Opinion Archives - Page 458 of 487

Alan Gross for the Cuban Five?

Sending the Cuban Five home in exchange for Alan Gross would have saved the U.S. the embarrassment of the upcoming trial.

Cuba: Small Country, Big Name

It’s incredible that a country as small as Cuba — even tinier than Uruguay — can create such a racket in the world. Be it in politics, medicine or culture, or simply for its cigars, the name of the island always appears. The Wikileaks connection is no exception.

Supply & Demand Transport in Guantanamo

“You can go and complain to the government. I’m not to blame if the law of supply and demand now reigns, or for the fact that they raised my taxes,” said a driver.

A Recipe for Painting Demons

Miguel believed that his being accepted into the National Union of Cuban Writers and Artists (UNEAC) would finally release him from the curse of being a self-taught painter, meaning someone who couldn’t exhibit his works for sale in authorized galleries.

Imaginary Heroes

Our societies have always required heroes. But curiously, they have required them as ideological constructions, as imaginary figures based on a series of virtues, more than as real and concrete people. I’m sure that if our heroes came back to life they’d be very upset with the way we describe, imagine and supposedly want them to be.

What Never Happened

Although it was not the “appropriate channel,” it was in the street when we all gave our opinions. And it didn’t matter a great deal if we acted that way out of irreverence or wariness, because both are important qualities among journalists.

Don’t Skimp on Efforts for Life

The five survivors tremble with emotion in sharing their exciting and contagious stories that make viewers recall moments in their own lives when they could have been close to death. For our futures, this makes us reassess all the importance and significance of having made it to where we are now and everything that can be implied by our continued living.

Appropriate Channels in Cuba

As if it involved Venetian traffic regulations, political critics in Cuba must always express themselves through what are called the “appropriate channels,” otherwise they can be taken as ill-intentioned or even counter-revolutionaries.

A Salute to Obama

I am among those who are saluting the recent decision by President Barack Obama to take another step to bore through the embargo/blockade. In this case it involves the easing of some restrictions on travel and remittances.

Rescuing Santa from Cuba

In any case — with or without pressure — the White House will negotiate for its man and we’ll only have to wait to see how much it will give up in exchange. For the time being, an atmosphere of “greater understanding” can be noted in bilateral relations.