www.ambiente.us APRIL |ABRIL 2010
EDITORIAL
The Power of One | 100,000 join Gloria Estefan in march for
Cuban protesters
By Herb Sosa
In solidarity with Cuba’s Ladies in White, over on hundred thousand people joined
Gloria Estefan in an emotionally charged march in Miami, and I for one could not have
been prouder to be there.
Gloria Estefan and a huge crowd dressed in white filled Calle Ocho to show solidarity
with the "Ladies in White", human rights protesters in Cuba who have been attacked by
government agents. Tens of thousands marched Thursday, March 25, 2010 in Miami to
call for liberty in Cuba.
Tens of thousands of Cuban exiles wearing white, and carrying gladioluses and flags
marched for blocks along Calle Ocho with singer Gloria Estefan in support of Cuba's
Damas de Blanco, Ladies in White, the peaceful dissidents who last week were
attacked by government security forces in Havana.
In an unprecedented turn of events, the Ladies in White marched at the same time
along Havana's famous seawall, stopping in front of the Hotel Nacional to release a
dozen doves.
``¡Libertad! ¡Libertad!'' the women chanted.
They were soon hassled by a mob that
chanted: ``Fidel! Fidel!''
In Miami, the throng of marchers, which
EDITORIAL
The Power of One | 100,000 join Gloria Estefan in march for
Cuban protesters
By Herb Sosa
In solidarity with Cuba’s Ladies in White, over on hundred thousand people joined
Gloria Estefan in an emotionally charged march in Miami, and I for one could not have
been prouder to be there.
Gloria Estefan and a huge crowd dressed in white filled Calle Ocho to show solidarity
with the "Ladies in White", human rights protesters in Cuba who have been attacked by
government agents. Tens of thousands marched Thursday, March 25, 2010 in Miami to
call for liberty in Cuba.
Tens of thousands of Cuban exiles wearing white, and carrying gladioluses and flags
marched for blocks along Calle Ocho with singer Gloria Estefan in support of Cuba's
Damas de Blanco, Ladies in White, the peaceful dissidents who last week were
attacked by government security forces in Havana.
In an unprecedented turn of events, the Ladies in White marched at the same time
along Havana's famous seawall, stopping in front of the Hotel Nacional to release a
dozen doves.
``¡Libertad! ¡Libertad!'' the women chanted.
They were soon hassled by a mob that
chanted: ``Fidel! Fidel!''
In Miami, the throng of marchers, which
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included different generations of exiles and other Latin Americans, also chanted
``¡Libertad!'' and displayed placards with photographs of jailed dissidents and the
Ladies in White. ``Obama, yes, we have a dream, too,'' one sign said.
It was a rare show of unity in a community often divided over how to bring democracy
to Cuba, and Estefan, whose appeal crosses several generations of Cubans, seems
to have emerged as its strong new voice.
``Thank you, Miami,'' Estefan said as she took the podium. ``This shows we're one
people. We are the people that love and defend freedom.''
IN CUBA
Then, Estefan got word on her cellphone about the events in
Havana.
``At this moment, the Ladies in White are marching and are
receiving violence again,'' Estefan said. ``Ladies in White, we walk
with you.''
The singer also delivered from the stage news reports of another violent act against a
dissident in Cuba, later confirmed by El Nuevo Herald. A mob of civilians organized by
state security tried to break into the home of dissident Luis Miguel Sigler in a
Matanzas town -- just as the Miami march got under way.
Estefan, however, ended the hour-long march with a message of peace.
``Peace, love and freedom in the world,'' she said. ``¡Viva Cuba Libre! ¡Viva los Estado
Unidos! May God bless this great nation that has allowed us to do this.''
The Cuban-American star had called on South Floridians to join her in protest of the
treatment received by the women in Cuba. They were violently confronted during a
march in Havana to mark the anniversary of the 2003 jailing of 75 dissidents, many of
them independent journalists and poets. One of the dissidents, Orlando Zapata
Tamayo, died after a hunger strike.
``¡Libertad!'' and displayed placards with photographs of jailed dissidents and the
Ladies in White. ``Obama, yes, we have a dream, too,'' one sign said.
It was a rare show of unity in a community often divided over how to bring democracy
to Cuba, and Estefan, whose appeal crosses several generations of Cubans, seems
to have emerged as its strong new voice.
``Thank you, Miami,'' Estefan said as she took the podium. ``This shows we're one
people. We are the people that love and defend freedom.''
IN CUBA
Then, Estefan got word on her cellphone about the events in
Havana.
``At this moment, the Ladies in White are marching and are
receiving violence again,'' Estefan said. ``Ladies in White, we walk
with you.''
The singer also delivered from the stage news reports of another violent act against a
dissident in Cuba, later confirmed by El Nuevo Herald. A mob of civilians organized by
state security tried to break into the home of dissident Luis Miguel Sigler in a
Matanzas town -- just as the Miami march got under way.
Estefan, however, ended the hour-long march with a message of peace.
``Peace, love and freedom in the world,'' she said. ``¡Viva Cuba Libre! ¡Viva los Estado
Unidos! May God bless this great nation that has allowed us to do this.''
