits, everybody must look inside home(Florida,Usa,at first).
1) only 200 hundreds people in the world, controlling monopolist or oligopolist Arms,Media-Telephone-Computers,Oil,Drugs.. Groups, have about the same richness has half of the world’s population (I mean more than 3 billion people);
these few ones have only one “political tool” to keep power and get more and more income: “divide et impera” and so they, expecially using their monopolist or oligopolist Media, divided, are dividing and will divide all us,
that have the same basic needs (as work,enough income,food,health, love,family,free-time and pleasures) by “inventing” religious,races,etnical and countries wars and keeping us withouth a real culture and sometimes completly dependent to real and virtual drugs.
John lennon told you to “imagine” a different and united society but was soon politically killed as John and Bob Kennedy as Martin L. King as Bhutto
and I really fear for Obama,a real democratic and so too dangerous for their(200 people) dirty interest (they will say”it’s been Al-qaeda” finding new false “reason” to keep on wars for oil)
2) I think everybody(but the 200 hundreds) would appreciate a global society with a global real free market and global constitution where small private firms with dependent workers well and mixed( wage and production prize) payed, are in competion,about quality/price, to produce and supply all the customers about their real needs we spoke above; all this inside a social system of securities(for school, health,pensions,works requalification and so on)
This political social and economic global system( u can call it as u like:democracy or socialdemocracy or socialism-the name is not important) would need very low taxation and few hours of work by everyone because:
A) it would employ everyone in the global project(today at least one billion people are unemployed for different reasons).
B) it would not exist one of the most expensive voice of the State balance: the life moral and economic cost of the arms that nobody needs but some big powerful private groups,expecially in Usa,produce and sell only if the President,before elected by the money-help of these groups, suddenly “discovers” some new enemy,some new Pearl Harbour, in a word some new threat, as the terroristic one of a man, as B. Laden, who was already working for C.I.A. in Kabul against Soviet Union, and whose very rich family and Pr.Bush are the two main Karlyle(that, even ,produces arms) group’s sharehoders; a threat that had the top peack just on the day(09/11/2001) that Nato Alliance was doing practice on how to avoid enemy planes to be hijacked(but which flied for two hours in Usa sky because vicepresident Cheney permitted it, as the Transport Minister told the House of Parlament.
C) the prices of the main products would even cost less because withouth the charge of pubblicity(if someone wants to use it,no tax benefits) and because of normal profits (not as the big ones in the case of monopolist groups)
I conclude telling u that this system not only is nearly impossible to be built in Usa,whose governm. usally invades(es.”Pigs bay”) and tries to provoke failure of every economical(by blocus or sanctions) and political (by “human rights” speculations and amplifications)different experience as in Cuba.
My dear friend, before judging Cuba, reflect abouts the 300.000 civil and innocent people killed in Hirosima and Nagasaky by your “model “country and all the other milions people died in their wars in the Middle East,in Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia,or the Indians or people died in south-american golpes of 70/85 years, consider the aphartheid inside and outside(S,Africa)
and don’t forget where is the mafia’s head.
giansoko
We saw your interview on an Italian private TV.
It is the first time we see a Cuban dissent!
Our politicians, starting from top representatives, like the comunist President of the Chamber mr Bertinotti, praise Cuban regime to be a paradise on earth. I am confident we will soon be able to vote him out and wish you will be able to do the same in Cuba.
Good luck for your freedom of expression.
@ giansoko. what did you really say when you wrote “don’t forget where is the mafia’s head”? i hope you didn’t use the common stereotype “italy = mafia”.
sorry… but I (and all italians who wrote here recently) criticised our Western politicians, I think they’re responsible and seriously involved in the bad situation of Cuba and other countries, like Tibet, Darfur etc. We are against mafia, against corruption (and unfortunately in Italy we have corruption at each socio – political level), against hunger, and for freedom of expression.
Really admire your determination to tell the world what is happening in my country. I am a girl is 17 years old and I come from … And just yesterday I saw on television the Cuban boys who said they wanted at least once in their lives to travel and see the tomb of mentation, because it is in bolivia ..
You are truly a great woman and I admire you ..
never give up!
ciao from Italy
Hi Yoani,
like also many other hundreds thousands of italian people I saw you and heard your words on TV, “Le Iene” italian tv program. It was great to realize about your enthusiasm for life, your strong will and smile. I found your blog online and I want to write you few lines of solidarity and of compliments for your blog.
It is true that more and more people will know about your story and will visit your thoughts, not only in your country but in whole world: it is the power that cannot be stopped of Internet web connections.
It is true that in today worlds people are hardly looking into the eyes of other people in a friendly way. Also for this reason it is so hard to find the right words to say “oh, I am sorry, I beg for your pardon”. The only occasions that are still existing when using the magical words “I am sorry” is when the other person is looking at you with angry eyes, using angry voice, looking a terrible giant and with a weapon in hands.
It is the same in the international situation between the nations: it is true and clear to eyes that the more powerful the nation is, the more strong violent voice and action it will have, the more “I am sorry” or silence and “no comments” when a voice is required they will get.
The power of violence and of threat, in the singular or global situation.
When all of this will change? Times they are a changing, a famous ancient song of Bob Dylan says. Do you know about this song also there in Cuba? The singer was singing against the power of any and each bad political power and guidance. His words are evergreen, isn’t it true?
Ciao! Good luck for all things, I will follow you and your blog with joy.
Marco cuore_vivo
Marco,
As I am from Yoani’s generation and I am Cuban and I have lived there almost all my life, except for the last years, and I agree with everything she says so far, I will answer you.
In cuba there are a lot of people who know who Bob Dylan is and know his songs, we know a lot of music from other countries although is not something easy there.
