My immediate sensation was one of watching a comedy film. Everybody was laughing at this man who only hollered (perhaps at himself): “Whoever you are, Christ will save you. Say yes to Christ in the depth of your soul.”
Read MoreOnly three years prior, we were a capitalist colony when a popular revolution occurred that was nationalist and anti-imperialist – but non-socialist. We were not socialist because the US media was able to implant a horrendous image communism in our minds, but also because our way of life and work had little to do with socialism.
Read MoreYesterday I got up early as always, but I guess I was moving more quickly than usual, since by 6:50 I was already at the bus stop to see if I could get the 7 a.m. bus and save myself the trouble of hitchhiking, or the 2 pesos for a collective horse-drawn taxi.
Read MoreThis guy had spent a few unforgettable days in Cuba: he rode a horse, went diving in a coral reef, visited both Havana and Cienfuegos, danced reggaeton and conga, roasted a pig on a stake, drank a whole lot of rum and —to top it off— he fell in love.
Read MoreThere are certain types of personalities who are repeated, like in the spiral of the history of a nation. For example, there were once overseers with certain levels of education who were hired by slave owners to whip the black slaves and thus ensure that sugarcane was cut; or those who served as mercenaries for the Spanish to track down members of the independence army. Some of these types are still around.
Read MoreValues are of course a magnificent tool for dominating from “within,” and thus exercising total power. After instilling them (that’s to say installing them), the manipulation of people is quite easy. It’s as if they were marionettes.
Read MoreCubans are always looking for reasons to celebrate. It doesn’t matter if it’s a birthday or a “non-birthday.” Common reasons for celebration include the victories of sports teams, the birthdays of saints, job promotions or getting together with friends you haven’t seen in a long time.
Read MoreI’m not exactly an environmentalist, but I believe that what environmentalists are doing is vitally important. Especially because they’re able —often better than other activists— to sensitize people with regard to controversial causes; because without sensibility, life becomes insipid and selfish, regardless of how good a social system.
Read MoreLess attention grabbing than a hunger strike is the matrix of people that is expanding —node by node— among people in this country who are interested in change. This is an effort that I would say is being directed toward true emancipation.
Read MoreI remember when I was about six I used to get all excited when my parents would take me roller skating on the weekend. We’d go to a rink a few blocks from our house where it cost only a peso to rent a pair of skates. They were metal but had four pretty yellow or orange wheels.
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