A question of tones
“I stopped for you because you’re white,” the taxi driver tells me after the tires screech in Reina Street around midnight. From his wide mulatto lips come the justifications, one after another, for why he doesn’t accept clients “of color” at this late hour. He looks for complicity in me, who was born in a majority black neighborhood and who loves skin the color of cinnamon. I barely listen to him. Those who discriminate against people like themselves especially bother me: the hotel doorman who berates the Cuban but lets a shouting gesturing tourist pass; the prostitute who will go, for ten convertible pesos, with a Canadian twice her age but doesn’t want to seem “defeated” by accepting a fellow Cuban; the Santiaguan who, once installed in Havana, mocks the accents of people from his own city.
Often I wake up and wish I was mixed, like Reinaldo and Teo, because when you look at my straight nose and my pale skin you think I have it easy. But it’s not true. There are many ways of being separate, because along with racism here we have discrimination based on social origin, the stigma of ideological affiliation, and the exclusion for not belonging to a family clan with power, influence or relationships. Not to mention the underestimation one receives in a macho society for having a pair of ovaries hidden in the middle of your belly. And so I am bothered by the dissertation of the driver who stopped the car because of the pallor of my skin. I want to get out, but it’s late, very late.
“What do you do?” he asks me under the streetlights of Belascoain Street. I’m a blogger, I warn him, and the lights of Carlos III Avenue show me his suspicious and fearful face. “Look, don’t go and tell what I just said,” he says, changing the indulgent tone he used when picking me up amid the gloom. “I don’t want you to publish later some nonsense about me on the Internet,” he clarifies, while grabbing his crotch in a gesture of power. My straight hair is no longer a reason to trust me, now my eyes don’t seem so almond-shaped, and when I explain—through my narrow lips—the subjects I deal with in my blog, it’s as if I am threatening him, razor in hand, a dangerous criminal. I confirm, then, that his spectrum of classification stigmatizes not only some shades of color, but also certain leanings of opinion, those tones which are not carried on the epidermis but that also lead, on this Island, to displays of segregation and rejection.
Noviembre 13th, 2009 at 01:39
Medrano
por favor lee el texto y si conoces la realidad cubana,piesa.Pensar es servir.
Noviembre 12th, 2009 at 10:43
Hmm, creo que no eres consistente. Si te molestĂł tanto el comentario del taxista como para escribir sobre ello, debiste haberte bajado del taxi. Pero era tarde, entiendo perfectamente por quĂ© no lo hiciste. Pero caĂste exactamente en la misma postura que el taxista. TĂş y el taxista viven realidades diferentes, que tienen que ver con muchas cosas, entre ellas, el racismo.
Noviembre 8th, 2009 at 16:00
Would be farcical if not for the abundance ignoramuses, it’s the same anywhere.
Long live the mulato millennium.
Noviembre 8th, 2009 at 04:10
[...] around the world, neither Cubans nor the government appreciate her internet presence. This recent post, which has been translated into English, demonstrates some of the attitudes in Cuba toward free [...]
Noviembre 8th, 2009 at 03:28
Yoani, I wouldn’t be so bothered by the comment. This isn’t an exercise in theory, the man is probably describing reality. At least in New Orleans, that has often been the reality. It just is what it is. You didn’t mention why he said what he said. If it was bald-faced racial discrimination alone, I’ll equally condemn it, but maybe he said it because of crime issues or maybe he just wanted to try to pick you up. Who knows? But there are more important things to worry about than why you got a late-night ride and why someone else might not have. Suerte. I’m sure someone will flame me for this, but I really don’t care.
Noviembre 7th, 2009 at 20:31
Hi - i am for the very first time on this blog. It`s really interesting point of view - and i have to say - very close to me , because i`m polish and I know very well what it`s live under that kind of political system. Cuba needs more such personalities like Yoani which have got passion , desire of freedom and first of all - diligence -trust me i know what i`m saying. In Poland nothing was easy - but people learned meaning of word - Solidarity - Yoani i wish You and Cuba path - which Poland had
Noviembre 7th, 2009 at 19:35
Racism in La Habana? But I thought one of the tenets of the Revolution was to dissolve any such abject qualities of the human race. Just as there aren’t any homosexuals living under the Iranian regime, that is, according to their King.
Noviembre 7th, 2009 at 18:34
Not a problem, Joh Two, have a nice weekend.
Thank you for remanding us about the fall of te Berlin wall, kind of ironic if you think about it.
The arrest of Yoani has been pick up by all international agencies(AP ,Reuters, EFE. It is truly amazing how well known this brave Cuban is. Good for her, Claudia and others .Hope they can do and I’m sure they will what so many of us tried before without success.I hope that they can finally bring the attetion to the rest of more than 200 political prisioners remaining in Cubans jails
Parapharsing James Lovell and his Apollo 13 I would like to say
…Havana Regime you got a problem…
Yoani , Claudia and the alternative blogosphere are a big problem they can’t handle it
The regressing count has begun.I’m certain now more than ever that their days are counted.
Noviembre 7th, 2009 at 18:03
Re comment #94
I really think you miss the point when you say that they both had the same fears. The cab driver fears people of his own race; Yoani’s fear is not related. Her fear, as I see it is of a fragile woman alone in a dark and dangerous area in the wee hours of the night, two totally different perspectives of fears.
Noviembre 7th, 2009 at 17:57
just heard from The Columbia University Journalism School Cabot Prize from an e-mail I sen yesterday on Yoani’s ordeal. I hope she can be made aware that they know what happened and would do what they can to provide support.
Humberto Capiro
Thanks for sending this to me. I have alerted the Cabot Prize board and will follow up next week.
Victoria Benitez
Noviembre 7th, 2009 at 17:33
It’s worth noting that Yoani’s ordeal comes at a sensitive time for the regime - the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall.
There is a captivating story in the Globe and Mail (a Canadian newspaper) about a young German women who played a largely unacknowledged role in tearing down the Berlin wall. A short excerpt and then a link:
“Through the bare tile walls of her solitary-confinement cell in Leipzig, Katrin Hattenhauer could feel a rumbling. As she lay on her bare, plank bed, her petite frame shook with a vibration from the main street outside, the sound of something large and heavy and determined.
She knew, from the air of distress among her Stasi guards, that something was going on. But it was damningly hard to make the distinction: Was this the thundering surge of huge numbers of people rising against the state, or of tanks and columns of soldiers restoring order?
It was Monday, Oct. 9, 1989. In a month, it would be her 21st birthday. It seemed unlikely she would live that long. Cancer had nearly killed her five years before, and now the Stasi, the East German secret police, had told her that they wanted her dead, soon.
She had been locked in isolation for five weeks, after being picked out of a crowd of hundreds and arrested for insurrection as she carried a large, cloth banner: “For an open country with free people.”
The last time any East Germans had made such an explicit call for openness, in 1953, hundreds had been massacred by Soviet tanks, and nobody had dared protest openly for democracy after that.
Her Stasi interrogator had said to her, during one of their lengthy sessions: “When things start outside, when we are given the order to start shooting, you can be sure that you will be the first in this jail to be put up against the wall.”
Unbeknownst to Katrin Hattenhauer, East Germany had erupted that Monday, in her name. The banner she had carried, and the air of martyrdom created by the arrest of her group of unknown students, had galvanized the nation.”
http://www.theglobeandmail.com.....le1354449/
Noviembre 7th, 2009 at 17:24
Y,
Sorry to hear about your interrogation. I hope you stay safe. One point I would like to make about your cab ride. You seemed to be disappointed in the driver for saying he only picked you up because of your pale skin but you then said you didn’t get out because it was late, late? Sounds like you both had the same fears. Why put him down for keeping himself safe? Shouldn’t he have that right? Even in Cuba?