In Cuba, this situation that she describes in this post is even worst than in most of the countries. because our people, until 10, 15 years ago were completely different, and they have suffered a social transformation that is very sad. Cubans used to be so polite, minding what others did and, although there are vulgar people everywhere, in general we were not like that. today in Cuba men push women to get a taxi first, they don’t open the doors for women to pass, they say horrible obscenities all the time when a beautiful woman passes by, those nice “piropos” of other times have long disappeared, and this is only talking about small things, I don’t want to talk about more serious things. in other countries this could be normal, I don’t know, but it has never been like that in ours. ours was a friendly and polite people, and the “system” has turned them into vulgar little people. of course, I am not talking about everybody, I am Cuban and I have friends and family, and they are not like that. But the percentage is increasing day by day.
I agree with what you say and I also hope that yes, times they are a changing…
Thank you for your answer, dear close friend of Yoani, what a pity that I still don’t know a name of yours that I can use for you. Anyway, I understand well your words and thoughts and I feel what you want to transmit and say. Grazie.
I understand your message and I really believe you when you say that in your country this social manner is deeply increased for the worst. I trust you much.
What can I write you and to the other readers of this blog to add something positive and encouraging? Maybe this small thought: in all situation in life here on earth it seems that the new and the good had to face big ostacles before to manage the changements. In this case it seems that it will be almost necessary to reach the lowest lowest lowest level of “living together” among humans before to “clic” this big changement.
Sometimes, maybe often, it is necessary to reach the real bottom level before to raise again to the sky and to the stars. One true philosophycal thought is that obstacles and “dark side of things” are really necessary and important to the light and to the bright side of things. Light cannot be appreciated and felt if not also the night and the darkness. Isn’t it true?
A big good luck to you all, to us all. Ciao.
Marco cuore_vivo
Usando un traductor de la lengua en línea:
Gracias por su respuesta, amigo cercano querido de Yoani, una qué compasión que todavía no sé un nombre el tuyo que pueda utilizar para usted. De todas formas, entiendo que bien sus palabras y pensamientos y yo nos sentimos lo que usted desea transmitir y decir. Grazie.
Entiendo que su mensaje y yo realmente le creo cuando usted dice que de su país esta manera social está aumentada profundamente para el peor. Le confío en mucho. ¿Qué puedo escribirle y a los otros lectores de este blog para agregar algo positivo y que anima? Quizá este pensamiento pequeño: en toda la situación en vida aquí en la tierra se parece que el nuevo y el bueno tuvieron que hacer frente a ostacles grandes antes para manejar los changements. En este caso se parece que será casi necesario alcanzar el nivel más bajo más bajo más bajo de “vivir junto” entre seres humanos antes a “clic” este changement grande. A veces, quizá a menudo, es necesario alcanzar el nivel inferior verdadero antes al aumento otra vez al cielo y a las estrellas. Un pensamiento philosophycal verdadero es que los obstáculos y el “lado oscuro de cosas” son realmente necesarios e importantes para la luz y para el lado brillante de cosas. La luz no se puede apreciar y sentir si no también la noche y la oscuridad. ¿No es verdad? Una buena suerte grande a usted toda, a nosotros todos.
Ciao. Hola.
Cuore_vivo de Marco
giansoko:
Alside from simply parroting a number of bumper stickers of Howard Zinn and Noam Chomsky quotes, I wonder how much thought is given to the concept of criticizing the Cuban government (or any repressive regime for that matter). Your sentence here sums it up
“My dear friend, before judging Cuba, reflect abouts the 300.000 civil and innocent people killed in Hirosima and Nagasaky by your “model “country and all the other milions people died in their wars in the Middle East,in Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia,or the Indians or people died in south-american golpes of 70/85 years, consider the aphartheid inside and outside(S,Africa)”
First of all, any repressive regime can be criticized and judged, regardless of what other countries have done (even your home country). No one needs to consider what people (especially people dead and burried) did that just HAPPENED to eminate from their home country. Anything can be measured against objective moral criteria and judged accordingly. No one needs permission.
Secondly, your moral relativism here is evident. “reflect about the 300000 civilian and innocent people killed in Hiroshima and Nagasaki”. No, we shouldn’t. They should have surrendered. Once evil is confronted through arms, you either win or lose. More of the enemy has to die than your own country to win a war.
Thirdly, the “millions” who died in the Middle East, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia….where do I begin:
– Middle East – Do you mean the 2 wars we fought there? Again, both times the leader of Iraq had an opportunity to spare his people war. Both times he refused. You’re angry at the wrong side. You may feel no cause is worth fighting for, but typical liberal European elitist views have no currency in the real world…especially as you’re being outbred by immigrants who hate you
– Vietnam/Laos/Cambodia: Again, as a likely Communist sypmathizer (who already admits that no one can judge communists unless they look inward first) you’re judging the outcome of “millions” killed as a cause that makes the “model” country look bad and the war unjust. If a backwards dictatorship sends millions of people to battle for COmmunist expansionism and they die, its the governments fault for sending them. So the government is at fault, AND their cause was unjust. Not our fault! 🙂
– Indians – Everyone’s favorite good guys. But lets consider the following: A – a number of “Indians” were cannibals and into human sacrifice…or “only” scalping. This 1960’s notion of the Indian as a hunter/gatherer at peace with “mother earth” is a fantasy. They were a great many tribes quite barbaric. And again, its not like they weren’t fighting eachother in addition to the US. But if you’re mad and want to dig up my grandpa and kick his butt, go right ahead (he’s cuban though…)
– South_American golpes…not sure what a golpe is.
– Apartheid in South Africa…..Apartheid is a very bad thing. Interestingly enough, the Communist terrorist organization that took over from the evil whites turned South Africa into a crime infested cespool.
You know giansoko, Americans who aren’t leftists like yourself (and therefore genetically predisposed to hating their own country) laugh when we hear “facts” from Michael Moores “documentry” on 9-11 that were disproven and laughed out of consideration years ago still repeated as if they were true.
