Diaries Archives - Page 600 of 641

Daddy, Don’t Buy Me a Kalashnikov

I travel quite a bit with my wife. These are just short trips to nearby cities here in Japan, but they’re really invigorating.

Struggling, You Gotta Struggle

“To struggle” is one of the essential expressions of Cuban political speech of the last 50 years. You struggle against imperialism, against immobilism, against wasting energy, against work delays and absenteeism, against marabu weeds, against the bureaucracy. And you struggle for the Revolution and for socialism.

More Cuban Doctors in Venezuela

A couple weeks ago, a news item appeared in the press that may have been of interest to a considerable number of Cubans. The headline in the October 9 edition of the Granma newspaper announced, “Chavez Receives New Advance Team of Cuban Doctors.”

The Prognosis

Yesterday I visited my aunt Mamita; it was her birthday. Before knocking on their door, I imagined she’d be in a festival mood, celebrating with friends and relatives.

From Uncritical to Social Chauvinist Art

My intention is not to get into a superficial debate about why this figure -so popular with reggaeton fans (of whom there are many)- has so drastically “veered” in his ideological outlook, as has been announced by certain media sources.

A Spiritual Gathering

These are not the usual kind of parties, but spiritual gatherings, part of the Santería religion. Santería is an offshoot of the religions that the black slaves from Nigeria brought to Cuba with them in the 19th century, which later blended with the Catholic religion.

Hershey, Cuba (The last model town)

Amarilys Ribot’s book Hershey has several virtues. Written in an unconventional style for a research study -the book at times reads more like a poem or a story than a scientific text-, the essay tells the story of the multifaceted social vitality of the town under the patronage of Mr. Hershey.

Trying to Save the World

When I was a child I imagined myself as the world’s savior, a sort of Captain Planet stamping out evil. In my fantasies, I could save a princess, prince or even myself, if I were in danger.

A Delicate Operation

Maria del Carmen has worked for almost 20 years in a warehouse of the Ministry of Education. Over this time she’s had to grapple with weight beyond her true capacity, producing serious spinal problems: a herniated disk and a spina bifida. In addition to causing horrible back pain, this has also forced her walk with a stoop, making her look older than she is.

Freedom, a Divine Treasure

We Cubans have renounced our freedom – that ample concept as broad and deep as the sea – in order to submerge ourselves in an artificial lake of small liberties. We delight in its name, and very few of us notice the injustice that we commit.