June 16, 2005

The Torch Never Doused

And its fire is passed on.

The last night of Cuba Nostalgia, minutes before it officially closed its doors, I was a bit overwhelmed with emotion. For the past three days I had been on this incredible roller coaster of emotions, having seen a little bit of everything, done a little bit of everything. I'd spoken to many people, those familiar with the blog and those not. I had helped 9 year olds email fidel castro and I had typed up letters to fidel for many an elder. Patrons of the event had been coming by and reading the banners, then the blog, then had come up to me with tears in their eyes and thanked me profoundly. Needless to say, the wet stuff flowed from my eyes as well.

And there I was, moments before we had to begin dismantling the booth, when it struck me Man. I cant believe it's over. So much hard work and generosity from so many. So many hours planning and running around and organizing. So many people touched, even if for only a few moments. Cuba Nostalgia was coming to close. Had I had many more tears, surely they would have been shed right then and there. I had this feeling of dread almost. Had we done enough? Could we have done more? Could we have reached more people? Did we do as much as possible to get the word out? Did we?

But then, as I was beginning to power down the laptops I overheard, for the last time, a phrase I'd heard a few times that weekend:

Is that Val?

I stopped what I was doing and turned around. There with my wife was a young couple, jovencitos, in their early 20's. I came up to them, introduced myself and we all shook hands.

I'm (name withheld), the young man said to me. From CAUSA. From Princeton. You wrote about our protest.

I have goosebumps as I write this. That moment, those few minutes standing there, talking to that young man and the other young lady who was there from CAUSA, those moments were perhaps the embodiment of the weekend, the embodiment of all the hard work, the embodiment of Babalu Blog.

Every single word written on this blog, all of them, have not only been strung together to reach people that otherwise wouldn't know much about Cuba, but to inspire those young people, los chamacos, those young Cuban-Americans and their peers to keep the fire lit for a free Cuba. To pass the torch on to their generation as it is their generation which will benefit the fruits of our labors, of our parents and grandparents labors. It is they who will one day stroll down El Malecon free of tears and lament.

It is their generation, a generation born in freedom, who will one day walk side by side with their Cuban counterparts as family. As free human beings. As equals.

I cannot tell you verbatim what we talked about standing there at the Babalu booth in those last few minutes of Cuba Nostalgia. But I can tell you this, hay esperanza. There is hope and it lives on in the young men and women of CAUSA.

I recieved the following email this morning from this young man from Princeton:

Hey Val,

This is (name withheld) from Princeton's CAUSA. We met at your booth on the
last night of Cuba Nostalgia in Miami. I'm writing to let you know
of a recent demonstration we had at the OAS General Assembly in Ft.
Lauderdale on June 5th and to announce that some members of our group
Raices de Esperanza, will be on airwaves tonight, Thursday, on Radio
Mambi-710AM from 10-10:30 PM on Martha Flores' program.

As you may remember, Raices de Esperanza is the name for our umbrella
network of young Cuban-Americans, South/Central Americans, and
Americans who care deeply about Cuba and are taking action to support
our young counterparts on the Island to bring about a better future.

Attached you'll find the English and Spanish post June 5th OAS
demonstration press releases, which you are welcome to post on the
blog. Please feel free to post the information regarding our appearance on
tonight's Radio Mambi program on the blog...the station can also be
heard online at: "Escuchanos" in the left hand toolbar.

You can also read more about Raices at Raices De Esperanza, a
website we are still trying to improve. The leader of Raices can be
reached on the "Contact Us" page on the website.

The only thing I ask is that my name and email address not be posted.
This movement and network is much bigger than me, and I don't want to
receive unfair credit for what's going on.

Thanks for all your help Val. Wishing you and your wife the best.

Y el ano que viene en La Habana,

(name withheld)

I urge each and every one of you out there reading this to visit the Raices Site. Read about how this wonderful organization was born. Read their mission statement. Subscribe to their newsletters. Give them your support. Make sure to tune in tonight, you will not be disappointed and once you hear what they have to say, you will swell with pride.

Also, make sure to drop them a quick note and thank them. They are the freedom of Cuba and her future.

raices.jpg
It is the duty of man to raise up man. One is guilty of all objections that one does not help to relieve.

Jose Martí

(Press release in the extended entry.)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Sunday, June 5, 2005

Media Contacts:
(512) 684-2360
www.raicesdeesperanza.org


Cuban American Youth “Awakened” Demonstrates Before Organization of American States

Ft. Lauderdale, FL. June 5, 2005— Twenty members of the youth movement Raíces de Esperanza, representing a network of over 30 universities, demonstrated before the XXXV Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS) to show their support for their counterparts on the island.

“We represent youths awakening to our supportive role in the future of Cuba. Our purpose is to show our brothers and sisters on the island that we stand by them in their struggle for a better future.” said Verónica Nur Valdés, age 20, a student of Florida International University.

Symbolically dressed in white, the Raíces representatives walked from the corner of 17th street and US1 to the corner of 17th and Eisenhower, the designated free speech area across from the Broward Convention Center. This act took place at 11:00am in a salute to the Ladies in White of Cuba, mothers, wives, sisters and daughters of political prisoners who bravely march every Sunday at the same time in Havana.

The students then gathered before the convention center for a moment of silence holding “cafeteras” (Cuban coffee makers) as a symbol of their message ¡Despierta! (Wake Up!). The watchword emphasized the movement of their generation as well as the needed “awakening” by the international community to the neglect of human rights on the island and the need for democracy.

“We are here to stress our solidarity for the youth in Cuba, and let them know that this is a global effort and that they are not alone. We stand by them and look forward to the respect of human rights so that one day they can seek justice with their own voices,” said Aramís Pérez age 20, student at Harvard University and Raíces Vice-Chair.

###

Raíces de Esperanza is a student-youth network committed to establishing the role of youth in Cuba’s transition to a pluralistic and democratic society.


Posted by Val Prieto at June 16, 2005 10:43 AM

Comments

Val,
This post, all by itself, makes all the expenditures, exertions and travails of CubaNostalgia, --whether financial, emotional and/or physical, well worth it for me.
Thanks for letting me be a part of it.
Julio
P.S. Yes, "El Encanto" is coming soon... but I need to make it a bit more... encantador...

Posted by: Julio C. Zangroniz at June 16, 2005 09:33 AM

How encouraging how proud we all must feel of these young men and women.
Little did The Beast think that as the flame of those who opposed him at his despicable beginnings fades with the passing of years, it has been not only passed but magnified in a new, stronger and even more purposefully voice.
My heart swells with pride, KaSStro’s dark soul must be filled with fear.

Posted by: KillCastro at June 16, 2005 10:59 AM

Val, this is so great. All the hard work, tears, high and lows. What a great reward.

Posted by: Kathleen at June 16, 2005 11:35 AM

Val:

The tears of pride say it all. We must continue to encourage and support this group. They are our only hope for influencing our academic institutions in this country.

Posted by: mojoman at June 16, 2005 04:02 PM

But do you have any more pics of that hyper-babe?

Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at June 16, 2005 09:56 PM

Improbulus Maximus,
If you are referring to the "Babalu Rumbera," the answer is... yes.
Rumor has it that there are plans underway for a set of postcards and/or possibly a poster that will be available at the next CubaNostalgia.
...that is, if we can convince Val to hire her again, so she will attend and sign autographs for whoever purchases her image(s).
So stay tuned for further details.
God, I *love* being a photographer!
Julio
:)

Posted by: Julio C. Zangroniz at June 16, 2005 11:15 PM

I have dibs on a new set of pics...

Posted by: George L. Moneo at June 17, 2005 07:33 AM


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