Dear Jason Mandez,
you should go back to school and get a better understanding of South American history before saying that u dont know what a golpe is..just to give u a small hint why dont u have a closer look at the US aids to Machado dictator, via the US ambassador Crowder in Havana and then later to Batista.. or if u prefer u can look at Chile with Pinochet..the imperialistic US foregin policy has always brought dictatorship around the globe and especially in America latina y Cuba.. Unfortunately for them and thanks for the humanity men like Fidel has been fighting against the US oppression and for a free cuba..I am wondering what kind of history do they teach u in ur amazing private school in Miami, for sure not Marti’ thoughs (Viví en el monstruo (US) y le conozco las entrañas)…
I come from Croatia ex Yugoslavia and I only emphasize that because I’ve been living in communist regime and I deeply understand what You are talking about. But, there is always but. The Cubans still don’t know what is coming “after” and we know it. The brutal capitalism, all national sources sold to foreigners and our country is becoming the game of masters and slaves. NATO, EU, economic globalozation, democracy all that bullshit is becoming our great victories! Victories for rulling politicians who speak of free world and free people. But normal people are less and less free living in fear and dependency.
Hola Yoani. Primero que nada, felicidades por su reconocimiento reciente. Sepa usted que en EE. UU. también nos enfrentamos a una administración que no reconoce error alguno al lanzar políticas fallidas ni se disculpa por falta de competencia cuando bien debiera hacerlo. No he sabido que este presidente (Jorgito Matojo) en momento alguno halla indicado congoja por su incompetencia o falta de dedicación al oficio de la presidencia. Me pregunto si esto es un problema de naturaleza endémica al oficio de la labor política.
Gracias por sus comentarios.
Hola, I have to see a reportage to LCI french TV for your blog. Very good. I hope you can continue your work ! Good luck !
This is a call to those who visit Generacion Y and support the rights of cubans to use the internet and have freedom of speech to support the nomination of Generation Y for the 2008 Nobel Peace Prize.
Please, contact The Nobel Prize Organization at Nobelprize.org and support this effort
It’s obvious that Yoani Sánchez has been silenced by the oppresive dictator Raul because she hasn’t posted since March 5, 2008. So musch for Cuba opening up. Yeah, right….Cuba will never be open to free speech as long as the oppresive dictator is in charge, because it hurts the dictator’s ears. Cubans should rise up, drag Raul and Fidel into the street and beat them with sticks until they are dead.
Yoani Sanchez Generation Y Cuba blog shut down by Cuban government
Published: Mon March 24, 2008
By: Publisher in Cuba Politics > Castro’s Cuba
Tools: Tell-a-Friend | Email this author | Printer Friendly | Del.icio.us This
Reuters
The Cuban authorities have blocked access from Cuba to the country’s most-read blogger, Yoani Sanchez, she said on Monday.
Sanchez, whose critical ”Generacion Y” blog received 1.2 million hits in February, said Cubans can no longer visit her Web page and two other home-grown bloggers on the Web site on a server in Germany.
All they can see is a “error downloading” message.
“So the anonymous censors of our famished cyberspace have tried to shut me in a room, turn off the light and not let my friends in,” she wrote in her blog on Monday.
Sanchez said she cannot directly access her Web site from Cuba to update postings anymore, but has found a way to beat her Communist censors through an indirect route.
The 32-year-old philology graduate has attracted a considerable readership by writing about her daily life in Cuba and describing economic hardships and political constraints.
She has criticized Cuba’s new leader, Raul Castro, who formally took over from his ailing brother Fidel Castro last month, for his vague promises of change and minimal steps to improve the standard of living of Cubans.
“Who is the last in line for a toaster?” was the title of a recent blog that satirized the lifting of a ban on sales of computers, DVD players and other appliances Cubans long for, though toasters will not be freely sold until 2010.
In a country where the press is controlled by the state and there is no independent media, Sanchez and other bloggers based in Cuba have found in the Internet an unregulated vehicle of expression.
“This breath of fresh air has dishevelled the hair of bureaucrats and censors,” she said in a telephone interview, vowing to continue her blog. “Anyone with a bit of computer skills knows how to get around them,” she said.
The aim of government censors is to block readership in Cuba, where people have limited access to Internet, she said.
“They are admitting that no alternative way of thinking can exist in Cuba, but people will continue reading us somehow,” she said. “There is no censorship that can stop people who are determined to access the Internet,” she said.
(Editing by Sandra Maler)
Greetings from Romania!
It has been a while since you last published something. I hope life for you hasn’t taken any drastic turns. Do keep on blogging!
Andreea
I just loved your thoughts on apologies and your blog.
It is wonderful to be able to read your views on Cuba and life.
I am a great believer in the power of the net to bring about more understanding among people and your blog is proof that there is hope.
Please keep it alive.
Greeting from a Canadian. I have grown to look forward to your stories about your life in Cuba. To realize that your government has shutdown your voice to us creates great sadness in me. I only hope that you are well and with your family and not sitting in a cell somewhere.
As an advocate of Freedom, I work as an On Air Personality and Producer for Radio in Mid Missouri USA. Not only on commercial stations, but volunteering as well on KOPN FM, Community Radio in Columbia Missouri.
KOPN has shows from many countries, and in the true spirit of Freedom, Love and Understanding.
Freedom is priceless and vital for our Souls and Lives, and most of all our Children of All Countries.
My music is about Miracles, of people working together to find Peace, as long as each word is spoken and meant with Peace we as this Earth’s Society will become what we wish to be. Free.
My Prayers are for happiness in every Country. We are all One Family.
Sincerely,
Sheryl Clapton
“On Air Radio Personality” and Singer/Songwriter, President New Wave Corporation KOPN FM. Mother, teacher, student, wife
What an unpleasant whining little lady you are, Yoani Sánchez, but so typical of the white middle class Habaneros. Have you ever considered, in between your moans and complaints, that your country has done reasonably well considering the pressure it’s been under from the USA? No, I guess not.
