Latest News from Cuba
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- Source/Author: Vicente Morín Aguado
On Cuban Independence Day
(Mario Chanes de Armas, right, before he was edited out of the photo in the official Granma newspaper)
In memory of Mario Chanes de Armas, the longest-held Cuban political prisoner in contemporary history.
Every February 24th, Cubans celebrate the beginning of our last war for independence in 1895. Before that, there were two others, the so-called Ten Years’ War, from 1868 to 1878, and the Little War, between 1879 and 1880.
Unlike in the USA, we didn’t wait to win the war to create a civilian government, governed by a constitution; we had four constitutions while fighting for freedom since October 10, 1868.
The architect of February 24th was Jose Marti, the founding father of our nation. Marti was a liberal democrat, equally sympathetic to the impoverished sectors of society. However, he opposed the Marxist idea of class struggle, condemning the possibility of the socialist state, calling it “future slavery”.
Just arrived in New York, he recounts his first impressions upon seeing the Statue of Liberty, in January 1880, at the young age of 27, in The Hour magazine:
“I am finally in a country where everyone seems to be their own master. One can breathe freely here, because freedom is the foundation, shield, essence of life. Here one can be proud of his species. I never felt surprised in any country I visited. Here, I was surprised.”
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- Source/Author: The CubanAmerican Voice
The American Museum of the Cuban Diaspora
Patria de Martí - The CubanAmerican Voice
They are pleased to invite you
The Book Presentation
"El segundo amor de la ruleta"
Friday, February 16, 2024, 6:00 P.M.
The American Museum of the Cuban Diaspora
1200 Coral Way, Miami, FL 33145
Event Schedule:
Author
Fernando Godo
Read more: Book Presentation Invitation: 'El segundo amor de la ruleta'
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- Source/Author: Nicolas Sanchez
Interpretations of José Martí in the academy and in politics
It is an honor to give this presentation, and I thank the Pedro Pan Group for the invitation.
It is my intention to answer all of your questions at the end of my talk. I am not an expert on José Martí, but I did work in the academy for over 40 years and I have seen a dramatic change in how Martí has been treated and criticized by modern scholars. In fact, I will begin with an event that happened at Holy Cross College, in MA, about 18 years ago.
Once a year we offered a college-wide lecture on Hispanic topics around “5 de Mayo.” The speaker was a Puerto Rican Professor teaching in New York.
The topic was Martí’s involvement in the founding of the Partido Revolucionario Cubano. Most of the presentation was standard fare and nothing new was added --except for the ending, which almost led to a fist fight between the Cubans present and the speaker. The speaker said, to end his talk, that he found it amazing that after Martí had initiated the liberation against Spain, he did nothing for Cuba after the island gained independence and instead spent several years in New York City enjoying the good life! The Cubans in the audience jumped up and declared that Martí had died in Cuba during the struggle, something that the speaker denied. The fist fight would have been appropriate, but it was contained to a mini-riot.
As you can imagine, I do not want any such experience to occur in this presentation. Hence I will summarize now the nature of my talk and my views on José Martí. He was definitely a genius, something that was reflected both in the quality of his poetry (which I will not discuss) and in his bringing together the necessary leaders to achieve Cuban independence. He was also devoted to promoting education, racial equality, freedom of expression, and revolutionary action. Martí created our national identity. He was neither a socialist nor a capitalist, but a political liberal who believed in wealth redistribution and supported democracy and freedom of expression.
Read more: Interpretations of José Martí in the academy and in politics
- Details
- Source/Author: The CubanAmerican Voice
(The Cuban Dream Team during a practice in Miami before the tournament was canceled. Screenshot)
Cuba: When Politics Tramples on Dreams
Dream Team of Cuban Baseball Players, the Original Sin of Exile Legitimacy
HAVANA TIMES – On January 17, Cubans received some bad news: the Intercontinental Baseball Series scheduled for Barranquilla, Colombia, six days later, was canceled. The private organizing entity, Team Renteria, claimed that the fatal decision was due to reasons beyond their control, linked to the Colombian Ministry of Sports and their Olympic Committee.
The source of discord was the unprecedented participation of a team from Cuba, made up of professional athletes who play in various leagues in countries where the extensive national diaspora is located. The players, escaping the tight control exercised by the government of Havana over sports, have created their own sports entity called the Cuban Professional Baseball Federation (FEPCUBE).
The mere existence of an organization attempting to represent Cuba outside the clutches of the Communist Party regime is an unacceptable challenge for the Plaza de la Revolución.
The Caribbean city of Barranquilla, where the stadium named after national idol Edgar Rentería is located, was an excellent choice for Colombian and continental baseball. However, Mindeportes, the governing entity of the host country for the Cup, now led by former M-19 guerrilla Gustavo Petro, had warned on January 9th:
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