April 8, 2011

CUBA LIBRE

PLACES. I had always this dream of Cuba, of people brought up with a deep sense of justice and of humanity as fellow beings. Then I met a few Cubans throughout Europe and I found that they were hard working and proud, with their heads held high, and that they still had a dreamer in themselves, like Diana. Then, the last time we met, she told me that even her grandmother - who fought the Revolution, donated her properties to the cause and participated actively in the alphabetization program of the whole country - is now disillusioned with the repressive police regime in which all has ended.
I remember that once, many years ago, in a business gala dinner, I spoke in favor of the Cuban Revolution. It just happened that I was seated, side by side, by a grandaughter of Batista. She took it as a personal offense. I only knew her husband, an American businessman, and had no idea of her family background. The Vicepresidents of our respective companies, present at the dinner, had to intervene. My Vicepresident, J., closed the argument saying: "Forgive P., he is a philosopher".


Siempre tuve este sueño de Cuba, de su gente educada en un sentido profundo de la justicia y de la humanidad como seres todos iguales. Luego me fui encontrando algunos cubanos, desparramados por Europa. Me parecieron gente que trabajaba duro, orgullosa con la cabeza alta, y que aún llevaban un soñador dentro, como Diana. Luego, la última vez que estuve con ella, me dijo que ya hasta su abuela - que luchó en la Revolución, donó sus propiedades a la causa, y participó activamente en los programas de alfabetización por toda Cuba -  estaba ahora desilusionada con el régimen policial represivo en que había acabado todo.
Recuerdo una vez, hace años, en una cena de gala, me puse a hablar a favor de la Revolución Cubana, y resulta que estaba sentado, silla con silla, junto a una nieta de Batista. Se lo tomó como una ofensa personal. Yo solo conocía a su marido, un hombre de negocios americano. No tenía ni idea del origen familiar de ella. Los Vicepresidentes de nuestras dos compañias, presentes en la cena, tuvieron que intervenir. El mío, J., cerró la discusión con un: "Disulparle, es que P. es un filósofo".

9 comments:

  1. You are certainly forgiven. There are more 'philosophers' of this kind than is commonly thought, disillusioned we may be, yes, but philosophers nonetheless.

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  2. certainly you are forgiven, how were you to know. Cuba is a wonderful place, as I found out when I visited last year. the people have so much life energy.

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  3. La gente tiende a comprender, a empatizar mas con las dictaduras de izquierdas que con las de derechas, pero son igualmente dictaduras, e igualmente indeseables. Lo de la nieta de Batista y tu conversación sobre la revolución, menuda casualidad...o será causalidad...?

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  4. Hello:
    We are so pleased to have discovered your most interesting and varied blog. And how wonderful to be able to post in two languages!
    Cuba remains one of the places which we should much like to visit although a fear of flying long distances is something of a drawback. Perhaps one day, who knows?
    We have signed up as Followers to be able to keep in touch.

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  5. I have mixed feelings about the Cuban revolution. Having visited Cuba, these feelings became even more complicated. I really liked the way you were excused in front of the granddaughter of Batista. I have moments like that, when I say how I feel, and people say `She`s just an artist`:)

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  6. well your V.P. is a diplomat...I think being called a philosopher is quite a compliment....I never been to Cuba....and I wonder about their lack of freedom....no blogging there!

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  7. Yo no creo en las revoluciones que casi siempre acaban siendo represoras. Son un fraude para el pueblo que las apoya con la ilusión de aspirar a la libertad y la justicia.
    Con Cuba tengo sentimientos encontrados que espero aclarar cuando visite su tierra.

    Un abrazo

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  8. Ah- but you had no way of knowing. I wouldn't dwell on it. You meant no harm. Happy Monday!

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  9. :) I can think of worse things than being a philosopher. xx

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