Have you any idea, I mean any idea at all, how ordinary citizens in the rest of the Caribbean and Latin America live? Do you even know what a shanty town is? Have you ever seen thousands upon thousands of little half starved children begging in the streets – the streets which also their homes and bedrooms? No, you haven’t. Because you live in Cuba.
I have visited Cuba about 15 times, and I don’t stay in hotels or hang out with tourists in touristy places. For sure, there are serious problems in Cuba. No es facil. But please, please, try to have some balance – or you’ll end up becoming nothing but a selfish self-centred middle class lady, who sees what she want to see and disregards the rest. If you have your way, Cuba will have a wealthy upper and middle class, mainly white, and a majority who get screwed. And then you’ll say: “Why are you blaming me?”
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Cool site. Thank you.
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Core
It is very easy to talk about inner world when your belly is full. Where do you live man?
“Everyone knows the world one lives in is greatly a result of one’s inner world.” Who is everyone?
Who is really 100 % happy with an inner world while the outside world does´nt aloud you not even to express? Come one…If you are so happy with your inner world why then don´t you allow in your country such a government to rule?
Are you suggesting to live our inner life and forget about the rest?
Excuse me, but that is nonsense!
Disgusted…
it is disgusted the way you want to take Yoani Sanchez´s, her and a lot of cubans´right away to complain or to express her ideas, just because in other places life is certainly worse.
According to your opinion then, in every country of the world we should laugh, because of the fact that in Africa life is worse.
What a disgusting comparison !
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Eva dijo
Most ordinary Cubans are proud of their country and support its independence and its fantastic health and eduction services. Some (mainly white middle class Habaneros) are looking out for themselves. Sure, they would do well under capitalism, just as they did well in the 1950’s when the Yanquis and the mafia ran Cuba.
The point isn’t that some countries are worse than Cuba. The point is that if Cuba became capitalist, it would resemble the rest of the Latin America – a tiny super-rich elite, a middle class, and a majority without basic human rights like access to a doctor or proper eduction for their children. Hmm… sounds just like Cuba before the revolution, no?
That, my dear, is the unglamorous truth that lurks behind every keystoke on this blog. Care to disagree?
Hi Yoani,
My name is Frank Xie. I am a reporter with The Beijing News, a quality daily newspaper in Beijing, China.
Recently we are working on a feature report about Cuba’s recent reform. And we think it is necessary to hear stories from Cuban people.
I came across your blog and I think it shows the picture from a unique perspective. It is just more vivid than any news we read in newspaper or website. I just wonder if I can have a phone interview with you?
I tried to send you an email but it failed. Could you please email me so I can arrange an interview with you? My email is xielai@hotmail.com My deadline is before April 26. Thank you very much.
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Let us hear from you. Help us understand the right thing to do.
http://ambergriscaye.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/278287/fpart/1
You should put pay-per-click ads on your website. It’s easy to register with Google for example.
I’m sure with all your visitors, lots of people will visit your sponsor ads.
You do have a donations button. But that is probably far to socialistic for your readers.
I love your blog. I especially liked what your hopes are for the qualities of a president. I would like to know what some of the Spanish words are on photos in your blog. Unfortunately some of us are challenged in that area. 🙂
God Bless!
Rudy
Keep on fighting the good fight…Hopefully in 50 years, these dark years of tyranny will be just an unpleasant memory.
Aloha from Hawaii Yoani,
I found your site in an article on msn.com. I think it’s wonderful and I wish you and your countrymen the best of luck in bringing about postive change and improving your lives. I will keep reading and learning from your blog.
No doubt that oppression holds no room for apologies, for it would be self-defeating for the oppressor. Fifty years of castrista heels stepping on, and crushing the lives, dreams, and ideals of a people is beyond comprehension. But the system has always found a way to clean its sole on the imperialist grass, through its network of false propaganda. A world bursting with progressive ideals, should not accept the repressive enslavement of a nation; Cubans are a people desperate to share their intellectual wealth with the global community, and the people of the world should support your struggle. The word of the righteous is the sword which will behead the monster. Do not be silenced.
Common courtesy is learned in the home and schools. Communism has been a bad teacher.
Hermana, Bienvenida al internet !
politicians do apologize. our president in the philippines apologized after cheating in the elections. and she is still the president. she opened our countries to be eploited by impereialist countries such as america, she makes broadband deals in china and gets huge kickbacks. and makes our country the human rescource capital of the world being explorted. we have become slaves of the capitalist machineries. when wll this nightmare ever end? and i believe even if they do apologize. nothing happens. the secret is making the masses ignorant.
I would like to apologize on behalf of my country for the economic embargo against Cuba, which contributes to the hardships the people of Cuba endure. Also for the tragic wet-foot-dry-foot policy that tempts Cubans to flee the Island and empowers gangsters who profit from the desperation of Cuban citizens who try for a better life in the US. These policies are a result of a Facist element in the United States and the politics of certain Cuban exiles in Miami who work the system for their own ends. Don’t get me wrong, I abhore the Castro regime, and dearly love the USA and Miami with the Latin excitement brought by the Cubans and others. But these policies are plain wrong. I would like to know what can be done by ordinary US citizens to help reverse these evil and hateful policies.
I greatly admire anyone who has the strength and courage to express their opinon and my hope is one day that all may do it freely.
I am of Cuban descent born in the U.S.A. I will state that I feel deeply for the people left in Cuba to suffer under Castro. I am embarresed by the policies of my government. No government is perfect, but it is true some are better than others, and I would say that I was lucky to be born here in the U.S.A. I would greatly enjoy communicating with anyone in Cuba anytime. Keep up the wonderful work you are doing.
Sorry forgot, email is sparky1104@hotmail.com
you are so right. It is a phenomenon shared by people here in the States, particularly the younger generation, which feel that apologizing is akin to humiliating oneself. They learn this from their parents, who are themselves very young.
I admire you and the courage you are exerting in writing this blog. This medium precipitated my resignation from my previous job. Unfortunately for you, you cannot quit where you live. Good luck to you!