David Creed
Franklin Furnace, Oh
Noviembre 7th, 2009 at 16:52
I notice Yoani has a first hand account of the ordeal up on the Spanish language site. She sounds as defiant and undeterred as ever.
Concubino, I wish to apologize for my earlier remark. I missed that you were being sarcastic in response to an earlier blog posting. I will in future try to refrain from making remarks about other posters unless I’ve read through the entire thread first.
Noviembre 7th, 2009 at 14:59
Here is an example of violence use by the Cuban regime
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXSYPLNBdCo
Noviembre 7th, 2009 at 14:10
Thank goodness Yoani sounds shaken but stronger than ever, based on the audio link at Youtube or at http://marcmasferrer.typepad.c…..olice.html
Let’s wait and see what dynasty supporters like Zapatero and Moratino have to say about this. From Chavez we shouldn’t expect anything since his look and demeanor seem like he used to engage in the same kind of practice as an officer in the army.
More importantly, I hope our president, Barack Obama, has something to say about these event. He might not say a word, as his advisers may point out that the regime could use it for propaganda against the movement.
Noviembre 7th, 2009 at 14:01
Thanks translator. Just got up and see it was busy here late last night in more ways than one.
I caught, half asleep, a glance of the offending comment. I felt honored someone who does not know me, would have the time, and stay up that late to bestow all kinds of honors on my persona.
It is important to point out that there are children from around the world, from as far away as Pakistan who like to learn about Cuba, and it would be a shame if they get a distorted view of Cuban culture based on the comments of one individual.
If you look at my comments, they mostly focus on the posts and I try not to engage in too lengthy exchanges, as there are other and new commentators that want to have post their thoughts as well and might be discouraged by the clutter.
Noviembre 7th, 2009 at 13:51
Yubano, English Transaltor
It is not the first time that Cold has used that kind of language. Again it is a pattern.He has differents ways to handle things.Without going to far I’m going just examples of his comments of this particular post:
1) When he is wrong he does not admmitted.Example “Charlatan”
2) He credit others. In this post he thanks Andy for providing a link to Claudia’s blog, when is somebody else who provided it.
3)When he is out of argumments, he insults others about their back ground, educational level,their “upbriging or simply called them “chivatos” with a nice euphemism.
4) When confronted about it he excuses himself by saying he is an old person and some other BS.I personally gave him my work number number and my real name. I even invited him for a beer and a Cuban cigar. We are from the same city.I was told by him that by doing that I was very brave and honest and to expect a phone call very sonn. It never happened. I was trying to reach out to this person in a friendly way like Andy suggested in comment #70. It did not work.Still I gave him the benefit of the doubt and included him in a debate in fact everybody was included except of course “coconutjuice” Andy offered his services to be the moderator.” “I’m game” Andy said..
It is a pattern it is done deliberatly.You can check previous posts. I specifically was accused once of smoking a Cuban cigar in fron of the computer and reporting to the Havana Regimen at the same time over the phone.
Cold,please don’t even bother. Now I am the one who has real doubts about you. People who accused others of being certain things frecuently, usually they are doing so to hide their own closet skeletons. In Psicology that is call Projection Mechanism. http://psychology.about.com/od.....mech_5.htm
It is a pattern it is done deliberataly.You can check previous posts. I specifically was accused once of smoking a Cuban cigar in fron of the computer and reporting to the Havana Regimen at the same time over the phone.
To me Cold in Chicago is the classical example of racisim a CYBERCHANCLETEO
Noviembre 7th, 2009 at 09:36
Yubano, I think you have a fair point. I usually try not to step in and hope things will just sort of calm themselves down, but when it starts to get to where there’s more heat than light… I try to tone it down a bit. I thought comment #59 didn’t quite go over the brink because of the qualifier that he didn’t “think it was the case here.”
I want to say again, as I’ve said in the past… the subjects we are discussing here are often very difficult, people bring a lot of personal history and personal anger to them… and I think “strong” arguments, debates, “almost fights”, shouldn’t be discouraged. But we should be arguing and debating and fighting about the subjects of the blog, not directly insulting each other.
And I also want to say again, I’ve really enjoyed your comments and perspectives and hope you will continue to contribute.
Your Friendly English Translator
Noviembre 7th, 2009 at 09:18
Yoani, Claudia and Ciro appeared by phone on Mano Limpia with Oscar Haza. They described their expierences last evening with the thugs that accosted them.
The comments made in post #59 are truelly despicable. It is truelly pathetic that anybody in this blog would resort to insinuating that there are “disruptive agents” planted by the boogey men in Habana.
To the English Translator
I have a question for you. I used a few questionable words in a previous post addressing the comments made in post #59 and you understandably deleted them. I won’t make that mistake again. But how are the comments made in post #59 any less egregious? Is it acceptable for someone to directly insult other contributors as long as they don’t use improper language? Is it acceptable for someone to infer that people that disagree with him must be Castro agents planted in the blog? Based on the blog rules you sent me those comments were every bit as objectionable and should not have been allowed.
Noviembre 7th, 2009 at 08:24
Read the latest on what happened to Yoani during a peaceful demonstration in support of the musical group OMNI Zona Franca. She was beaten violently by Castro’s security. Read what happened.
http://www.miamiherald.com/581/story/1321125.html
Noviembre 7th, 2009 at 08:16
http://www.octavocerco.blogspot.com/ updated.
8vo Cerco hands down is simply the best.For those who read Spanish. I highly recomend it
Noviembre 7th, 2009 at 07:30
Actually it is kind of sad that we Cubans as minority within a minority in this country can fully integrate into the American Society.We actually do a full crossover.However is so hard for others to understand where we come from. Specially in this big melting big called the United States of America.
There is some commentators is this forum who know what kind of language it takes to insult others Cubans. Of course they are Cubans themselves.
For the non Cubans or even for the 2nd generation of Cubans who comment in this forum,
call a Cuban “Chivato” or even implied it like in comment #59 is like calling an African American the “N” word.
So for those who think that this is about EGO let me tell this YOU ARE WRONG . We follow Yoani and Claudia with more passion than anybody else in the Cuban blogosphere. Our daily comments is just an expression of the way we fell about these braves Cubans.
Somehow we have the ability to do it in differents Blogs in different languages.Even knowing that English is our second language.We are not afraid to make any grammar errors .We throw ourselves out there in the Cyber Space fully aware that some people are going to throw low blows at us. We do it because we admire them. They are all we wanted to be and unfurtunaly we are not, because from the moment we decided to leave the Island as our last option we lost the battle. All we want for these brave Cubans like Yoani , Claudia and others is to win the WAR.
http://pewhispanic.org/files/factsheets/23.pdf
Noviembre 7th, 2009 at 07:18
For the Spanish speakers among you… here is a tape of Yoani describing what happened:
http://marcmasferrer.typepad.c.....olice.html
Noviembre 7th, 2009 at 06:50
I also sent the information to Reporters Without Borders, Human Rights Watch and the Cabot Prize people at Columbia Journalism School. Rather than fight in this blog we should spread the word and support Yoani not our egos.
Humberto Capiro
Noviembre 7th, 2009 at 06:17
Just got me out of bed to witness the savagery that Yoani, Claudia and others are being subjected to by these animals.
Claudia’s blog is saving the day (or night). The video in her site shows that there was quite a significant number of people at this protest. Which hurts the regime and makes this whole effort a success.
Great catch by Andy. Glad you were minding the store.
Noviembre 7th, 2009 at 06:05
I’m glad to see that the media has picked up on what’s happened to Yoani and Claudia. The news needs to get around particualy to those that still don’t see the regime in Cuba for what it is.
–deleted by moderator–
FROM ENGLISH TRANSLATOR
Yubano — I welcome your presence here and your excellent comments. However, I’ve deleted part of this comment as it doesn’t meet the standards Yoani has set for the blog.
