Opinion

The Drama of Cubans in Central America: Culprits & Accomplices

The drama Cubans are going through in Central America is a multifaceted issue that cannot be summed up with a simple explanation. I won’t attempt to offer an exhaustive explanation here and limit myself to highlighting what I consider to be the most shameful aspect of this situation: the complicity of the Cuban government and those who remain silent about the incident.

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The Accident that Changed Miguel’s Life

He came back home with a bandage wrapped around his head, with no recollection of what had happened to him. It was the summer of 1984, a Thursday afternoon. Two weeks later, he was already out and about, greeting everyone and answering by his name, Miguel.

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Grief, Phnom Penh and Paris

Over the past few days, I have seen a growing number of people publish comments on social networks that criticize the indignation prompted by the terrorist attacks in Paris, claiming that those who express solidarity with the victims do not cover their Facebook profile pictures with Lebanese, Pakistani, Afghan, Iraqi or other flags the rest of the year.

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Cuba: The Exodus and Those Responsible

The number of young Cubans leaving for the United States through any means possible has been rising dramatically of late. Thousands of Cuban families experience the anxiety of waiting to receive information about their children, who took to the sea or the jungles and borders of Central and South America. The phenomenon stems from both current and long-lasting circumstances.

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Waiting in Line for Cuba’s Healthcare Services

Most visitors to the island marvel or are astonished at how often Cubans head down to the doctor’s office, polyclinic or hospital, even when they’re in good health. What they don’t know is that this is the only way Cubans can get the prescriptions they need…

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Cuba Sympathizers: Curious or Shameful?

Raul Castro says that, in 2018, after nearly sixty years of authoritarian and repressive rule, he will step down (not specifying who he will pass the torch to), as though he were offering people a gift. What’s more – and pay attention – he says he would like to visit Miami!

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Ankle Sprains and Democracy in Cuba

A doctor friend of mine told me that ankle sprains are one of the most common accidents suffered by people in Havana. When I asked him whether this had anything to do with the state of the terrain, he replied that that was one of the main reasons.

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The Noble Profession of Leaving in Time

More than one friend of mine has been taken aback by my decision to retire at 38 years old, when the logical thing to do would be to work more or less this same amount of time before retiring. Even my friend Jorge asked me if my stay in Venezuela (working in cultural promotion) for two years had filled my pockets with enough money to leave my job at Havana’s Centro Provincial del Libro and to live indefinitely off this money.

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