Articles about your weblog are also being published here in Seattle, Washington, USA! I want to encourage you to keep on persevering in your writing, it’s making a huge difference, and setting Cuba on an international stage! I will continue to read your blog and support freedom in Cuba.
hello
i m french
i m listening my radio today and i listen your name and your space
i m very happy for you because you can go to internet
normally it s not possible with castro…
your space is fabulous
have a good day !
bonjour je suis de france juste pour vous souhaitez à tous bon courage.
maurad (envoyerunmail@yahoo.fr)
I am a half Gen Y person. Name starts with “Y” born in the 70. I was however born a little further east in India. As you know there are lots of people in my country. We have the habit on stepping on each others toes and not even turning back to look at the person. But Life goes on. That is the culture. If you get used to it growing up, it does not affect you.
You are the voice that we cannot see in the rest of the world. There are nothing but lies told about your country’s situation and nothing will ever change until the truth is told. You don’t realize your importance to history, but your perserverance will secure your place in it. Don’t ever let them stop you…
I just found your side and your name in Time magazine as 100 the most influential people in the world. I guess the idea of blog, and the need for free speach and courage to stay in touch with your values got me interested to check your site. I am coming from the country that was for years under russian ocupation – Poland, and I do remember comunism a little bit. I think that in my country people also do forget the magic word – I am sorry. The politics language “erase this word from the dictionary” during the communism era, and people become powerless, and less sensitive to others….. propably not only becouse the word didnt “exsist in dictionary” but becouse living would be so stressful and so difficult that it is hard to smile to another person when you feel opression from all possible ways… but still it is good to remember values and smile to each other, say I am sorry , take the responsibility for our actions… polititian too.
I visited Guadalavaca Cuba two years ago and the wonderful Cuban people changed my life. The sense of community, family and just down right friendliness is what we had here in Maine when I was growing up. Brought some of that back with me and is one reason for heading for church early this morning to cook bacon and eggs for those coming early can visit with each other. Am so glad to have a place to go and read about what is going on there. My intention is to come visit again within the coming year.
Having visited Cuba many times…I’ve always wondered how the people would respond to hard work and being competive economically with their exports in a free market with the rest of the world. It’s tuff game. With it comes dual incomes, HUGE social issues and family breakdowns. But I’ve always thought Havana and Cuba could be the Paris, France of North America again. Fine arts and creativity is something Cubans do very well. Cuba could sell us the concept of “real humanity and family” in the world of dance, music, arts and food. Just a thought.
Yoani,
I am a Canadian living in the US with a man from Cuba (he came over as part of the Mariel boat-lift). My Cubano turned me on to your blog (I am going to start printing your blog in Spanish and try my hand at translating it into English) and we were so excited to see you as one of Time magazine’s 100: The Most Influential People in the World. We are also waiting with a great deal of interest to see if you will be allowed to leave Cuba to accept the Spanish literary award that you were recently awarded. Please keep on doing what you are doing – you bring a “voice” to millions without a voice.
With sincerest regards,
Lori
It would be nice if this Jackass Dijo would stop posting their bullsghit here that’s taking up space. How about it jerkoff?
make that Bullshit, not Bullsghit…..
Felicidades por tu seleccion en la revista Time. Todos los cubanos nos sentimos orgullosos de tus triunfos y de tu lucha por una Cuba democratica y libre de censura y opresion.
Ojala que pronto en Cuba los cubanos puedan vivir sin miedo y puedan expresar libremente sus opiniones. Que los derechos humanos se respeten y que no hayan mas presos politicos ni gente que se quiera marchar del pais.
Hello there,
I just wanted to say that I REALLY hope you get a “democratic” Cuba. Media controlling what you should know — but without letting it clear –, high crime rates, social inequality, too much money on the hands of the greedy rich ones… Really, I really wish you a total US-like right-winged President for you. You will see how your Cuba will change — for worse.
The same way I can just have a notion of how it is to live there, you don’t know how it to live in capitalistic goverments. So we can’t say anything — and that’s why I don’t have a blog. I prefer to live in a country without advanced technology, knowing that I’m being controlled by the media (and not having to revolt myself each time I read the newspaper or watch the TV), with low crime rate and SAME disponibility of health care to everyone — not only for those who can pay the expensiest hospitals.
Stop and think about it. Even if you don’t, I still hope you get a Bush, a Kennedy, whatever. You’ll se how it is good. But, it will be too late. The media will be controling the society, so, EVEN if you regret all that you wrote about socialism, you will NEVER EVER receive the same attention from the media.
Truly,
Lucas Deschamps.
If this horrible selfish lady is the future of Cuba, I despair. But I guess she has a little team in Miami writing her bullshit for her.
Incidentally, she wasn’t censored. Her blog can be accessed from Cuba. She just invented that to elicit sympathy. Just like the lies in one of the newspaper articles which said that she has to dress up and pretend to be a tourist in order to use the hotel internet. Rubbish! Utter rubbish. MOST people using hotel internet are Cubans. I know, I visit Cuba regularly.
For example, the computers in the Saville in Centro Havana, the computers in the Golden Tulip in Old Havana, the computers in teh Hotel Nacional… shall I go on?
So Miss “Y”, WHY ARE YOU LYING?
Pray tell.
Yoani,
Keep up the good work!!!
The very first step in the way for democracy is communication with the rest of the world. When peoples mind borders open, nothing can stop the collapse. It may be the matter of years, but it’s unstoppable.
I live in Poland, and still remember how in 80’s/90’s communism ends in central Europe. I know that’s not the same, but people like You and thoughts like Yours are those little stones that starts avalanche.
Think positive!!!!
Best regards,
Pawe?
Nice site..
I know your blog from (sindo) an newspaper in my country..
good luck..
Bonjour,
Juste un message de soutien depuis Paris de la part d’un administrateur de site censuré (et aujourdhui hacké) sur la Tunisie. Le combat pour la liberté d’expression est un des plus beaux qu’il nous soit de donner.
