Francisco Castro’s Diary

This rivalry reaches its peak at the end of the national baseball series when the absurd competition between the inhabitants of the two cities becomes a war of insults. People from Havana call those from the eastern region of the country, especially from Santiago, “palestinos” (Palestinians).

There is an old popular joke stemming from one of the many epithets by which the “Heroic” City is known. The Revolution was born in the mountains of Eastern Cuba and Santiago was its cradle. It defecated there, and when it grew up, it moved to Havana and left the cradle defecated.

These years at the faculty have opened my eyes to a fascinating world of images and sounds, which I already knew were there but never realized were so expansive. It has opened up the doors to the knowledge of history and storytelling, and has added fuel to the flame of research.

Five years of studying at the Higher Art Institute’s Audiovisual Media Faculty, and a few months working in Cuban radio and television, have allowed me to outline a few points that could serve to improve both institutions.

There is a wall within the people who decide what can and cannot be done on television, those who while thinking they are working for the good of people fail to notice that this service is not being rendered, not even to themselves.

The day of the thesis discussion, it happened that the committee members were conspicuously absent: one, because he was not notified in advance; another, because he came down with a sudden illness; and the other…for some unknown reason.

The objective is to show that vengeance, when transformed into obsession, is counterproductive in the sense that it not only affects the one who harbors it, but everyone who happens to be around – even influencing the conflict between generations.

“The End” is a story by Argentine writer Jorge Luis Borges that begins at sundown and unfolds throughout the night. Its very name prepares you for something that will occur at the conclusion: in this case several things, among them daybreak.

Conflict between generations is like a snake that bites its tail. Throughout all times, everywhere in the world, this conflict has existed – demonstrated in the unwillingness of the prevailing generation to hand over power to its natural successors.

My diary post “Today’s Teachers” was not based on just one or even ten examples. For several years, even before my cousin began attending the school mentioned, I have listened to friends, classmates and co-workers all complaining about the shortage of true teachers in schools.