It took only a few days for the new immigration regulations to come into effect for all-star baseball player and national hero Jose Ariel Contreras to show up at Havana’s international airport tearful, thrilled and grateful for having been able to return to his homeland.
Read MoreThe big difference now is that Cubans too will be able to return. To maintain their residency on the island, all they’ll have to do is come back every 24 months. But now they won’t return as deserters or traitors, but as citizens with the same rights as everyone else.
Read More“Krudas are so revolutionary that they had to emigrate.” Since then, every return by the singers Pelusa and Pasita has brought us several songs full of the experiences of being two lesbian feminist rappers from “the musical island” and survivor-dissidents of the air-brushed images of Cuban hip hop.
Read MoreA few nights ago, while reading in my living room, the voice of Professor Manuel Calvino came on his TV program “Vale la Pena” (It’s Worth It). He almost always begins by telling us about some situation that he witnessed or was involved in, or by reading a letter sent in to the show to make us reflect on a topic.
Read MoreYesterday 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.
Read More“With children, you either love’m or you hate’m.” That’s what my grandma used to say, unambiguously. “There’s no middle ground when it comes to one’s love for children. The parent that doesn’t love their children, simply hates them. And since your father doesn’t hate you,” she would add smiling, “he loves you madly.”
Read MoreCuban authorities finally decided to talk about the underwater telephone cable that disappeared from official speeches and the national press a couple years ago. Now they’re saying that testing is being conducted, but they warn that we shouldn’t have any illusions as we will have to continue waiting.
Read MoreThe easing of immigration restrictions and the development of non-state tourism in Cuba could favor the already considerable arrival here of Cubans who live abroad.
Read MoreIt’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.
Read MoreFor those who experienced the massive destruction left by hurricane Sandy in Santiago de Cuba, it is hard to believe how a few months later, all streets are free of debris; water, electricity, and telephone service have been fully restored, thousands of roofs have been replaced and hundreds of homes have been repaired or built.
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