Normas para comentar:
* Serán borrados los comentarios que contengan injurias a cualquier persona, incitaciĂłn o apologĂa a la violencia.
* Los comentarios que contengan más de dos enlaces pasarán a moderación hasta tanto se verifiquen las páginas web recomendadas en él.
* Los filtros de Wordpress borrarán automáticamente todos aquellos comentarios que contengan palabras obscenas o textos que estén repetidos.
* Si se quieren agregar largos documentos para apoyar un comentario, lo mejor será escribir solamente el enlace a la página web donde se puede leer el texto del mismo.
* Se excluirá de los comentaristas a aquellos que usurpen la personalidad de otros.
* No se podrán publicar comentarios que no usen el alfabeto latino.
* Se recomienda enfáticamente no incluir comentarios escritos todos en mayúsculas, pues se considerará como un grito o un alarido.
Noviembre 7th, 2009 at 05:34
http://www.octavocerco.blogspot.com/
Noviembre 7th, 2009 at 05:14
SORRY, THIS IS THE ASSOCIATED PRESS LINK
http://www.google.com/hostedne.....QD9BQDLD80
Noviembre 7th, 2009 at 05:09
ASSOCIATED PRESS: Cuban blogger says she is briefly detained
POSTED THIS ON MY FACEBOOK AND THE GROUP “APOYAMOS A YOANI”
“Yoani Sanchez, who runs a blog called “Generation Y” and whose writings have appeared in several international publications and Web sites, told The Associated Press that two state agents in civilian clothes stopped her in Havana’s Vedado neighborhood as she and several friends made their way to a protest march in central Havana.”
http://www.desdecuba.com/gener.....6#comments
Noviembre 7th, 2009 at 04:44
Andy,
No apologies needed I have never leved in Hialeah not even close to Miami.Comment 68 was in response to comment 59 purely.It was a sarcastic way to handle it.
Jonh Two,
….Of course is not about me.FYI I’m following Claudias twiter from the very begining,and post her tweets in this section.Apparently you just arrived kind of late to this “breaking news”.Again read all the comments before passing any judgement.Since you are learning spanish try to get this. I was just putting ….. “entre col y col lechuga”….God luck with that one. .
Noviembre 7th, 2009 at 04:15
Concubino.. I was just joking… surely the “ice cream” comment was pretty obvious! and you are the one who started the joke by saying you ordered the whole thing!
But anyway… I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings and I apologize!
Noviembre 7th, 2009 at 04:13
sorry concubino, this isn’t about you. It’s about courageous Cuban women getting beat up by Castro’s thugs for no reason other than exercising their right to free expression. Which will only increase their stature and credibility while undermining that of a dying regime. You go girls!
Noviembre 7th, 2009 at 04:13
Julio Glez Jr
Noviembre 6th, 2009 en 20:51
Buenas Yoani,Claudia, Ciro Diaz y a todos los demas blogeros cubanos y poblacion en general:
“No se meta nadie,estos son contrarrevolucionarios” fue lo que le dijeron a quienes desde la parada de la guagua veian como estas 3 jovenes,Yoani, Claudia y una amiga eran golpeadas por dos gorilas y arrastradas hacia dentro de un carro negro de donde se bajaron los parasitos del Minint.
Mi padre me dio la noticia: “..le dieron una golpiza a Yoani, la metieron en un carro y se la llevaron..”
De momento no lo pude creer, pero mis padres nunca me dan una noticia sino esta confirmada. Mi primer impulso fue gritar pero me contuve, trate de tomarlo lo mas friamente posible. Yo no soy un hombre violento pero en situaciones como estas uno puede reaccionar de una manera inesperada.
Lamento muchisimo lo sucedido a Uds tres y a los demas blogeros, quienes se estan comportando a un gran nivel que se necesita para crear un grupo solido y solidario que se cuiden unos a otros. Esto me parece extraordinario, en medio del “dia negro” que han tenido que pasar.
Vi la llamada que Hasa(el periodista del canal 41 de Miami)les hizo a Uds y les dio la oportunidad a que hablaran al menos Yoani, Claudia y Ciro Diaz, a los que no pudieron hablar con Hasa esta vez tendran su momento cuando sea necesario.No se aflijan por eso.
Esta violencia del regimen es una muestra de la debilidad de la pseudo-revolucion, no les queda mas remedio que acudir a una represion salvaje, lo que siempre han hecho desde el principio.Por falta de argumentos validos y la falta de informacion objetiva nos han llenado de mentiras durante estos 50 anos y lo peor, un numeroso grupo de cubanos creimos que era verdad.
Decir que Yoani(una muchacha menuda) junto con Claudia y su amiga son unas peligrosas contrarrevolucionarias es cosa de risa,si no fuera por los golpes que causan dolor y el hambre que esta llegando junto con las enfermedades que surgen esto pareceria una comedia barata exhibiendose en un cine, si aun quedan,de 4ta categoria.
Una vez mas Yoani,Claudia y su amiga asi como los demas blogeros y pueblo en general,los felicito por la forma valiente como Uds enfrentaron la represion. Quizas traten de nuevo atemorizarlos y golpearlos.Con la actitud de Uds hoy, estan abriendo la brecha por donde pasara el internet para todos los cubanos en la Isla, de eso Yoani y Claudia pueden estar seguras.
El muro “virtual” de los hermanos Castro ha empezado a caerse a pedazos y si todos lo empujamos un poco,la represa se desbordara y la fuerte corriente de agua azul contenida por una pared como la del muro de Berlin, limpiara las calles del color rojizo de la sangre de lo mejor de nuestros jovenes exigiendo libertad, democracia,elecciones libres, pluripartidismo y sobre todo las cosas el respeto a los derechos humanos de todos.
El periodista Hasa siempre trae a colacion que cuando Sancho Panza, le dice al Quijote,”..Sr. los perros nos ladran..”, el Quijote le respondio: “..Si Sancho, eso quiere decir que estamos cavalgando..”
Uds se estan convirtiendo en una amenaza lo suficientemente importante como para darles una paliza.
Quiero dedicarle unas lineas a los “gorilas parasitos” que defienden la pseudo-revolucion.Estos peones de los hermanos Castro cuando le llega la hora de acostarse deben recordar que han golpeado a tres muchachas que pudieran ser sus hijas, su esposa,etc.
Pero el trabajo ideologico hace su efecto. No importa, ellas estan en contra del Comandante y de la revolucion. Yo tengo que defender al “JefeMaximo” que es el defensor de la patria en contra del imperialismo norteamericano. Tengo que evitar que los que se rebelan no crucen la raya del Socialismo para traer hambre y miseria a mi pais.Mi hermano se fue para Miami, traiciono a la revolucion,alli vive mejor pero no defiende a Cuba.
Se vira para el otro lado en la cama y sigue pensando. Mi familia pasa hambre, mi madre enferma no tiene buenos medicamentos para curar la enfermedad que tiene, mi hijo no tiene ropa que ponerse para ir a la escuela, no tiene zapatos decentes.
Con lo que yo gano trabajando aqui no me alcanza para sostener a mi familia. Yo como bien, hago ejercicios, practico Karate cada dia, tengo aire acondicionado para descansar y dormir bien y hay para entretenerse hasta que nos llaman para alguna mision “revolucionaria” en defensa de Fidel y la revolucion.
Algunos de estos las esposas los abandonan, no quieren dormir con ellos que golpean al indefenso, pero yo tengo que cumplir con el Cmdte y la revolucion para que los gusanos de Miami no vengan a cogerselo todo. Que me hago si se cae la revolucion? Yo no se hacer mas nada que reprimir para eso me ensenaron Karate para dar golpes al que se oponga, no importa quien sea.