“Je ne partage pas tes opinions mais je me battrais pour que tu puisses les exprimer” !
Never give up and congratulations for your blog, window of freedom in your beautiful country.
I suggest you of translated the blog into French, you would be consulted a lot.
Thank you.
Go to see my site and my house in France, it resists to hurricanes !!
I hope you’ll go very soon in Europe.
Good luck.
Sincerely.
BRAVO FOR YOUR BLOG.KEEP ON ..WRITING
AKIS
http://www.artoftraveller.blogspot.com/
Hello beautiful cuban girl.We lived just 20 year ago very simillar live you describe.Commis won’t change their unwilling attitude to apologize for anything ”wrong”.We get rid of them nearly 20 years ago and I can personaly tell you it’s realy much better then before.Now here in heart of Europe you can be everything you want.You can travell all around the world.Freedom of mind an occasion is the best on time when comunist cannot grasp the power.Don’t believe anything what they’re saying about our conutry in your TV or radio.We believe that once in near future we’ll have chance to come and see Cuba in much better situation than now.Only you can change government.Hope and talk with others that’s enough for the time.Beautifull WEB and BLOG 😉
I am really wonder?ng…
How mach money do you take from the us government?
It is really interestigg that when jurnalist are writ?ng about the cons of US or EU they are going out of the bus?ness but when someone is against Cuba…
is entering in the favor lists…
Even if you are not geting paid you should think again who is using you and why…
Dear Mrs. Sanchéz, thank you for posting this, thank you for posting about Cuba in 21th century. It’s very interesting to know how our ex-system of government works now, thank you. Keep your thinking. God be with you.
everyone is praising your website ! i think you are not to be praised i dont see any thing but a 2 ND grade writing ability all you have going for you is a blog on your life there in cuba big deal !!!!!! why show you get a award for that –you are not special or the voice of cuba you are some girl that has a blog and is writing her thoughts that is it ! would you have made in here in the united states ????? NO ! The fact is i do think you have a right to vioce what you belive and write what you belive and i feel the the cuban gov feels that you should have that write or you would not have had this website up at all !!!!!!!!!!!! so stop crying and do some real work use your head -try and met with leaders there and try and help the people with change by doing
Hola Mrs. Sanchéz, congratulations on being awarded by Spain for creating the Generation Y blog. It is interesting to view the perspective of an ordinary Cuban who doesn’t post information of what the government wants the world to believe of their country. One day the Castro brothers will die and rot in hell for the trouble they have caused Cuba and Cuba will become free again. May God bless you! ¡Viva Cuba Libre!
This blog is not written by an ordinary Cuban. It’s written by a right wing white middle class pro-USA traitor. Ordinary Cubans do not sell out their country to Uncle Sam!
This “democracy lady” is very stupid if she thinks that Cubans don’t know about the murderous US government, which has destroyed the lives the hopes and the dreams of millions and millions of Latin Americans. Pick up a book lady, AND LEARN.
You could start with asking some old Cubans (the ones you denigrate so arrogantly) why Cuba had a revolution in the first place.
VIVA FIDEL!
VIVA CHE!
VENCEREMOS!
Hello from Michigan, USA.
Congratulations on your Ortega y Gasset award. I saw the story on cnn.com. In my Latin America class, we were following the recent changes the Cuban government, and I see that Raul is making many positive changes, with many more to come in the future. I pray for you people everyday, because with the little problems I have here in America, I don’t think it’s anything like what the people of Cuba have suffered from for the last 49 years and 49 days. I’m rooting for you guys, stay strong. Smile*
Greetings from Malaysia.
I read about your blog today in our national Newspaper all the way in Malaysia. Its unbelievable that democracy is still a distant dream in Cuba.. No freedom of speech, opinion and all the little things that we take for granted means so much when we read about countries that are fighting for rights of democracy.
Your blog has inspired my life in more ways than you can imagine… Keep it going and don’t let the Cuban dictatorship get you down. I will follow your blog with much interest and support.. I do hope someday that Cuban people will live in democratic Cuba.
aLSO congratulations for the Ortega y Gasset prize that you received from El Pais. Despite having denied Visa for Spain, your accomplishment will be remembered by many people. Oppressions like these will cause Cubans to fight for thier rights even more.
Cheers,
Ranvr
You’re wise beyond your year’s young lady. It is true that people are affected by their culture and circumstances. This observation raises several questions in my mind.
1.How did we arrive at this place in time?
2.Can this condition of lack of etiquette and kindness be corrected or improved?
3.How does this issue of discourteousness and ruddiness figure in regards to human nature?
4.What steps can we as individual take within our society to improve things?
Incredibly almost all of these questions can be somewhat adequately addressed with a short poem by Rabinadath Tagore:
“Men are cruel, man is kind”
If we visit a large urban city (like New York or Miami), were the people are competing for scarce resources (say a parking space for your car) rudeness and aggressiveness increases, this is no less true of Havana or any other place where resources are scares. Looking someone in the eye, face to face, one on one and under more normal circumstances and being out right rude is not in human nature but when you have a mob mentality then everything changes and everyone is competing for limited resources everything changes.
When you see how powerful a thought and idea can be you sometimes are amazed. The ancient Roman/Greeks thinkers (stoic philosophers) saw how their society was changing and deteriorating and failing to have success in changing and improving their condition from the top down they simply went in the other direction from the bottom up.
Society is made up of individuals and if one individual make a change an improvement and ask others to pass it on then eventually all or most individuals together can make a difference. One act of kindness and courtesy plus the concept of don’t pay me back but “pay it forward” can change the world. The Chinese have a saying that when making a handle for a hatchet and you need a sample or model you look to the hatchet in your hand that you are using to shape the piece of wood. When we need a guide to our actions simply look to within yourself, if you would not like that action or words addressed to you then don’t do it to another. This is the Chinese golden rule, “do not do on to other what you would not have then do on to you”.
