Diaries Archives - Page 475 of 633

Simple Matters, Senseless Obstacles

This simple situation I just faced is one of the many things here that don’t make any sense or logic but that we Cubans constantly encounter.

Are We Cuban Citizens? Do we want to be?

I’ve expressed my doubts on other occasions about the legitimacy of the process that in 1976 led the people of Cuba to approve what is now our current constitution.

Mosquitos and Butterflies

For several years now, the anti-mosquito campaign here in Havana has brought with it an infinite number of home inspections with the aim of protecting the public’s health.

‘Order and Luxury’: Slogans of the New Cuban University

We need to avoid oversimplifications. For example, discipline is not always born from order and starkness; disorder and crowds also generate discipline. Everything is a question of context and need.

‘Nocturno,’ Yet Another Living Cuban Museum Piece

“Nocturno” is a radio program that’s been on the air for more than 40 years. When it first began back in the ‘60s, it was well received by the youthful listeners of that time.

So What Happened to Cuba’s New Cooperatives?

The essence of the matter is that all “self-employed workers” will now be able to hire employees (wage-laborers). Previously, only those who carried out a few specific occupations were authorized to do this.

Though in Cuba “Universities Are for Revolutionaries”

My relationship with the culture of Eastern Europe is almost genetic. I admit that I’m of the generation that was raised with the cartoons and espionage series from the socialist camp, as well as extraordinary universal Russian literature.

Rastafarian Culture in Cuba

In the presentation led by Dr. Jesus Guanche (who is a professor, ethnologist and researcher), he pointed out that he had in his hands a reference book that covered the origin and evolution of this culture, as well as its contextualization in Cuba.

My Bad Luck TV

In Cuba, “having a ‘chino’ behind you” is an expression to describe bad luck. It refers to day-to-day luck, which is what’s needed to get through daily life. It’s the kind of luck that translates into good transportation, easy access to food or the good functioning of the institutions on which we each rely.

Brazilian Soap Promotes ‘Anarchism’ in Cuba

Recently an unsuspected medium appeared in Cuba for explaining the meaning of anarchism and its organizational principles. That does indeed take some explaining since little is known about this “exotic” theme here on the island.