Cuban officials label POTUS visit as an ‘attack’
Submitted by Gabe Laboy
President Raul Castro referred to the United States as “the enemy,” and Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez claimed that Obama’s visit was “an attack on the foundation of our history, our culture and our symbols.”
Read the full article here.
Immigration Panel: Stories of Adversity and Opportunity
Photo courtesy of Cuban American Student Association
By Lulu Talavera, CASA President
The Cuban American Student Association hosted an Immigration Panel, at which I had the honor of speaking. Immigration stories are always powerful and give a glimpse of the adversity many face in an attempt to find new opportunities. On the panel were four Cuban-Americans who shared either their own or their family’s story of escaping communism.
Alfredo Valdivia, a pre-medical student from MIT, took us through his father’s journey in the Embassy of Peru. He spoke of the 10,000 Cubans who rushed the Peruvian Embassy in search for a way out. He also discussed the mass emigration of Cubans who departed from Cuba’s Mariel in 1980, also known as the Mariel boatlift.
Both of these moments in Cuban history transformed Cuban emigration; in fact, it transformed my own family’s life. My father saw his only way out of the world he lived in through the Peruvian Embassy. That day my father was 21 years old, and he decided to leave everything behind in search for the liberation, human rights, and opportunity he was never going to see in Cuba. My father was one of many who waited for weeks for freedom. Those weeks were crowded, without food, and in search of hope.
David Piñeiro, also a student from MIT, shared his personal immigration story from San Jose de las Lajas, Cuba. He recounted his life in Cuba and his lack of human rights, and he reflected on how his thoughts and opinions were always silenced. In school he was never given the freedom of speech. Fear was instilled in his family as no one can say anything bad of the government. It was truly powerful, to see him on the panel freely discussing his thoughts, which is something he could not do in Cuba.
Another student from Boston University, Mariem Marquetti discussed the difficult transition once coming to the United States. The American Dream was not exactly a dream. My own father arrived to the United States with nothing to claim his own. He lived three months on the streets in search for a job. Mariem’s family moved to the United States much later to the city of Hialeah, where her family feared for their safety. She recounts stories of gun shots and violence in this new place called home. Alfredo’s father also faced a difficult transition as he worked countless hours in construction sites just to provide the foundation of the American Dream that we are all living today.
As young immigrants or children to the brave individuals who immigrated for a new life, we carry the sacrifice with us. We are our parent’s American Dream. They left a country that was taken away from them however our Cuban values and ideals will never be taken away from us. This was seen at the panel as we embraced the power of human rights over empanadas and Cuban coffee.
View a video recording of the event here.
Obama Visits Cuba
By Sierra Acosta
Photo courtesy of Cubadebate / Ismael Francisco via AP
Sunday, March 20, 2016 marks the first time that a United States president has visited neighboring Cuba in the past nearly nine decades. This visit is the culmination of recent efforts by the United States to normalize relations with Cuba, and begins the process of more open trade and greater involvement with the country.
Obama and family was met at the Jose Martí International Airport by Cuba’s foreign minister, Bruno Rodriguez. Cuba’s current President, Raul Castro, and President Obama later met to discuss normalization between the United States and Cuba, a process greatly endorsed and hoped for by the Cuban president.
President Castro was encouraged to take questions by reporters during their meeting on Monday, March 21, 2016, a process never before allowed.
Although this acceptance of questions by reporters might seem to point to more diplomatic transparency, it is important to note that while Castro did take questions, when he was asked whether Cuba has political prisoners, he responded that it does not. This calls into question the legitimacy of his apparent transparency and whether Castro is simply playing the part in order to secure better relations and the lift of the embargo.
Additionally, in the weeks proceeding Obama’s arrival in Cuba, the Cuban government had increasingly been on lock down in terms of striking down any hint of political protest. Even as Obama flew to Cuba, Cuban authorities arrested several members of the dissident group, the Ladies in White.
This continued use of repressive techniques on the part of the Cuban government is one of the reasons for Obama’s visit. Obama hopes to better diplomatic relations with Cuba while also addressing the fundamental issues regarding human rights and free expression in Cuba.