Mi familia me dice cada dia que mi trabajo es indigno, dar golpes, como los que hoy yo le di a esas muchachas que no amenazan a nadie y todo lo que quieren es el acceso a algo llamado “internet”. Pero nos lo dijeron bien claro, ellas son muy peligrosas y ofenden al Cmdte con frecuencia y a la revolucion cada vez que hablan y son mantenidas por la CIA.
Mi hija pudiera estar en esa situacion si esto sigue como va, la delincuencia en auge, la represion cada dia mas terrible, la comida escasea tanto como al principio del periodo especial.No tiene ropa de nina adecuada para salir a pasear aunque sea dar vueltas al parque. La droga esta en todas partes y aumenta en lugar de disminuir, esto es lo que quiero para mis hijos?
Sinceramente,
Julio R. Glez Jr.
Noviembre 7th, 2009 at 04:03
Andy,
I had enough of comments like #59.That kind of comment is not very nice either. Just to let you know addressing somebody like a “gentleman from hialeah” is a very demeaning statemant to say the least.
I know you are a fair person but before passing any judgement,please try to read between the lines. Since you are not Cuban according to own stataments,comment #59 and Carbo’ servia comments sometimes are more hurtful than agua e’coco comments… at least to Cubans..
Noviembre 7th, 2009 at 03:53
Claudia’s tweet
lencia a la q estábamos sometidos menos de un minuto
Disculpen los primeros twits q mandé. Un poco incoherentes x la vio menos de un minuto
Por la seguridad del estado y la pnr 20 minutos aprox.
A la q no llegamos por ser violentamente secuestrados 21 minutos aprox.
Hay fotos y videos d la marcha x la no violencia. 24 minutos aprox.
Noviembre 7th, 2009 at 03:48
Julio,
Yes,the various sources (including Claudia’s “tweets”… she says she is at Yoani’s house now) say they Yoani is home “safe” with a swollen eye…
Concubino,
I don’t think it’s very nice what you did. Why didn’t you just have some people pick them up and talk to them nicely and maybe cut in line at Coppelia and they all could have some ice cream and agree to be friends? That would have been a better way to handle it, I think.
Noviembre 7th, 2009 at 03:44
Andy thank you for keeping good eyes on the news!
From what I read on the article on the new Herald she was beaten but gave a phone interview so I guess she must be free!
Noviembre 7th, 2009 at 03:35
Youbano you don’t worry some of us live or lived in Hialeah, some others live in the southwest of Chicago, very close to 35th st and Cicero Ave, perhaps Pulaski Ave and 26th st. But all of us are agents of Castro.Just a few minutes ago by MY orders Yoani, Claudia and Ciro were arrested harassed and beat up.I just wanted to disrrupt a peaceful march against violence by using brutal force. I just let them go afew minutes ago,but I just wanted to show them who is calling the shots for real, who is in charge. Guess what..?! I’m the one
Noviembre 7th, 2009 at 03:30
Oh one more thing… apparently Claudia, (Claudia Cadelo, blog Octavo Cerco), who was also picked up in another car… managed to “tweet” from the back of the cop car… ‘estoy detenido’ … I am detained… you can also see that at Penultimos Dias or at Claudia’s own site… there’s a link to her blog in the sidebar.
These women blow me away. They are truly amazing. Just unbelievable.
Noviembre 7th, 2009 at 03:28
There’s an article on Nuevo Herald. Apparently she was picked up with Orlando Luis Pardo Lazo, beaten for twenty minutes or so, and then “thrown violently from the car.”
The link to the story is on Penultimos Dias.
But get this… we know it was OUR Yoani [not some fake masquerading Yoani] because: At one point she manages to grab a piece of paper out of the pocket of the guy who’s beating her up and put it in her mouth. She commented she didn’t know why she did it, “just to say I have something of yours”… it had a name and telephone number on it. Of course then he started beating her even harder.
“Nos aplicaron llaves de judo o karate y siguieron lloviendo los golpes y piñazos”, dijo.
Durante el ataque, añadiĂł Sánchez, ella logrĂł quitarle un papel que tenĂa uno de los hombres en su bolsillo, y se lo metiĂł en la boca.
“No sĂ©, era como para decirle: â€Yo tengo algo tuyo’ ”, dijo. “El papel contiene un nombre de una persona y un nĂşmero de telĂ©fono”.
“Se puso todavĂa más furioso, y más golpes”, destacĂł.
DespuĂ©s de unos 20 minutos en marcha, el vehĂculo se detuvo en una zona lejos de donde habĂan sido interceptados.
“Y fuimos violentamente tirados en la calle”, dijo.
Noviembre 7th, 2009 at 03:23
Knowing Yoani, I’m guessing we’ll soon be able to see the video of the arrest. In the meantime, I’m hoping that Yoani is released very soon. Whether she is released or not, it’s just another nail in the coffin of the Castro regime.
Noviembre 7th, 2009 at 02:57
Apparently it is true according to Claudia’s twitter
Me montaron a la fuerza en una patrulla y me soltaron en nuevo vedado aprox. 2 horas
A yoani la metieron arrastrada con olpl en un carro de la seguridad aprox. 2 horas
No sé dónde están yoani, olpl ni ciro aprox. 3 horas
Ya me soltaron aprox. 3 horas
Pat yo. Yoani y olpl ci aprox. 3 horas
Noviembre 7th, 2009 at 02:55
Posted the news on iReport at CNN
http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-352350
Noviembre 7th, 2009 at 02:36
The comment in penultimosdias.com informs that Yoani and others were taken by the State security police.
Please all that can write notify the press.
Claudia have been set free but there is no news about where Yoani is.
Noviembre 7th, 2009 at 02:21
I suggest everyone go to Penultimos Dias and read the news about what happened to Yoani and Claudia and the other bloggers this afternoon. I am not going to repeat it here as I do not know if any of it is true.
http://www.penultimosdias.com/
Noviembre 7th, 2009 at 02:17
Well I believe everyone response and post here is a testament that shows how fictitious is the claim by the Cuban regime that more than 90 percent approve of them!!
Concubino I was not trying to impose anything on anybody I was only making comments of what I think could be productive ideas for us and about tolerance. You are completely right we are not a party.
I will consider myself just an anonymous friend of Yoani. I guess is a very unilateral type of friendship since she probably does not even know about us.
and as a friend I am just trying to help when I can. By posting transcriptions or helping on translations or giving examples from my life in Cuba to corroborate her views.
I have not found yet a topic that she have written that I will disagree on!
I totally agree with what you mentioned Yubano
I am glad we all seem to agree on wanting freedom back in Cuba.
Noviembre 7th, 2009 at 02:11
Ok, I was going to bury the hatchet and move on, but the Hialeah gentleman keeps wheezing by, posturing and rehashing the same point to Julio and others.
I don’t want or mean to be rude, but I reserve the right speak my mind and point out any disagreements I may have, with anyone’s assessments or interpretations of what is written and what I think of it, at any time as long as it is not done in a vulgar way. If someone disagrees with me, I myself can take it and bury the hatchet. But no way am I going to allow someone to censure what I have to say or write. We’ve all been through that and we can thank this medium and blog for having the ability to comment freely and without vulgarity.
There have been very long and protracted discussions by others on this blog about people with delicate egos, who use the time worn tactic of “shooting the messenger” by pointing out shortcomings such as grammatical errors, etc. instead of arguing the point, which in this case was simply the correct choice of a translated word.
Although I don’t actually believe it, and don’t think is the case here, sometimes I wonder if the regime doesn’t send sympathizers here to agitate and start frivolous debates in order to distract from the purpose of this blog.
That’s all I have to say about this, I refuse to discuss this issue any further.
