Veronica Vega’s diary

In a country where government media describes a make believe reality or true only for the privileged elite, those of us who are independent journalists in Cuba usually only see what disappoints us. This makes us sarcastic, skeptical and unconquerable beings.

Thanks to a friend’s text message I was able to be present at the corner of Obispo y Mercaderes, Old Havana, where members of PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), the world’s largest organization for animal rights spoke on veganism.

There are words which can shake us up. I remember some of Mother Teresa’s words, about how she and her order accepted governments like sailors accept time. Depending on the conditions, they set sail, they sail, they wait, they face or avoid storms: but they never stop acting.

It’s understandable that tourists who visit us (if they don’t just want the postcard that Cuba sells them) want to meet some native Cubans, talk in a pleasant space and listen to opinions firsthand, as it’s impossible to get to know the country in just a few days.

I found out about them from a leaflet a HT colleague sent me and thanks to the adoption network they’ve created on the internet, I was able to put Pangur up for adoption, a pussycat I took off the street. Now, they are helping me to spread the image of a puppy my son and I saved after he was hit by a car.

The truth that Cubans don’t dare to publicly speak in their own country, has been continuously manifested in an exodus which has lasted just as long as the Cuban Revolution has.

Martin Guevara’s article “How it felt to be a child of worms” made me reflect on where and how the distorted feelings that make people believe they have the right to publicly humiliate others originated in Cuba.

Time frames are symbolic, but a new year is always an opportunity for us to settle debts. Therefore, I’d like to thank the readers who commented on my post “About Freedom”, apologizing for such a late response and to answer some of the questions put forward.

My niece is leaving. In a few days, she will immigrate with her husband and her two sons to the United States. Like so many friends and relatives who I have seen in this decisive moment, she is desperate to take the great leap.

I was inspired to write this post by a recent conversation I had with other HT colleagues. We were talking about countries where people have freedom of speech in other countries and how it relates to Cuba.