“And what is left for you to see on
this life?” was the last question asked by the show’s host of his guest,
dissident Cuban blogger Yoani Sanchez… -“to see my country free of this
tyrannical government” came the quick, unbridled answer…
If you are a
regular reader, a few entries ago there was mention of a lady who practices
patriotism of the highest kind: the one which is done from within the bowels of
the enemy… while your knees shake in fear. She has managed, over the last 7
years or so, to produce a blog which is now read by over 12million people a
month, in some 40 countries of the world and which is translated into 14
languages.
This was my first
time with her; the anticipated moment when I would be able to actually watch
and listen to this lady whose blog entries have been a guiding light to the
realities of that beautiful country I left behind so many years ago; a country
which is fast disappearing in the mists of time, fleeting threads of memories hanging on
like a slowly shredding banner daring the wind from a worn out
mast.
What would she be
like? … What would she say? Would she be
baring her soul or knowing that the enemy would be faced again in less than 4
weeks, would she be holding back?
The conversation
began… on the one side, was Jaime Bayly, a well known host and very intelligent
questioner. On his asset list, is being a rabid defender of the right to think
and to express thoughts… an enemy of any tyrannical government… On the other
side of the desk, sat Yoani Sanchez; an equally strong proponent of the right
to be…
She answered
questions, spoke about her fears and about her life. She spoke about being able
to meet people, especially that other branch of the family who has been
away for so many years and, without whom, there could never be a fully realized
Cuba. She spoke about the difficulties of managing her blog and about how many
people around the world were giving of their time and efforts to see it
realized.
Bayly asked about
her being afraid, living right there at the mercy of those who so wanted to see
her work silenced, her thoughts destroyed and forgotten, the quiet voice that brings
to life the day to day misery of her countrymen. But she is not about to let this happen. Not voluntarily,
anyway.
Answering
Bayly’s questions and comments, she was candid, transparent. -“Yes, I am afraid… Of course!!”… “My knees
shake at times but I can’t stop doing what I have to do, what I feel compelled
to do” -“Have you been threatened?” he asked… “Threatened, beaten, jailed…” she
quietly answered, with a wistful look in her eyes.
She was in awe
and wonder of how many people wanted to meet her, to speak and embrace her…
Some, I’m sure, to bask in her glory while trying to hold on and even revive
their own fading colors… She was determined to bring her message across without
hyperbole, without the usual nasty comments, so common to many… without
screams… and she managed to do just so.
A clear, orderly
thinker with clear and complete answers. I saw and heard a person who, while
being afraid of very real potential reprisals, continues to raise her voice to
denounce the tyrannical government of her country; my own birth country. Who is
determined to do her utmost to bring a change about with her words and
convictions. And with those of a generation of Cubans who
are beginning to –thanks in part to her example- lose a bit of the immobilizing
fear in which their minds had been compartmentalized.
-“In the Cuba of
my dreams, the President would only be one high ranking administrator… not a
self named leader” –“Everyone would have a job to do; everyone would have the
right to do it, a right to have a decent life and to think, to talk” –“No,
please, I don’t want that” she quickly answered to Bayly’s suggestion of her
potential candidacy to a Presidency. –“I’m not good at that stuff… I want to
run a major newspaper and rejoice in the freedom to publish whatever needs to
be shouted to the world”.
I watched her and
a few words came to my mind, in trying to describe this person; a young,
unassuming mother, wife and True Patriot… Quiet Inner Strength. And then, something
else came to mind also…
When people like
this woman can exist, despite all the efforts to silence her from the powers
that be, there is definite hope for the future of that beautiful, Caribbean
island I called home in my childhood years. Many blessings and, more than this,
much support to her in her war of words…
Blog
… www.desdecuba.com/generaciony/ ---
”Twitter” @yoanisanchez
Be
Well … Be Back!!!
Final Notes:
- Pray for those who are fighting an illness which may take them away from their
loved ones… Every request is heard, and counts!!
- Follow us on Twitter … @RJAsPandora
- Any comments please send to otherboxp@yahoo.com
- “La Otra Caja de Pandora”… The Spanish language Blog… “otracaja.blogspot.com” … Bienvenidos!!!
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