July 21, 2005
iBienvenidos, hermanas!
Fifty Cuban dancers who defected en masse in Las Vegas eight months ago from castro's nightmare have been granted full asylum in the United States of America. iBienvenidos!
source: The New York Times
Fifty more voices that can spread the truth about castro's regime, as well as enrich our lives here through their art - are now here to stay with us.
The Miami Herald writes:
Later, professional baseball pitcher Orlando ''El Duque'' Hernandez, who had defected with the help of the same immigration attorney as theirs, also visited the show. He teared up after seeing the performance.
But it's the New York Times that does the stellar job of explaining their nightmare in castro's island hellhole and their industrious struggle to make it in the states against all odds. Take a look at those faces that castro tried to throw in his prisons. Read the Times' account of their amazement at encountering things like food and electricity and swimming pools in the states. And their love for freedom. The Times writes:
Ms. Durr said that this week she gathered the troupe together to turn over to them the government documents. "I told them, 'Now it's official. This is something you can't buy. This paper is your destiny.' "
This is truly great news! Let's all wish them the best for their tough road ahead in a new country with a new language and an unfamiliar tradition of freedom that they instinctively realized was theirs, too. Let us hope they achieve the great success in conditions of freedom, instead of the culturally stifling castroite dictatorship, that they were really meant for.
iBienvenidos, todos hermanas y hermanos!
Posted by Mora at July 21, 2005 10:38 PM
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Comments
Bottoms up!
Posted by: CB at July 21, 2005 11:01 PM
Sweet, maybe one of them can teach me to dance!
Posted by: Christopher Taylor at July 21, 2005 11:44 PM
I'm interested in seeing individual interviews. My line of thought is they probably had it better than the typical Cuban, like with the Russian ballet dancers and olympic athletes who didn't really know the half of what they were defecting from.
Posted by: Jay at July 22, 2005 12:01 AM
The NYT says they came from a wide strate of Cuban society. The main thing they had in common was their industriousness and love for freedom.
Posted by: A.M. Mora y Leon at July 22, 2005 02:50 AM
WELCOME INDEED
The old windbag must be getting senile too, because how in the hell would anyone in their right mind expect ANY Cuban to return home after a few days in Las Vegas? Could any city in the world impress these young people like LV?
Cuba must seem like the remotest region in Siberia to them after such an adventure? Or, perhaps he was thinking smart, that they'll marry millionaires and begin sending tons of money to their folks back home, which he'll snatch away anyway. Strange. What was really on his mind?
They're certainly pretty young women.
Posted by: Howarde at July 22, 2005 04:10 AM
they arent the only ones, i dont know if it got press here, but two players from the soccer team defected, and the goalie is 'whereabouts unknown'..
Posted by: daniel at July 22, 2005 08:37 AM
If any of them needs a place to stay... grrrrr
Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at July 22, 2005 10:35 AM
Jay - Their lives in Cuba might have been a hair better than ordinary folks', but I don't think the contrast was as great as what you proposed. I base my opinion on a caption under a photo from a 2004 magazine article: "The ballroom of a once-grand private estate serves as rehearsal hall for the Ballet Nacional de Cuba. With no electricity -- thus no air conditioning or lighting -- dancers practice in oppressive heat in front of a scarred mirror." Being in an architectural magazine, the article focused on the crumbling structures in Havana and contained this comment near the end, "Havana is an amazing adventure no one would choose to live." Of course, they had to ruin it with this final sentence, "But for a visitor, it can be divine."
Back to the matter at hand...Three cheers on a successful defection! I hope the troupe will be able to tour the entire country with their show. :)
Posted by: FL Mom at July 22, 2005 11:55 AM
Welcome to America! This would make a great prime time movie, showcasing the truth about Cuba.
Posted by: Kathleen at July 22, 2005 01:09 PM
Yeah, too bad it will never, ever be made. Those are some lovely young ladies all right, we can certainly always use more beautiful Cuban lasses in the country :)
Posted by: Christopher Taylor at July 22, 2005 03:20 PM
test
Posted by: A.M. Mora y Leon at July 22, 2005 06:05 PM
If any of them are looking for a husband...
Posted by: Mike at July 23, 2005 11:53 AM
