Author: Dimitri Prieto-Samsonov

The word “revolutionary” in its “street use” is usually synonymous with a “defender of the policies established by the leadership of the Communist Party,” even though many of us are attempting to give it a meaning that is in agreement with its historical genealogy.

As people endowed with a voice, the emos, Gothics, freekis, repas, etc., without a doubt have a lot to say to those who are not like them. Likewise, they are entitled to organize their spaces and have their place in society recognized. In short, dialogue is required; a dialogue that doesn’t exist.

Initially it was called the “Spare Parts Forum,” and was devoted to discussing suggestions for technological improvement and the re-conditioning of parts of various industrial machines. Many of these had become scarce following the structural crisis caused by the collapse of Euro-Soviet socialism.

Obviously Michael Jackson was not John Lennon. He was not a spirit in search of making sense of the world; he did not have that ethical-political commitment that engendered love and sometimes fanaticism from his admirers.

Those who should have the right to choose what is the best or worst of TeleSUR are the Cuban viewers (especially since we are the owners of 20 percent of the station), and we should execute that entitlement exclusively through our TV remote control buttons. I believe that the moment to implement such a possibility is now, precisely because of the events in Honduras.

A few years ago I had the opportunity to get to know several Iranians who were receiving training at my same research center. I was impressed by the fresh vision of the world that many of them had – so contrary to how we imagined the views of Muslims.

Over the course of the past 50 years, Cuban politics has by no means been detached from the region. However, it was a surprise for many that Honduras – perceived by most people as the most “passive” country in Central America – would elect a left president.

Many Cubans criticize the country’s television programming for being miles apart from what people talk about on the street and in their homes. However, there are some specific areas of TV programming that are as – or more – critical than common citizens.

My interest in neighboring Haiti is also inspired by the need to study the process by which emancipatory revolutions are hijacked by the political elite who then use them to erect new systems of domination.

It was a great honor for me to be on this panel dedicated to Russian and East European influences on Cuba. It is a highly debated topic since it is evident for many people that such influences exist, despite there having been little research on it.