Noviembre 7th, 2009 at 00:44
Julio
I agree with you in prinicipal. But it is ok to disagree as well, as long as you don’t disrespect the person you are disagreeing with. I am new to this chat. My initial post was in response to a request from the moderator for an opinion. I gave my opinion and was quickly “corrected” by a frequent member of this chat, who felt I didn’t understand subtlety and was oblivious to the underlying meaning of Yoani’s message. My view is if people disagree often times it is because of different perpectives. Of course there are absolutes, issues colored in black and white, but they are few. In most cases opinion and perspective are shaded by our own personal experiences and so how could we possibly all agree on everything, and as you rightly pointed out Julio, nor would we want to. Therefore, while all of us in this blog will agree that the illegitimate regime in Cuba must go we certainly won’t agree precisely on what form of government or who should govern in a Castro free Cuba.
Concubino
Que es lo hay papo, entero por aqui…
Noviembre 6th, 2009 at 19:49
As for the slogans I heard enough of those in Cuba,, so please….
Noviembre 6th, 2009 at 19:47
Julio
While I appreciate your concerns, just a healthy reminder,we are NOT the “Official GY opposition party”.Nobody is the boss , nobody is the leader of this section. We don’t follow any orders. If anything our friendly English translator sometimes acts as moderator. Thats all.
We use this forum a place of disscussion and debate the real issues,and for the most part we agree in the central issue. We are all against the Havana regime. However once in a while we take a shot ay each other.In my opinion there is nothing wrong with that. It happens even in the most perfect families.So please stop telling us how to behave.
Yubano,
Asere que bola?!
Noviembre 6th, 2009 at 19:26
Julio
you are so right …
As I stated in #44 lets agree to disagree; perhaps talking about the living conditions is not enough perhaps the talk should be about what is happening in the world in relation to Cuba.
Maybe by being more objective to the theme, more informative without getting lost in the little details.
Lets all of us who appreciate freedom encourage the silent voices, let us be more inviting to newcomers, let us involve one another in vocalizing the feelings & the thought on opression.
Not with name calling and judgement, but with understanding and tolerance for each others shortcomings.
The shortest distance between two point is a straight line”
Language problems & the understanding barrier ? lets ecourage the friendly teaching,
lets encourage the questions … by anyone …
a hug & a wink
Noviembre 6th, 2009 at 19:04
I am sorry guys but it is hard for me to stay idle on this our objective here should not be attacking each other but helping Yoani get her message across.
We are all different and we not all think the same nor want to. I do not think anyone here got the last word neither claim to have it.
We can help Yoani amplify her message to the English language people by explaining the different nuances that are always lost on the translation or by placing examples we can all collectively contribute.
For example the ciber chancleteros word
I think we all did a good job on communicating the full meaning of the message intended by the original user of the word and the intention that Yoani put into it.
If we as people can not unite that explains why Castro is still in power.
The same thing I have notice back in Cuba.
There is so many different groups!
It is important to remember the adage
“In unity there is strength”
We do not have to agree on everything except on one thing
“We want freedom for Cuba”
very simple objective everything else can follow from that.
Noviembre 6th, 2009 at 18:25
Concubino
Thanks for the kind words and welcome. You are right, I am mostly American in my thinking. But, I did grow up in Hialeah through the 60’s and 70’s with my cubiche friends “mis aseres y consortes”, speaking the spanglish and Cuban street talk that you refer to. In any case I’ve been a reader of both the english and spanish versions of this blog for some time and only recently decide to throw in my two cents. I’ve enjoyed reading your contributions on both sides of the blog over the last few weeks…
Noviembre 6th, 2009 at 17:58
concub
… we are showing our age … and the love for simple things like moons and trees.
Garcia Lorca lend me your prosa …
Something special just happened … instead of our posturing , correcting and so on … we found the simplicity of dialoge without any pretences.
I do love that … as I love to have contact with people whom still remember how things used to be, the ones that formed us, the ones we have (at least me) to pass on to my children & theirs.
The joy of life is (to me) in the learning, in the exchange of ideas, in the interaction if just for a brief moment … like a gentle touch of the face, a look …
How do we appreciate what whe had when we lost it … and we got it again …
a hug & a wink
Noviembre 6th, 2009 at 17:18
Concubi!!!!!,,you broke the bat!!!!,jaaaaaaa bringing out those poets from the 98 Generation!!!,,I did not heard about them for so long!!! I remember a lot of them!!!Machado, Miguel Hernandez, Zorilla, Unamuno, Espronceda, etc, etc,,,Wao man!!!!,,,you did bring good memories to me!!!!, memories when I was a “Preuniversitario Student”!!!!,,,long time ago,jajajaja,,,thanks!!!!
Candido
Noviembre 6th, 2009 at 17:04
Albert,,,Concubino,,,my friends!!!!,,,I’m not clever,,,,and, I think the only thing that a “normal human being, with some common sense!!!!”, needs, is just “suffering the abuses, over, and, over, and, over!!!!!,,,,during long time, ,,,(a lot of them for more than 50 years!!!),,,,the point is, that everybody has different ways to express their points of of view,,,and I just wanted summarize it!!!!
May be, this is one of the best Marti thoughts: “I lived in the monster and I know its entrails”!!!!!,,,If we apply it to our cause,,, then, anybody knows how the Cuban Mafia gang works!!!!
Regards
Candido
Noviembre 6th, 2009 at 17:02
Albert
I’m glad that your read Machado.Hopefully you have read the rest of the poets of 98 Generation .Their poems for the most part are master pieces.
Yubano
Some how I knew that.I assume that your parents are fluent is Spanish.You can ask them about all Cubans slangs. If not Candido or myself can help you with that.
Needless to ta say that your English is perfect. Glad to know that you got what Cold is all about.If you go to previous posts and comments you can find the same pattern.
Welcome to the English section of GY. Hope to see you here very often. I have a son who came to this country about the same age as you.Although he is interested in Cuba culture, he is not interested at all in Cuba politics. I admire your passion for Cuba, because you are basically an American.
Noviembre 6th, 2009 at 15:10
concubino:
thank you for the corrections, God knows I need help spelling; so you know from necesity I had to learn to think in more than wo languages.
This does present a problem when formulating a thought in one language & then translating into another …
Regardless, thanks again for the correction but most importantly for your passion, your generosity by the efforts you put forth and for the memories of the tierra.
The poet Machado said it: (very loose interpretation) … “I can’t leave the land, our dead keeps us in on it” …
a hug & a wink
Noviembre 6th, 2009 at 14:48
Concubino
To answer your question about what my native language is, technically it is spanish. I was born in Cuba and left when I was two years old and have resided in the US ever since. While I did spend the first few years of my life speaking spanish only, english eventually became my primary language. I “think” in english.
Cold
Interesting how in my brief experience in this blog I’ve noticed how you’ve assigned yourself the role of room “filter”. You seem to want to correct anyone who doesn’t agree with your perspective. I read and heard what Yoani had to say, in spanish, and understood it’s intended message. You my friend are the one who is oblivious to the point I was trying to make. So please, if you don’t mind resist the urge to remasticate my opinions. I don’t appreciate nor am I interested in your attempts to clarify things for me.
Noviembre 6th, 2009 at 14:42
It’s spell habeas corpus
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habeas_corpus
Noviembre 6th, 2009 at 14:39
Albert
Is habeas corpus.But You don’t worry about spelling.It is not a big deal, as long we are able to transmit your points in a clear way.
For the most part we are Cubans who try to debate in this section, because the Spanish one(at least in my case) is just a chat room. There is plenty of blogs dedicated just to the commentators of Spanish section.They make a lot of fun of them, they are being subject of mockery. These blogs show no respect for the majority of the commentators
But I think that the translation of the word “chancletera” was important in one of the previous post.It was a key word in that post. Not to the Cubans participants in this Section of GY , we all know exactly what it means, but for the English readers only.