The Cuban-American star had called on South Floridians to join her in protest of the
treatment received by the women in Cuba. They were violently confronted during a
march in Havana to mark the anniversary of the 2003 jailing of 75 dissidents, many of
them independent journalists and poets. One of the dissidents, Orlando Zapata
Tamayo, died after a hunger strike.
What made this event different from other
calls for Cuba’s Freedom? The fact that
three generations of Cubans & Cuban-
Americans came together in peace. Many
with differing political views and ideas as to
what should be next for Cuba. Many with
different personal experiences of what Cuba
is to them. All of this paid for completely by
the Estefans. 100,000 persons marching for
freedom for those who can’t. All without a
single incident or arrest in Miami, while mobs and government thugs attacked, beat
and dragged off women.
Miami is often portrayed as an out of touch community with its daily rants about the
Castro’s Cuba lack of freedom and sensational media sound bites. What is a
passion and hunger for a free Cuba is unfortunately dismissed as a tired & old
generation that is intolerant and out of touch – nothing could be further from the truth.
They are not out of touch, rather informed and experienced, and must be respected.
I am privileged to have been born in the U.S. and to proudly carry my Cuban heritage
and all its richness in culture, history and yes, politics. Many don’t realize the
significance of Cuba in the American Civil War – a time when a significant amount of
the North’s work was paid for by Cuban donations of money, jewelry and soldiers.
Many don’t realize that over 10,000 Cubans fought & died for over 10 year seeking their
freedom from the Spain – long before a U.S. soldier mistakenly blew up the U.S.S.
Maine, giving the U.S. an excuse to come in & fight Spain. Many don’t realize that the
CIA trained & equipped thousands of Cuban exiles to invade Cuba & overthrow
Castro, only to be left without the promised U.S. military backup on Cuban shores and
ultimately be imprisoned or executed.
Many don’t realize the significant contributions to the U.S. that Cubans have
calls for Cuba’s Freedom? The fact that
three generations of Cubans & Cuban-
Americans came together in peace. Many
with differing political views and ideas as to
what should be next for Cuba. Many with
different personal experiences of what Cuba
is to them. All of this paid for completely by
the Estefans. 100,000 persons marching for
freedom for those who can’t. All without a
single incident or arrest in Miami, while mobs and government thugs attacked, beat
and dragged off women.
Miami is often portrayed as an out of touch community with its daily rants about the
Castro’s Cuba lack of freedom and sensational media sound bites. What is a
passion and hunger for a free Cuba is unfortunately dismissed as a tired & old
generation that is intolerant and out of touch – nothing could be further from the truth.
They are not out of touch, rather informed and experienced, and must be respected.
I am privileged to have been born in the U.S. and to proudly carry my Cuban heritage
and all its richness in culture, history and yes, politics. Many don’t realize the
significance of Cuba in the American Civil War – a time when a significant amount of
the North’s work was paid for by Cuban donations of money, jewelry and soldiers.
Many don’t realize that over 10,000 Cubans fought & died for over 10 year seeking their
freedom from the Spain – long before a U.S. soldier mistakenly blew up the U.S.S.
Maine, giving the U.S. an excuse to come in & fight Spain. Many don’t realize that the
CIA trained & equipped thousands of Cuban exiles to invade Cuba & overthrow
Castro, only to be left without the promised U.S. military backup on Cuban shores and
ultimately be imprisoned or executed.
Many don’t realize the significant contributions to the U.S. that Cubans have
| . |
and continue to bring – the most successful economically & politically, of all immigrant
groups to ever arrive in this great country. Don’t take my word for any of this, do your
research & learn your history.
Many wonderful immigrant & exile groups have contributed greatly to the U.S., as well
everyone privileged enough to call this Home, should. The difference with the Cubans
that currently their native country is under siege by a dictatorship that was not elected,
refuses political or social freedoms, has contributed to drug & human trafficking to the
U.S., has threatened this country with missiles and shot down our civilian planes, and
is only 90 miles off our shores.
Maybe then we will all better understand the passion, pride and insistence of Cubans
in Exile when we dig a little deeper. Maybe then we will all march together – one by
one - for a free Cuba. ¡Viva Cuba Libre!
CLICK HERE for more Herb Sosa
Copyright © AMBIENTE MAGAZINE. Do not reproduce without citing these sources.
groups to ever arrive in this great country. Don’t take my word for any of this, do your
research & learn your history.
Many wonderful immigrant & exile groups have contributed greatly to the U.S., as well
everyone privileged enough to call this Home, should. The difference with the Cubans
that currently their native country is under siege by a dictatorship that was not elected,
refuses political or social freedoms, has contributed to drug & human trafficking to the
U.S., has threatened this country with missiles and shot down our civilian planes, and
is only 90 miles off our shores.
Maybe then we will all better understand the passion, pride and insistence of Cubans
in Exile when we dig a little deeper. Maybe then we will all march together – one by
one - for a free Cuba. ¡Viva Cuba Libre!
CLICK HERE for more Herb Sosa
Copyright © AMBIENTE MAGAZINE. Do not reproduce without citing these sources.