Photo courtesy of Anthony Behar-Pool / Getty Images
As talks about normalizing relations with Cuba continue, only time will tell whether the opening of trade between the United States and Cuba will also lead to the bettering of human rights and freer expression. That is the hopes of the American government, but it is uncertain whether that outcome will come to fruition.
Poetry for the Week
Submitted by Nicole Diaz
‘Cuba Nos Une’
Cuba nos une en extranjero suelo,
Auras de Cuba nuestro amor desea:
Cuba es tu corazón, Cuba es mi cielo,
Cuba en tu libro mi palabra sea.
– José Martí
‘Madre’
Mi madre no tuvo jardín
sino islas acantiladas
flotando, bajo el sol,
en sus corales delicados.
No hubo una rama limpia
en su pupila sino muchos garrotes.
Qué tiempo aquel cuando corría, descalza,
sobre la cal de los orfelinatos
y no sabía reír
y podía siquiera mirar el horizonte.
Ella no tuvo el aposento del marfil,
ni la sala de mimbre,
ni el vitral silencioso del trópico.
Mi madre tuvo el canto y el pañuelo
para acunar la fe de mis entrañas,
para alzar su cabeza de reina desoída
y dejarnos sus manos, como piedras preciosas,
frente a los restos fríos de enemigo.
– Nancy Morejón
‘Exilios’
Madre, todo ha cambiado.
Hasta el otoño es un soplo ruinoso
que abate el bosquecillo.
Ya nada nos protege contra el agua
y la noche.
Todo ha cambiado ya.
La quemadura del aire entra
en mis ojos y en los tuyos,
y aquel niño que oías
correr desde la oscura sala,
ya no ríe.
Ahora todo ha cambiado.
Abre puertas y armarios
para que estalle lejos esa infancia
apaleada en el aire calino;
para que nunca veas el viejo y pedregoso
camino de mis manos,
para que no sientas deambular
por las calles de este mundo
ni descubras la casa vacía
de hojas y de hombres
donde el mismo de ayer sigue
buscando soledades, anhelos.
-Heberto Padilla
Varying Opinions among US Legislators about Cuban Relations
Debate continues over what path the United States should take to move towards a more human rights friendly Cuban regime.
Read the full article here.
Now or Never?
A group of eight on their crossing of the Suchiate river along the Guatemala-Mexico border [Amparo Rodriguez/Al Jazeera]
For over 50 years the relationship between the United States and Cuba has been tumultuous, to say the least. Following the Cuban revolution and the rise of Fidel Castro, US-Cuba relations immediately began to deteriorate, reaching near disastrous levels during the Cuban Missile Crisis. For many years afterwards, US-Cuban relations were framed by Cold War politics and the pervasive Cuban Embargo.
All things considered, the Obama administration’s move in 2014 to restore diplomatic relations with Cuba was all the more unexpected. The decision did put an end to the impotent embargo, but also ignited fear among Cubans of a reversal of the current, favorable immigration policies towards Cubans. In response to the warming relations, many Cubans have undergone the perilous journey through Central America in hopes of reaching the southern border of the United States before any change could be made. Many believe that the removal of the 1966 Cuban Adjustment Act (informally known as “wet foot, dry foot”), which gives Cubans an easier path to permanent residency, is inevitable and thus have taken up a now or never approach to their exodus from Cuba.
“There’s a rush of Cubans now, because a lot of people are afraid of that law being repealed,” said Lázaro Clarke, 34, who worked as a barber and fruit vendor in Havana. Recent changes to Cuban law have permitted easier access to passports, allowing for Cuban citizens to leave the country at higher rates. The Cuban government has also allowed its people to sell their “cars and real estate,” a change which has given potential Cuban migrants the financial flexibility to leave the country. According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection data obtained by the Pew Research Center, “43,159 Cubans entered the U.S. during fiscal year 2015 – a 78 percent increase over the previous year.”