I think Candido wrap it up pretty good in comment 18, but some how we are still debating about this word, which it should be a non-issue any more.
Cold comment 42 is the substance of Yoani’s comment.
Noviembre 6th, 2009 at 14:08
Cold in #42
A while back I asked coconutjuice these questions:
Have you:?
suffered hunger
been without even aveas corpus (I hope I spelled right)
been tortured with a choice between death & the betrayal of family and/or friends
been “monitored
etc. etc. I (with all my respect & admiration) ask you the same.
Necesity allows oneself to do things, it does things to the mind & to the soul …
It does not however change the fiber of the individual … the warp is in what responsibility without accountability the regime has … not on the choices good or bad (in our perception) people makes under extreme circumstances.
It is (I belive) not the mentality but the consecuence of these animals in power & their practices.
Yes, some of the people makes strange choices but, who are we to judge? how can we attempt to judge when we only have a perception thru second hand of what is going on in their world?
Let alone that our perception is colored by our own realities.
It is like: I know I don’t see the same colour red you see but: we’ll agree to disagree on the idea that we see red.
It is my sincere hope not to have offended you …
a hug & a wink
Noviembre 6th, 2009 at 13:37
BLOGUERO CUBANO ASEDIADO POR LA SEGURIDAD DE ESTADO.
Difundámos la noticia para ayudar a esta pobre vĂctima.
http://www.elnuevoherald.com/2.....ni_popular
Noviembre 6th, 2009 at 13:18
Regarding Yoani’s expose above:
The thing is too, it seems that Yoani sometimes wakes up with a boost of adrenalin or something, and makes her posts so rich in content, that one has to read it at least twice to digest everything in it.
Like for instance, the prostitute subculture described above, where a prostitute feels “defeated” at having to take a local young stud, as opposed to a foreign partner “twice her age”. No offense to non-cubans, but in my book this is warped. It blows my mind, to think that a group of people in that society is so psychologically unhealthy and unbalanced, that taking an unatractive sex partner is preferable to choosing a more familiar and healthy individual of you own age. This is a completely warped mentality that comes out of economic misery and lack of self respect and pride. A product of the system and the dinosaurs that impose it.
Noviembre 6th, 2009 at 12:59
Concubino:
I’m wrong much of the time. If you look through my comments, they are plenty of errors and miss-spellings. The thing is, I just look for truth without regard to consequences, which can get one in trouble. I’d hate to think I’m like Jalisco.
Also, when I comment on Yoani’s post, sometimes I wonder off and miss some important aspect of the content she writes. One example is when Albert below points out the much deeper expose and portrayal that Yoani is trying to bring forth, which provides insight into how the system in Cuba has influenced people so that it is not just about race, but also affects on the full spectrum of classifications based on which people, discriminate against each other.
You know the name this malady goes by?…. it’s called old age
By the way, my connection is an AT&T aircard which they tout as being over one megabit per second (so called 3G) fast. However, to anyone considering this option, let the buyer beware. In many places you get a GSM connection which is equivalent to the old “dial up” (28.8 KBPS) or slower.
Noviembre 6th, 2009 at 12:53
Yoanni, you have a noble cause by trying to bring more freedom of speech and thought to your homeland, but I think that all too often you paint it too black (no pun intended).
Racism and segregation is present in many countries, and the majority of the places I’ve lived in or visited have it on a much larger scale than Cuba. In fact, race relations in your country are some of the best I have seen. There are so many interracial pairs, and black and whites hang out together well in all walks of life.
Noviembre 6th, 2009 at 11:13
TRANSLATIONS
it seems to me, the object of translating is A BRIDGE for a better communication.
This in itself is one of the many ways of handling the misunderstandings of our world.
The goal is not (at lest to me) to prove either who is the better translator, or who is the most intelligent among us, the goal is to work together, I think Yoani & the unheard voices didn’t start this as a competition for the title.
I rather value the effort that goes into a translation than the critic of style & or knowledge of the language.
For the effort, for the dedication, for the commitment and for the volunteer work … THANK YOU TRANSLATORS.
As it stands: translating is not easy (lets agree on that)cooperation, inspired by our love for freedom makes for a better result but “nit picking”only creates bad feelings and the goal gets forgoten.
A HUG & A WINK
Noviembre 6th, 2009 at 10:00
Found the link to the prior post by Yoani’s talking about Desiderio
http://www.desdecuba.com/generationy/?p=84
Noviembre 6th, 2009 at 04:07
Cold
There is not need to debate this.You are right.The point is you will never admit that you are wrong.Not even when you can’t argue the http://www.rae.es/rae.html
Whoever is following the comments will easily find out what is going on. Sorry about your slow WI-Fi connection.Hopefullly you get this comment fast enough.By the way Yoani will love to have a third of the speed that you currently have.
Noviembre 6th, 2009 at 03:28
Concubino: “Sorry Cold , but i think you are wrong once again..”
You seem to be looking up english words used in this blog, like “charlatan” (which is spelled the same in Spanish) in a spanish dictionary. You did that last time with “dynasty”. Not to mention that you seem to ignore the fact that words usually have multiple, related definitions.
I wish I had more time to debate this, but I have a slow WIFI connection and gotta get back to work.
Noviembre 6th, 2009 at 03:12
What about “cyber Scruffy”
Noviembre 6th, 2009 at 03:10
Never mind my comment below. The last translator version looks great.
Noviembre 6th, 2009 at 03:03
Yubano
I agree with commnet #30.As you can imagine Spanish is my native languange, even more I love Cuban slang . In my oppinion there nothing like Cuban slang.Everyday there is a new word out there used just by Cubans. It is fascinating.Basically wen I am with my Cubans friends I can talk in Cuban slang in front of others Spanish speaking people from other countries and they can’t understand a word we are saying. We speak extremely fast a in a lingo that is very hard to follow.It is a lot fun.
I’m wondering what is your native language?
Noviembre 6th, 2009 at 02:35
Regarding ciber-chancleteo, glad that our friendly translator broke it down so it’s easy to understand. Bottom line is, if the reader does not know the context in which Yoani says “we need more cyber-chancleteo” in this society, then he is going to get confused no matter which of the choices below are used.
The argument presented by Yubano assumes that the reader does not know the context - i.e. he does not read the speech from beginning to end. Even after answering my comment, you still seem oblivious to the context of Yoani’s statement. I give readers of this blog more credit than that.
Not that this vote is binding, but I vote for either trash or trash-talking. I think a greater priority is to get this completed.
Noviembre 6th, 2009 at 02:01
I believe this “Desiderio” she mentions may be the same person that Yoani mentioned in a post eons ago in the rime
“Desiderio, Desiderio escucha nuestro criterio.”
“Desiderio, Desiderio, hear my criteria,”
I was reminded of it while reading wikipedia’s entry for Yoani at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoani_Sanchez
here is the fragment
“What pushed me to this adventure of writing a Blog was the bad taste left at the end of the controversy of the intellectuals in January 2007. On an afternoon like today, the 30th of January, we waited — a group of young people — to be able to enter the conference: “The gray five years, reviewing the term.” The meeting in the House of the Americas would try to channel and institutionalize a debate that had been raising the temperature of Cuban emails for a couple of weeks already. A select list of guests began entering the “Che Guevara Room,” while our “group of impertinents” watched, from outside, as midnight arrived.
We were there, obviously protesters, blocked by the custodians and the bureaucrats from entering, to debate and discuss our encounters with censorship and dogmatism. We put a rhyme to a cadence as an appeal to the main organizer of the event: “Desiderio, Desiderio, hear my criteria,” but that didn’t work either. Inside, the voice of the Minister of Culture repeated the idea that in a place under siege, dissent is treason… I sense that the debate was hijacked by the institutions, jailed by an academic world full of concepts and fancy words, and condemned to take the course of the imminent conference of the UNEAC [Cuban Writers and Artists Union].
