Opinion Archives - Page 278 of 502

Welcome Cuba to the Progress Bazaar

Those who know Old Havana will recognize the luxurious “Kempinsky-Manzana de Gomez” hotel which will open very soon, with a lot of fanfare. Something in all of this particularly caught my attention…

A New Mosque for Havana, Pros and Cons

The city of Havana is reportedly set to be the site of one of the largest mosques in Latin America, which will serve Cuba’s estimated 10,000 Muslims, with the funding allegedly provided by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Why Did I Stay in Cuba, Why Didn’t I Leave?

Staying in Cuba is reason to be asked one fine day why you didn’t leave, and it’s asking yourself what would have happened if you had left. This “what if” is the father of all absurdity and uncertainty for what never happened…

Time Passes By and Cuba’s Anonymous Elderly

Nelson barely gets by and not many people know it. He doesn’t like to draw attention to himself. For years he’s been passing daily in front of my apartment with his wife and they go up the building stairwell in silence.

Book Review: The Politics of Che Guevara: Theory and Practice

The inevitable question has been haunting me: Why pick up another book about Che Guevara? It now joins with other urgent questions: What did the left do or not do to bring us to the current dark juncture? Could Cuba’s revolution have developed differently, and what would that have meant for world history? What vision does Che still have to offer?

As Chavism Clings to Power Venezuela Suffers

I’m not going to deny the fact that I thought it was an exciting and hopeful time when Hugo Chavez won the presidency of Venezuela back in 1998; and he swore before the Constitution, which he called “dying”, to fight for a new Venezuela: a more equal and prosperous Venezuela.

Cuba’s Silent Gatekeepers

For the last few months, I’ve been troubled by a suspicion – or a fit of paranoia if you will – which has been confirmed by what’s been going on recently.

Venezuela and Cuba Today (cartoon)

In Venezuela the clamour of the economic, social and political crisis continues to rise, while in Cuba the concern is over cheap oil with favorable terms. Many think that the decisions of the government of Nicolas Maduro are made in Havana.

Cuba’s Cockfighters Resist Police Ban

We ordinary Cubans have very few entertainment options left. For thousands of people in Mayari, just like across the nation, cockfighting is one of the few forms of amusement that exist here; but it has been illegal since the Revolution’s early years.

The Result of the Latin American Left’s “Unconditional Solidarity”

Edgardo Lander: “I personally believe that the majority of the problems we find ourselves facing today in Venezuela are problems which were building up under Chavez’s government.”