While many Cubans have successfully completed the expedition, many have been unsuccessful in their attempt. Along the way, migrants must deal with bandits and con artists while recent events have only served to make things more difficult. Migrants are especially prime targets because they often are forced to carry their life savings with them and cannot obtain police protection due to their refugee status.
Considering the risk involved when embarking on such a journey, one must wonder whether or not the notion that there will be a rapid reversal of the “wet foot, dry foot” policy is a credible one. The Cuban government, in part because it has lost much of its human capital in the form of doctors and other members of the educated class, has repeatedly urged the United States to revoke the policy. “Wet foot, dry foot” has been a point of contention since its inception, due to its preferential nature. Cuban exiles continue to back the policy, contending that the situation which made the policy necessary has not changed, human rights violations in Cuba continue to be the norm and, as such, there is no reason to make any alterations.
Critics, like Rep. Paul Gozar, point out that the policy makes the immigration process easier for Cubans and are contending for a repeal of “wet foot, dry foot” in favor of a more equitable policy. The Obama administration, however, has made it clear it has no intention of changing the policy. Thus, critics will likely have to wait until the next administration for any change. At least for the foreseeable future, Cuban’s coveted policy remains safe.
Sources:
http://www.aljazeera.com/blogs/americas/2015/06/cuba-migrants-150622203436816.html
Immigration: The Cuban Experience
Come join CASA on February 25 at 7 PM in Cushing 001 to hear our panelists relate their stories of immigrating from Cuba to the United States.
Race in Cuba Event: November 12th @7PM in Gasson 302
Join the Cuban-American Student Association and the Other Americas on November 12th at 7pm in Gasson 302 for a discussion on how Cuba’s culture, religion, politics, and music are inextricably linked to their African roots.
Cuban Embargo: To Lift or not to Lift, that is the question…
By Jesse Ray Rascon
…Or is it? According to Julio Shiling, he does not believe that is the right question the American people should be asking. Julio M. Shiling, the director of Patria de Marti, an online blog and forum to promote democracy and liberty in Cuba, believes the real issue lies within the conditions placed on the lifting of the embargo, not necessarily whether the embargo is a viable option or not.
His argument is based on his belief that President Barack Obama is not pushing for human rights as much as he should be. Shiling argues that the embargo lifting is being debated more for an economic opportunity for the United States, as opposed to alleviating the political oppression placed on the Cuban people. If this is true, Cuba could remain in the same oppressive state for many more years to come, unless human rights become a stronger topic of the debate.
Shiling presented this argument on Monday, October 5th, 2015 here at the Heights. Flying from Miami, Florida, Shiling presented his argument to a group of Boston College students, providing a unique perspective to many individuals here on campus. A significant number of students here on campus believe that lifting the embargo on Cuba would be a positive, progressive decision, as it would benefit both the United States and Cuba and could lead to furthering human rights in Cuba.
Shiling admired those who take into consideration the human rights of the people in Cuba, but he cannot agree with their opinion. Shiling argues that if the embargo is lifted without advocating more for human rights, Cuba may become a country similar to that of China. China is a country with a ruling communist party that has trade with the United States yet still has a strong political grip on its people. By maintaining a relatively open economy with more freedom, the people are able to have more economic opportunities than those in Cuba. Even with these economic opportunities, however, they are still oppressed by the Chinese government and must obey the communist rule.
Shiling believes that Cuba will pursue this more “democratic” form of economy, allowing free trade with more countries and economic opportunities for its people, but still maintain its strong political oppression on their citizens. This is why his he believes that human rights must be at the core of the embargo lifting argument. By focusing on human rights during the embargo lifting, justice and freedom will ultimately prevail.
Only time will tell whether Shiling’s theory is true or not, and whether more human freedoms will be granted to the Cuban people in the years to come. Until then, it can be safe to say that lifting the embargo is not the issue with Cuba anymore. More importantly, the real issue lies with the people of Cuba. It forces us to question if justice will prevail for the Cuban people, and if the United States will be the one to facilitate that opportunity.
View the video below for full coverage of the event.
Join Our E-Board!
CASA’s 2015-2016 election process is now open to intents!
