Opinion Archives - Page 478 of 499

My Soap Opera

We’d already sung happy birthday and served cake and an improvised cold salad when Manuel, one of the guests, told me: “The Brazilian novel’s starting. Please, why don’t we take off the music and watch it?”

Shorts in the Energy Revolution

The problem of the over-consumption of energy has appeared evident ever since it was announced that all families that cooked with gas, kerosene or firewood —most of the population— would have to start using solely electric appliances.

Mariel Boatlift Thirty Years After

Thirty years ago a dramatic situation occurred at the Peruvian Embassy in Havana that led to the Mariel boatlift and the spontaneous emigration of around 125,000 Cubans to the United States. Aurora Arrue recounts her unforgettable experience.

Cuba’s Workers: Between a Rock & a Hard Place

The workforce restructuring plan that will soon be implemented in Cuba is worrisome to everyone: State employees as well as retirees, homemakers, self-employed workers and students. In one way or another, they will all be affected by the half million who will shortly find themselves without jobs.

Debating Issues in Cuba

To see disagreements between the panelists on a program like Cuba’s news/commentary program “Mesa Redonda” (the Round Table) is something that rarely occurs. To also allow members of an audience to raise blunt criticisms against the government would be truly astounding.

A Sliver of Power

The situation brought a kind of relief for the rest of us. We even cracked jokes about the circumstances, perhaps because we’ve become used to these after such a long time. In fact, it was during that Special Period —which has spanned a good part of my adolescence and my adult life— that I heard, “You’re not allowed in here,” and I didn’t expect any explanation. I didn’t even think we were owed explanations.

From Loyalty to Complicity

The Cuban government has now begun the process of expelling hundreds of thousands of workers from the labor market and is organizing the country in agreement with the rules of the private marketplace.

The Cart, the Horse & the Road Ahead

We applaud the fact that actions are being taken to free us from stagnation and that at least basic issues are being addressed. However, contrary to the official line, the content, form and order of what has begun demonstrate signs of improvisation, a lack of foresight, the absence of transparency, contempt for revolutionary theory, pressuring and imposition.

What’s Good for the Liver is Bad for the Heart

A few days ago a man with an intense stare and a heavy walk showed up on my doorstep. “Do you want to buy meat?” he asked, looking around cautiously. “Meat? What kind of meat?” I immediately asked.

The Glamour of Mediocrity

“Two Who Love Each Other” is the new television program of Cuba’s self-proclaimed artistic vanguard. The airing of the program relates to the personal interests of its host and director, singer-songwriter Amaury Perez, who is attempting to exhibit to the public a select list of “cultured” Cubans.