So please forgive my long words, but I think your right on target, best wishes, good luck and “salud, amor I dinero”. :=)
Yoani,
Te felicito por el galardon que has recibido, y espero que sigas escribiendo sobre las cosas que te interesan y compartes con nosostros.
Un abrazo,
Maria
Keep on writing, denouncing, entertaining with humour, wit, irony, intelligence… and giving hope to your people. You wonderfully epitomize the freedom of speech on the Net… 😉
Good luck and kindest regards from Paris, France!
Rubbish blog Let me answer some of your questions:
7 de Mayo, 2008 – 22:10
“This blog is not written by an ordinary Cuban. It’s written by a right wing white middle class pro-USA traitor.”
Answer: Who are ordinary Cubans for you? The communist elite with all the privileges? Any Cuban who does not belong to that class is an ordinary Cuban and like any society Cuba is a diverse and amorphous group. That theory that anyone who does not agree with the government is a traitor and not a Cuban is anti-Cuban and full of hatred. Yoani is more an ordinary Cuban than yourself or anyone feeding left wing propaganda to you.
Additionally, there is no middle class in Cuba: it got exterminated by the extremists after 1959. What do you have against the middle class that in most countries is conform by hard working professionals? When totalitarian regimes eliminate this class their places in the society are then occupied by idiots who can offer only ideological stements to technical problems.
What do you have against whites? This is racial statement against the Cuban people where more than 50% are European Whites: Jose Marti was white, Varela was white, even the Castros are white.
“Ordinary Cubans do not sell out their country to Uncle Sam!”
So, I can assume ordinary Cubans for you are the communists: didn’t they sell Cuba to the Russians for 4 decades? I do not see Yoani or anyone in this blog begging the Americans to go back to do business in Cuba, but I read everyday in the news how the Cuban regime is desperate to have American investors and companies back in the island, what do they complain against the embargo? The embargo keeps Uncle Sam out of Cuba: isn’t that what people like you want?
“This “democracy lady” is very stupid if she thinks that Cubans don’t know about the murderous US government, which has destroyed the lives the hopes and the dreams of millions and millions of Latin Americans. Pick up a book lady, AND LEARN.”
The US government has not destroyed any Cuban’s life it has been the Castro regime all along. The Americans were kicked out of Cuba 50 years ago. The inefficient communist economy has impoverished Cuba. The US government murderous? Are you telling us Cubans that: The US government has opened its arms wide open for us for 50 years, while the Cuban government has cold blooded murdered many Cubans trying to escape from that “paradise” that you worship. Remember the “March 13th” Tugboat sinking?, the Rio Canimar massacre?
You are the one who needs to pick up a book and LEARN, start with these ones:
– “The Yenan Way” by Eudocio Ravines
– Guide to the Perfect Latin American Idiot by Plinio Apuleyo Mendoza, Carlos Alberto Montaner, Alvaro Vargas Llosa
I can come up with a long list, just read these two and arrive to your own conclusions
“You could start with asking some old Cubans (the ones you denigrate so arrogantly) why Cuba had a revolution in the first place.”
Cuba had a revolution in first place because Cubans hate dictatorships, the same way we hate Castro’s dictatorship today, we hated Batista’s dictatorship then.
“VIVA FIDEL!” Answer: he is half dead already defecating in a hospital bed through an artificial ass.
“VIVA CHE!” Answer: He was captured and terminated like a rat 40 years ago. The same way that he treated his prisoners –many of them innocent people- all his life.
“VENCEREMOS!” Answer:I can not say it better: We will prevail against the darkness brought down over the Cuban nation by a little group of “gansters” led by Fidel Castro who has oppressed its owns citizens for 50 years with the complicity of ignorant screamy left wingers.
One of our members wrote a brief story about you (http://www.nowpublic.com/world/yoanni-sanchez-prohibited-leaving-cuba), so I checked out your blog- great work.
(I guess I’m appearing below all the spam!)
To British:
So there is freedom in Cuba according to you?
You said that regularly visit Cuba: do you ask permission to the British government to travel? How would you feel if you have to ask permission? Probably to a prime minister that is not even the one who shares your political views? How about if that British government allows Cubans to have more rights in your country than yourself, a British national? How would feel about us Cubans if then we support the right of the British government to impose that to you?
Do you think that you are a superior human being compared to Cubans without the privileges that you enjoy in Cuba?
Who are you to believe that you have more rights over Cuba than the Cubans in Miami? They are Cubans, you are not.
Saudações do Brasil!!!
Continue a luta contra este governo!!! Aqui tambem estamos querendo que o nosso mude…. triste ver que ideias de liberdade passaram a ser desculpa para a tirania e o prazer de poucos.
Um abraço.
Bien dicho. Tienes un talento enorme. Sigue escribiendo.
Scottish socialist,
You crack me up, so you visited Cuba, as a tourist I suppose, now you feel for the Cuban people, so much so that you justify the lack of freedom by pointing out how much harm the CIA “would have done” if this freedom existed! Let me ask you something, is there freedom of speech in Scotland? Does the CIA meddle in Scotland’s affairs? Do you think the Cuban people so hapless and simple as to not have learned from the mistakes of the past? Aaah!!! But just in case they may be, then let’s make sure that the government controls every aspect of everyday life, after all, what better system than socialism to ensure equality and well being. If you doubt that, go live in Cuba is a perfect living example of just how well socialism works. Please not I suggested that you go live in Cuba, not visit it as a tourist, oh that’s right, you can’t do that, I guess you’ll just have to take my word for it.
Jorge,
You are the best, I especially like the Viva Fidel response, with which I agree 100%.
By the way, you do realize rubbish blog is just a “patria o muerte” monitoring the blog, right? ektor is another.