We’re looking for people who are passionate, dedicated, motivated, and committed to educating BC on the social and political realities of Cuba, as well as promoting the beautiful island’s rich culture through cultural events!
ANYONE CAN SUBMIT INTENTS!
In order to be eligible for candidacy for a position, you must have attended at least two of the year’s events (collaborations with other organizations, general meetings, club meets, etc), and should send a formal letter of intent to vazquemj@bc.edu with the position of interest by 11:59PM on Friday, April 3rd, 2015. Elections will take place April 7th, 2015 at 7:00pm (location TBA).
The letter must include:
Your name
Your year
Position you are running for
Why you are running
Why you are qualified for this position
What other leadership positions you expect to hold
One thing you think CASA needs to improve on and how you can address it
Available positions are:
President
- will act as the official spokesperson and official representative of the organization
- will have general supervisory power over the activities of CASA
- will meet with the Faculty Advisor at least once a month to discuss business pertaining to CASA
- will have regular contact with the Dean Advisor and attend the informational meetings sponsored by Office of Student Involvement and will represent CASA and its membership at all times
- will call and organize all Executive Board meetings, coordinating all activities, and designating all duties
- will supervise all members of the Executive Board
- will attend all trainings required of the Executive Board members
Vice President
- will be responsible for the communication of information within CASA and will assure that the Executive Committee is aware of the activities of all committees of CASA
- will preside at meetings of which the President is unable to preside and represent CASA and its membership at all times
- will assist the President in executing his/her duties and assume supervisory responsibilities in the absence of the President
- will assume full responsibility in executing those duties delegated to him/her by the President
- will attend all trainings required of the Executive Board members
Treasurer
- will see to it that there are funds always available
- will assure that the financial records are in full and that the accurate account for all money is withdrawn and recorded immediately
- will obtain a financial report monthly to assure that all check requisitions and purchase orders have gone through
- will be necessary to validate any and all check requisition and purchase orders issued by CASA
- will abide by the regulations set forth by Office of Student Involvement
- will attend the SOFC treasurer’s training at the beginning of the academic year and all subsequent trainings required of all Executive Board members
- will aid in the coordination of programs which reflect CASA’s mission statement as necessary
Secretary
- will assure that minutes are taken at every meeting and are made available to all members of the Executive Board in a timely manner
- will assure the request for labels and register student listings when needed
- will keep a dated record of all the members attending general and executive meetings
- will also assure that all paper work is filed away
- will maintain the CASA listserv to distribute information on CASA activities and meetings
- will attend all training that correspond with his/her position and general trainings that are required of all Executive Board members
- will aid in the coordination of programs which reflect CASA’s mission statement as necessary
Public Relations Coordinator
- will publicize and advertise all meetings and any other event sponsored by CASA
- will create a working communication with other Cuban Associations at other universities
- will aid in the coordination of programs which reflect CASA’s mission statement
- will attend all trainings required of the Executive Board members
AHANA Caucus Representative (Liaison)
- will attend all weekly AHANA Caucus meetings
- will represent CASA by keeping the intercultural clubs up-to-date with CASA’s
- general information and upcoming events
- will be allowed to provide only three (3) excused absences for missing AHANA Caucus meetings during one semester
- will report back to the executive board members and inform them of the general
- information and upcoming events of the other intercultural clubs on campus
- will serve as a liaison to other organizations at Boston College, ensuring CASA actively co-sponsors with and supports these organizations in inter-club activities
- shall represent CASA at all times
- will attend all trainings required of the Executive Board members
- will aid in the coordination of programs which reflect CASA’s mission statement as necessary
Editor-in-Chief/Blogger
- will focus on the maintenance of the CASA blog and editing weekly blog articles
- will give weekly reports and new updates concerning the blog at the executive board meetings
- will be in direct communication with anyone that wishes to post on the blog and
- will relay the messages at the executive board meeting
- will attend all trainings required of the Executive Board members
- will aid in the coordination of programs which reflect CASA’s mission statement as necessary
Beyond the Postcard: Cuba Today 