Cuban Encounter Incorporates more than just politics

BY SUSANA MENDIOLA

Guest Columnist

What comes to mind when you hear "free Cuba"? Old men in guayabera shirts drinking coladas reminiscing on long-gone days, vilifying the communist regime over a game of dominos, or how about counting the days until Castro meets his maker in a disturbingly enthusiastic fashion? Although this stereotype has some validity to it, you would be surprised to know that the young and the open-minded are right there alongside them longing and working for a democratic Cuba.

On Saturday, October 4th, the First Intergenerational Cuban Encounter at FIU seemed to be just what our community needed. The originator of the idea for this event is a man by the name of Dr. Alfredo Melgar, who has been in political exile for two years. He is a young doctor who until recently practiced medicine in Cuba and spoke of the present severely deteriorated elitist health-care system,which was second only to that of Canada's and the U.S.'s prior to the communist revolution. His residency as a doctor in Cuba was terminated due to the fact that he repeatedly criticized the health-care system and made several intentions to promote a pro-democratic movement among the student body within the island. Dr. Melgar now lives in Miami and continually strives to shed some light of truth concerning the reality of life in Cuba.

Also present at the Encounter were an array of prominent and passionate speakers including congressman Lincoln Diaz-Balart, ex-political prisoners Ricardo Bofill and Dr. Juan Clark, and Dr. Liana Prieto Arcia whom is recognized for her presentation on Cuba's abuses against children's rights and infanticide to the United Nations. They addressed the issues of myths and realities in Cuba's history, economy, and medicine; struggles for liberty; the island's on-going identity crisis; religious oppression; and the impact the new generation inside of Cuba and in exile has on the island's future.

This information not only provided the audience with a clear picture of actuality of the situation in Cuba, but also hoped to serve as a vehicle through which the Encounter's main goal could be attained-- finding a common thread among three generations that have woven what we call the "Cuban exile."

A common thread? Yeah, a common thread like simply knowing what ingredients make up a Cuban. For example, everyone thinks that Cubans participate in daily talk-a-thons where they just ramble on and on about God knows what. So, that's why Chef J.J. kicked off the event with giving everyone a cooking class entitled How to Cook a Cuban.

He first put in some Cuban coffee and frijoles negros which can very well be considered Cuban staple foods; a guayabera, part of the attractive Cuban uniform observed by many of the older folk; a curious set of eggs, symbolic of a Cuban's temerity (I'll let you figure that one out for yourselves); a shake of rumba, son, and salsa, the essential tunes of a Cuban's listening pleasure that been by shaped by their African heritage; and crab claws, called muelas in Spanish, comparing their chatter to that of the sonorous chit-chat engaged in by Cubans.

Many shocking facts were revealed by the speakers, ranging from ex-political prisoners and recently exiled professionals to human rights activists, reporters and congressmen. For example, did you know that many unjustified executions have also been accompanied by the extraction of most of the condemned person's blood before execution?

Detainees and political prisoners can be subjected to electroshock, lack of adequate nutrition and medical care. They are often humiliated and have endured physical and psychological torture in cells known as gavetas (drawers), more recently resembling coffins, where they are packed so closely they have to remain standing.

Only the elite members of the government enjoy the best housing, unrationed food, abundant transportation, as well as the best education and healthcare. So much for a government based on the rejection of class differences. Alcoholism, drug addiction and suicide (the highest rate in this hemisphere) offer the only apparent forms of escape to Cuba's people. Cuba has become a huge government-backed brothel in the hopes of attracting tourists. Castro possesses $1,400,000,000 while his people stand in line for rationed sugar which is Cuba's main export. Imposed abortions and the implantation of intra-uterine devices to unknowing women have taking their place as a means of population control. These are just several of the daily violations to the people of Cuba.

This day of speakers and group discussions ended with an exhibit of Cuban art. The mix of generations made a lot of the older guests smile with pride and relief that the following generations will pick up where they left off. The many ex-political prisoners there left with hope that their efforts have not been in vain.

All in all, the day served to learn about other's different perspectives, to find answers, and to unite the different generations in a purpose that goes beyond political change for Cuba. Only by getting together and seeing there are others who are doing so much can the Cuban community gain strength to break away from the status quo that has slowly been accepted - that of exiles. I think it is safe to say that a majority of the population in F.I.U. is Cuban-American and now is the time to help restore democracy in Cuba. If you want to help check out the F.I.U. Free Cuba Foundation web page at http://www.fiu.edu/~fcf/