However, we were left — at least those of us who were outside — with the conviction that we can’t wait to be allowed inside the next debate. To me, personally, it added a definite push to start this exorcism called Generation Y.”
about another meeting they were not allow to enter. So is deja vu all over again with the same individual!
He most be some government official that have to do with internet or information I am guessing.
I could not find Yoani’s prior post mentioning
Noviembre 6th, 2009 at 01:08
I agree Julio. Any slang/colloquial words or terms carry a significant cultural component that often times are not translatable. It is why many jokes from one language don’t work in another.
Concubino in my refernce to trash talking I mostly had athletes in mind (NBA,NFL etc.) when I expressed my opinion about it being the wrong term to use. I think we are on the same page in that regard. I’m not sure what you disagree with me about. In any case instead of getting bogged down in word play my point is that if a label must be attached to what the bloggers are doing it should not be one imposed upon or defined by the cretines running the show in Cuba. They have done to much of that already
Noviembre 5th, 2009 at 23:06
Probably you all know this but while I was reading Yubano’s comment I thought I should post this clarification.
“Trash talking is essentially meaningless talk, strictly used by the speaker as way to demean his intended target and as a form entertaiment. I don’t believe the intention of Yoani, Claudia or any of the other bloggers who are trying to relate the reality of life on the island are “trash talking”.”
It is not Yoani who uses the slang ciber chancleteros it was
Desiderio (A Cuban government official that was present in the meeting) referring to the group of bloggers she turns the word in her speech into the meaning that chancletero also have (Some one of humble origin) (been working class). So it is extraordinarily difficult to translate all those meanings into any language.
Noviembre 5th, 2009 at 21:37
PERFECT!!
Noviembre 5th, 2009 at 21:32
OK — I changed the last paragraph of Yoani’s remarks. Here is how it reads now. It’s more of an “interpretation” than a precise translation, but I think it works. Let me know if y’all agree.
“That is also why I have come here, in this way, having outflanked the police encirclement surrounding my home to come to this debate. Why in the virtual Cuba, is censorship being repeated, intimidation, stigmatization of people because they think differently? Is this “cyber-garbage”? Is writing what you call “garbage” the same as telling the truth without subterfuges? Is writing what you call “garbage” the same as not bowing before an official opinion? I was born in a tenement in Central Havana in the Cayo Hueso neighborhood. If what we say is “cyber-garbage” let it be welcomed. This society needs it.”
Your Friendly English Translator
Noviembre 5th, 2009 at 21:19
trash talking is usually used in sporting events. The NBA palyers are the quintessential example of trash talking.I don’t think the cyber trask talking is the correct term for the Yoani post.
To be honest I don’t think that Youbano is right nor is our friendly Englis translator
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/trash+talk
Again as Candido pointed out it does not add anything meaningful to it. We all got the point of Yoani’s post.I hope.Specially the English readers only..
Noviembre 5th, 2009 at 21:16
The Cuban Regime is famous for talking TRASH. In Cuba only the ruling party and tourist have Rights. The rest of cuba has to eat crow. Soon the regular people will rise above in another Revolution “for the people”, this time. Thank you Yoani for your words from within the island, not the BS story the world gets fed from the ruling class or at UN meetings. Thanks also to everyone who makes this blog possible. Where is our favorite Cuban Punk rocker Gorki of PPR today?
Noviembre 5th, 2009 at 20:51
Looking at your comments and those of others I think I understand clearly what Yoani was saying (but maybe I’m wrong)… so that is not the problem. So help me out with a suggested translation!!!! What’s a good word or phrase to use?
Basically what she’s saying is, “If YOU think what WE say is m*****… then all I have to say back to you is we need a little more m***** in this discussion.” It’s not really a complicated idea and it should be easy enough to express in any language… maybe I’m just making it too complicated by trying to keep the sense of the original Cuban word.
Maybe I should just use the word “trash” by itself. I think it would convey the same thing and not carry additional meanings with it.
What do you think?
Your Friendly English Translator
Noviembre 5th, 2009 at 19:58
last comment of my day …
A few lifes ago while in Suriname a little before their independence I had the priviledge of sharing diggs with a surniamer.
He was a splendid fellow, he was (in his mind) a “pure” descendant of africans.
He was black, ebony /blue black, tall & proud.
We grew to be friends until the “Y” in the road of our lives separated us; from him I learned the subtle differences between races, but I learned something as well.
The carribean perception of race is unique to the geographical region it manifests itself as a complaint, as an accepted burnden natural to life but used by many for many purposes.
Until today I think Ubekee was right there is only one way to deal with it: “don’t hide it, talk about it with all sincerity & honesty.
Thank you Ubekee !!!
a hug & a wink
Noviembre 5th, 2009 at 19:19
Candido:
Thank you for pointing out the method of the regime.
I guess when there are no good defensible arguments their natural tendency is to insult, denigrate & humilliate.
Yet the have not realized that just by answering they are validating the comment.
The mere exercise of answering indicates their fear of an opposing thought.
The existance of the comment is what changes their reality so: they stop the leak by pluggin the hole with one finger, another one comes up & the only have ten fingers (I hope) now what?
The more they repress the more people they have to use, the more commitment they have to demand … where does it stop?
I think your comment is as clever as they come!!!
Thank you for your thought
a hug & a wink
Noviembre 5th, 2009 at 19:13
Candido,
I got your point. Like before, you always come to the rescue.
This sentence of your comment #18 resume everything..
One person- mostly a shocked woman wearing slippers- who screams and fights using bulgares ways, rude, etc, is the one who is classified as “rabble”, or” low class.=”SOLARIEGA”.
That’s what the Cuban Regimen is trying to do.Using demeaning terms to undermine the brave work of these braves Cubans.
Noviembre 5th, 2009 at 19:12
Caridad:
Blacks. whites. yellows, reds & green, perhaps all the shades in between are labels.
Unfortunally we are judged by them as we are judged for being fat, tall, shinny, bugg eyed, short or buck toothed, for the red, brown, blond, straight or kinky hair, for the colour of our eyes, the size of our feet, nose & ears our sexual persuation.
I could go on & on right?
Simply we ALL suffer the sting of discrimination at one or another time however: its how we choose to deal with it & what we do about it.
As you have said: the choice of talking about it is the difference & it takes courage to do so openly.
Thank you for your “caridad” Caridad.
a hug & a wink
Noviembre 5th, 2009 at 18:48
I have to say that at first I was a little bothered that Yoani accepted the cab ride that was offered to her by dint of her “white privilege.” I’m not white, and as a result, I’ve been turned away from hotels and other locations in Cuba, so I wasn’t feeling anti-racist solidarity from Yoani. But my disapproval of Yoani’s action was mitigated somewhat by the fact that she chose to write about this, openly. Thanks, Yoani, and let’s keep the dialogue going.
Noviembre 5th, 2009 at 18:35
Obviously, the situation created by the words and adjectives used by either party, is a semantic problem !!!!.
I think maybe we can summarize these problems, focusing on the problem as follows:
1-Every time the Cuban Government( his puppets, his murderers, etc, etc), try to express something about someone who does not support his ideas, his politics, etc,,, always!!!!, always!!!,, always!!!, (no exceptions)!!!! will be trying to ridicule, humiliate , discredit, criticize, etc, etc,,,
Summary: No matter what he has to do, or say to run with it to achieve confusion, rejection, fear,,, something like : “The end justifies the means”
Now is the word “ciberchancletera”, before and for over 50 years, were “worms, slag, mercenaries, counterrevolutionary, bandits, etc, etc,,,
Understand?,,, I think so!!
