Haroldo Dilla

Every time the Latin American Studies Association (LASA) holds one of its congresses, we see at least one conflict involving Cubans and travel visas. This year, on the eve of the 31st Congress, to be held in Washington, the U.S. State Department has denied three young Cuban intellectuals.

This April marks a decade since one of the most depressing moments of recent Cuban history: Black Spring. It was a time when Fidel Castro, excited about what he recognized as a revolutionary wave in Latin America and the arrival of the first Venezuelan subsidies, decided to eradicate all signs of discontent and opposition.

The Laboratorio Casa Cuba has presented a paper titled “A Dreamed of, Possible and Future Cuba: Proposals for Our Immediate Future,” consisting of 23 proposals that summarily cover various aspects of national life. The novelty of this proposal is that at the same time it calls for open debate.

It was a nice gesture that would have been worthwhile for one to take advantage of, especially since the number of Cuban descendants living in the US is equal to 10 percent of the Cuban population and that this group constitutes the most economically active population of transnational Cuban society.

The latest statements by Angel Carromero recanting everything he previously affirmed, seems to me — to be compassionate — something quite sad. Whether a crime was committed or he had an accident on that afternoon in Bayamo is something known only by God and those involved.

A few weeks ago Mariela Castro (MC) was interviewed by Salim Lamrani on a number of issues regarding homosexuality in Cuba and related government policies there. I think this was one of the worst things MC has offered the public – her fans included. I say this because this exposure given to MC is really so absurd and erratic that it sounds like a poorly told children’s story.

If Yoani Sanchez — with fine irony — thought that a vice president under 80 years of age would be a good sign of renewal, I think February 24 gave her more than that. Frankly I think the whole electoral process gave some very interesting signals about where Cuban society is moving.

When I heard that passports were going to be given to some opposition figures who had described the island as a prison, and later when a friend told me how easy it was for doctors to get permission to travel, I went back to my computer to read what I had been written on the subject since the Cuban president announced immigration reform.

Yesterday there were general elections in Cuba. Even without knowing the outcome, I think there was something interesting in them that we should pay attention to and that indicates the erosion of Cuba’s totalitarian system.

It’s not that Jose Marti was any kind of saint, but everyone agrees that he was a decent and upright person, which to me means a lot. He was a convinced democrat, but after almost 120 years since his death, he’s unable to protest or vomit. He has no choice but to swallow in silence before those tributes and admirers.