Nobody Important,
Donations may indeed be too socialistic, but please keep in mind that any receipts, whether acquired through donations or click through ads, would constitute a private for-profit enterprise, and that would be illegal in Cuba. So too bad, she will just have to do it because she is passionate about what she is doing. You on the other hand are too simple to realize that, perhaps you may want to start a competing blog and request donations. I also suggest you keep your day job, more likely, don’t give up the food stamp allotment.
I CAN’T BELIEVE YOU CAN EQUATE A LAW ABOUT SEAT BELTS TO BEING BAKED ALIVE IN A TIN CELL AS IS DR. OSCAR ELIAS BISSET! IT WILL SOON BE OVER FOR THE CASTRO BROTHERS. FIDEL IS DEAD AND RAUL IS HOLDING ON UNTIL THE US PRESIDENTIAL ELCTIONS. HE HAS HIS FINGERS CROSSED OBAMA WINS AND LETS HIM AND HIS CROONIES LIVE OUT WHATEVER YEARS THEY HAVE LEFT ( AVERAGE AGE OF THE “NEW” RULING CLASS ID 79! ) IN CUBA LIVING THE GOOD LIFE AS THEY HAVE DONE FOR 50 YEARS!
I CAN’T BELIEVE YOU CAN EQUATE A LAW ABOUT SEAT BELTS TO BEING BAKED ALIVE IN A TIN CELL AS IS DR. OSCAR ELIAS BISSET! IT WILL SOON BE OVER FOR THE CASTRO BROTHERS. FIDEL IS DEAD AND RAUL IS HOLDING ON UNTIL THE US PRESIDENTIAL ELCTIONS. HE HAS HIS FINGERS CROSSED OBAMA WINS AND LETS HIM AND HIS CROONIES LIVE OUT WHATEVER YEARS THEY HAVE LEFT ( AVERAGE AGE OF THE “NEW” RULING CLASS ID 79! ) IN CUBA LIVING THE GOOD LIFE AS THEY HAVE DONE FOR 50 YEARS!
congratulation on time 100! you are a secret no more. i live in mobile alabama the sister city of havana. we are polite here. you should come visit. i have been to havana. very beautiful. keep writing. i will put you on my web site coastal alabama.tv! adios robin delaneY
i saw your news in Malaysia newspaper, i really impress by your spirit
Good luck for you!
Free cuba!
Eco on Yanesti’s first paragraph. In Holland, where I live, sorry, excuse me and thank you are extinct words. No matter where you are, live… is not about race or culture, is about moral.
Yoani, well said but one of those macho gringos who dont say “i’m sorry” or never say he makes mistakes is Bush, and look at the 100K plus civilian deaths including children and also animals in irak. It’s nice you have this blogo but you are there and not here and now in these latter years I have seen that your liberator Marti was right in the 1800s when he said ” I know the monster because I lived under its “entran~as”..and this is still true after centuries. You really don.t know you live good and happy there, the only ones that live happily in USA are the white skinned ones as racism and discrimination is rampant in USA, they get the best jobs and pay just for their race and justice is not equal also. I wish you can come and live here for 6 months or a year, just recently one of your countrymen surprised me, with less than a year here he found out what I found out in 2 decades. very clever man, he is now doing papers to move to spain. He noticed the prejudice quickly and disliked it. I hope someday someone tells you the same thing..that’s really evil to judge somebody for his/her skin color or national origin, this is hate and all haters are evil, period, and this grows with the years and I soon will get the hell outta here.
God bless you…
You have a very special blog…i am an old-timer..born in 1955, but i think the internet is a very good thing. as well as all digital technology. i started my blog in aug 2005 and my youtube channel in jan of this year…we differ in style, you are very polite and im more of a in your face style….i admire and respect people who have courage, and you certainly do, as well as intelligence. my politics are a mix of left-libertarian and free market style economics.. keep up the great work and congratulations on your new international awards…peace, markus from tampabay , fl…
Geetings from Los Angeles, CA USA. God bless you Geny. I am a proud American of Cuban decent (mi mama es de Palma Soriano y mi papa es de Guantanamo). We are very proud of you and pray that God keep you healthy, brave and safe. My father is writing an article about you in next week’s edition of 20 DE MAYO- a local newspaper of Cuban exiles who have fled the tyrannical regime. It can be accessed through 20demayo.com. YOU ARE A TRUE HEROINE!
Every Generation says the same thing.
Welcome to being old.
youngsters have always been losing their manners.
Life is hard in Cuba -Welcome to Latin America.
This generation will no doubt continue the effort towards a better society.
Even if it is a dream…its one worth living for.
Peace.
Living in the United States for many years, I learned that government functionaries and leaders can do more than merely ‘not apologize’. Perhaps the single most important phrase that’s come out of the travesty of Iraq came when the Vice President said, not “We made a mistake”, but “Mistakes were made”. That simple bit of semantic change meant that no one was responsible.
‘I’ made a mistake, or ‘he’ made a mistake, or ‘we’ made a mistake… all these are admissions of responsibility. “Mistakes were made” is mere acknowledgement without responsibility.
It is, of course, a true statement– mistakes were made. But they were made by individuals… and that is what the politicians will never admit.
And, of course, there are the false apologies. In the case of the man whose foot was stepped on, had the woman said “I’m sorry that you didn’t like my stepping on your foot”, it would not have meant the same as “I’m sorry that I stepped on your foot”. The first acknowledges no guilt on her part– his feelings of pain or insult were his own responsibility.
Never believe anyone who says ‘Oh, that’s just semantics”. Semantics are all we have with which to communicate, and when we choose our words in ways to avoid responsibility… well, the Fidels and the Bushs of the world may be closer than they’d like to admit.
Here in Brazil, during the “mensalão” scandal, the president just said that he didn’t know anything. However, brazilian governors tend to use apologies as a way to appear more human, to win people’s admiration.
Not apologizing is inhuman (only gods don’t apologize. In the Bible, God just does what he means, without the need of explaining, and the humans just don’t want to know why.). The case of the dirty heel is emblematic. When a person treats another that way, he or she is saying that “some animals are more equal than others”.
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