One person- mostly a shocked woman wearing slippers- who screams and fights using bulgares ways, rude, etc, is the one who is classified as “rabble”, or” low class “.
I therefore consider that the term “ciberchancletero” coming from the mouths of government officials and puppets, classify just about all the people who write in cyberspace and express their opinion against the government, criticizing or publishing both truths, as low class people, conflicting people, mobs, etc.
That is exactly the goals of the Cuban Government, his leader -the murderer in chief- Fidel Castro and his mafia gang,,,,it was,,, it is,,, and it will be his objective,,,always!!! no doubts about it,,,is it probe!!!! 50 years doing it!!!!
Candido
Noviembre 5th, 2009 at 17:57
Cold
Sorry Cold , but i think you are wrong once again..
http://buscon.rae.es/draeI/Srv.....=charlatan
Noviembre 5th, 2009 at 17:36
cold:
You are as always so to the real point of the matter I do admire that.
It seems to me that the comment is addressed at the survival mentgality ingrained by the regime.
The “state of siege” mentality (I am sure whom ever have experienced knows it) does to the perseption of the outsider great harm.
The primary function turns (as you well put it) towards survival of the more “savy” among us.
In the process, the regular moral & ethical values erode till there is only a basic remanent of civility.
The pressure is such, only the very (I mean very)strong can stand, perhaps an imposibility in a state of isolation.
What this regime has managed to do to the people:
Twist their mind
Change moral values
Denigrate & torture
Lie & deceit
And much more, the brutality may not be all physical, is mental, is emotional.
I admire very much the resilence of the pueblo and I cry in anger & frustration about “the evil that man do”.
The inevitable is … the retribution that will comes from all this wrongs …
a hug & a wink
Noviembre 5th, 2009 at 16:59
… and by-the-way Cold, although I appreciate the time you took to try to “clear things up for me” I understand exactly what Yoani is doing. There was no need to try to clarify things for me. I truelly admire what she is doing. She has a bigger set of c***nes than most people on the island and on this side of the Straights.
Noviembre 5th, 2009 at 16:47
Cold
Trust me when I tell you that I have a very healthy sense of humor but the sublety you are referring to is lost in the translation. Most Americans or other english speakers who are familiar with what trash talking refers to will interpret it in the same context that is used in the US. It means garbage talk, nonsense, hyperbole, not to be taken seriously and a form of entertainment. Most readers of the english blog will miss the irony you are referring to. Not to belabor the point but in my opinion cyber-trashtalker is innapropriate and misleading.
Noviembre 5th, 2009 at 15:45
Translator:
Trash-talker sounds good to me. It is difficult to translate idioms, so we are left with literal terms to describe what is basically cuban-spanish street language. Charlatan would not be appropriate because it implies someone who tells lies only. Chancleteo is broader than that.
Yubano:
You are missing the point that Yoani is trying to represent in her talk. She knows that chancleteo is a derrogatory term. She is using it as such and turning it back on the dictatorship. So we have to do likewise when translating.
Noviembre 5th, 2009 at 15:33
This is a very insightful article by Yoani into what for many people is a loaded question. I agree with Albert below, humans, like animals, seems to have a trait which makes them suspect or show hostility towards those that look different. This is a primitive self defense system that through evolution has probably resulted in the extinction of entire species and civilizations. It is thought that Neanderthals were driven to extinction by Homo Sapiens in this way. The great, all important difference is that we humans have a frontal lobe which allows us to overrule and block, if we choose, the more primitive side of ourselves.
The argument could be made, scientifically, that having blood from two distinct population groups, can actually reduce the occurrence of unhealthy strains or traits that may exist within each specific population.
Obviously, the man in the taxi cab is acting out his primitive self, first by sharing his thoughts about self preservation in the face of possible physical danger. And secondly, he does what all animals do when they feel threatened, he acts out, a probably unconscious, sexual display of power to intimidate the potential source of danger.
It is good and healthy to talk about this out loud so we all learn.
Noviembre 5th, 2009 at 15:01
To the English Translator
Cyber “Trash Talker” is not a good transalation / designation for cyberchancletera.
Trash talking is essentially meaningless talk, strictly used by the speaker as way to demean his intended target and as a form entertaiment. I don’t believe the intention of Yoani, Claudia or any of the other bloggers who are trying to relate the reality of life on the island are “trash talking”. They are exposing the lies that the cuban regime and it’s sycophants are constantly spewing. Calling these blogs a form of “trash talking” is demeaning to what they are doing and playing into the hands of the cynical clowns who defend the travesty in Cuba.
Noviembre 5th, 2009 at 14:39
English translator:
There is a word in Spanish for trash talking in Spanish …it is.. charlatan. It is not about attitude it is just about the way people talk.Maybe you would like to consider that.
In the other hand “Chancletera” is Cuban slang could include trash talking feisty,and trouble maker..
Noviembre 5th, 2009 at 14:24
Sorry for the Phillies ,English translator. I wanted them too.Candido,my best regards to you my friend.Comment #6 very good
There is saying in Cuba that goes like this …”el que no tiene de congo tiene de karabali.
Meaning most Cubans have some African blood in their veins.
Noviembre 5th, 2009 at 14:14
candido
Isn’t it sad to be reduced to that.
However how admirable it is to do what one must do for the love of family.
He did not compromised on his statements, he mantained an honorable position while what he thougth he had to do made him ill …
Notice: once he knew it was a joke, his capacity for trust allowed him to feel free to interact …
Noviembre 5th, 2009 at 14:13
Concubi!!!,,,you got it!!! Yankees again!!!!
We’ll see next year!!!!
Regards
Candido
Noviembre 5th, 2009 at 13:22
This topic, reminded me of a real example that happened by 1993.
A Cuban gentleman, an old man of 70, then, the printing manager of the INDER (Agency in charge of Sport in Cuba) was visiting Miami and several of his former colleagues, all residents of this city - by the way, all of them “defectors” - organized a lunch, because the guy was a good person and had always done well with them.
They wanted to make a joke and I was the only person unknown to him, so when the guy came, I was introduced -to him- as a journalist of Radio Marti.
A few minutes later, the guy, surrounded by all, began to receive questions from me, assuring him, that none of this would be published under his name and that alone was a study that Radio Marti was performing to collect real evidence, real testimonies, showing the real way of life in the island
Among many questions, all answered with absolute and total defensive posture, I asked:
There is food?.
He replied: There are serious problems, but either way, I resolve to always have food for my house.
There are clothes and shoes?
He replied: There are serious problems, but either way I resolve, my family always has clothes and shoes.
About his work I asked
Got ink for printing?.
He replied: There are serious problems, but I resolve this with one or another way and I always have ink.
Got paper?.
He replied: There are serious problems but I resolve in one way or another, and I always have paper.
The machinery functions well, have a replacement pieces, for maintenance?
He replied: There are problems, but either way I resolve.
When he felt the pressure of those questions, and saw something that looked like a portable recorder in my hand, began to feel ill, he asked permission to go to the bathroom together with one of his former colleagues, who returned a few minutes later to tell us that we had to stop the joke, because the old man was very ill.
When the guy returned, we told him it was all a joke that I was not a journalist, then we had to use one hour to explain and probe that it was a joke.
When the old man recognized that everything had been a joke, began to speak freely and said:
There is not ink, no paper, no spares, no food, no electricity, etc, etc,,,nothing!!! everything is a chaos, total disaster!!!!
The old man returned to Cuba a few days later, that was the reason for his lies, for, as must return, had to ensure their loyalty tested with their opinions and statements, just in case, otherwise, he could go from going to prison, to be expelled from his jobs.
This was a joke,,,a very dramatic joke!!!!,,,but was real,,, really really!!!!
Candido