August 12, 2005
I LOVE THE CZECHS
Perhaps because the Czechs lived through the tyranny of communism, they have first hand knowledge of oppression and they stand in solidarity with the Cuban people who struggle for freedom.
Via Net For Cuba, please take a few minutes to view a video, titled "Message from the Czech people to the Cuban People," from Mayda Argüelles y Liuver Saborit, of the Cuban-Czech Association. It's in Spanish, but it is definitely a must see.
My admiration for the people of the Czech Republic has grown tenfold after viewing this short film.
Here's a message, in Spanish, from the video's producers:
“Somos un matrimonio cubano exiliados en la República Checa. Mayda Argüelles y Liuver Saborit, cuyos hijos pequeños quedaron retenidos por la dictadura castrista durante 18 meses en Cuba, hasta que hicimos una protesta frente a la embajada en diciembre pasado, y solo entonces obtuvimos la liberación de nuestros niños.Desde nuestra llegada a este país no cesamos de dar información de lo que sucede en Cuba a través de todos los medios de difusión, también trabajamos en conjunto con amigos checos con los cuales hemos conformado una asociación cubano-checa.
Este material de video lo realizamos con la idea de que nuestro pueblo, tanto los de adentro de Cuba como los de afuera conozcan la opinión del pueblo checo que sufrió en carne propia los desmanes de una dictadura comunista. También lo realizamos con la esperanza de que los cubanos nos unamos cada día mas. Es un recordatorio de que somos un mismo pueblo, los de adentro y los que estamos en la diáspora, es un homenaje al sacrificio de los que arriesgan sus vidas en nuestra sufrida isla en aras de una patria libre para todos los cubanos y a los que cada día desde el exilio luchamos por cumplir el sueño del retorno a una Cuba sin represión, a una patria para nuestros hijos, es una exhortación a todos a luchar sin descanso desde un único frente para poder tener una Cuba para los cubanos, como lo soñó Martí.”
La Asociación Cubano-Checa puede ser contactada a través de la siguiente dirección electrónica: www.cubaexilio.cz
Posted by Val Prieto at August 12, 2005 07:49 AM
Comments
My schoolbook Spanish has suffered over the past 30 years. Any chance of translating, Val?
Posted by: Ken Summers at August 12, 2005 09:04 AM
i posted about this once before, when you were talking about havel, but i once sent him a letter and got a reply, a nice reply, didnt seem to be one of those "form letters".. i got to meet him at a book siging, and chatted really quick, there were people waiting, but havel spoke about cuba and "the struggle of people to be free". afterwards i ducked out back to the alley to smoke a cigarette and who did i see but havel sneaking a cig (he was under doctors orders to quit) and again had another intersting chat.. if you ever wonder if free cuba has an ally thats not cuban, its havel..
Posted by: daniel at August 12, 2005 09:07 AM
Excellent uplifting video showing support by people who personally suffered through communism! They point out that we must keep showing support for our dissidents so they never feel that they are alone in what seems like an insurmountable battle. The French could learn a lot from the Czechs!!!!
Posted by: Jose Aguirre at August 12, 2005 09:31 AM
I love the Czechs too. In 1982, I visited Czechoslovakia. It was memorable because its tyranny was WORSE than that of martial law Poland next door. That's how bad it sucked.
Posted by: A.M. Mora y Leon at August 12, 2005 09:46 AM
I believe the Czechs have such empathy for the Cuban people because they know what betrayal is, starting with the Munich "pact," and continuing with the betrayal into Stalin's hands in 1948 while the West - as usual - stood by and did nothing.
Cuba has known nothing but betrayal from March 10, 1952 to the present, from all players during this tragic period, whether native or foreigner...
Thank God we have some friends, even in Europe. If nothing else, our Czech friends help keep hope alive for those on the island risking all for freedom. Where there is hope, freedom will eventually prevail.
Los checos son, simplemente, cojonudos.
Posted by: Alberto Quiroga at August 12, 2005 10:32 AM
sí, Cuba para los cubanos ahora, and ditto all of the above
Posted by: Kathleen at August 12, 2005 11:09 AM
Near the end, one of the Czechs interviewed mentioned this struggle isn't about ideology, it's one of good against evil.
That's what it all boils down to. Too bad so many people don't get that simple message.
Posted by: Robert at August 12, 2005 11:25 AM
GOOD VERSUS EVIL, THAT'S RIGHT
lIKE A MAGICIAN, he say's one thing and while you're believing him (Hollywood), he does just the opposite, but keeps saying he's done good as he promised. You just don't get to check up on him, like a mother checking to see if you made your bed. No one gets that privilege.
It's a GBT, Government by Thugs.
Posted by: Howarde at August 13, 2005 12:09 AM
Without free, self-respecting, and autonomous citizens there can be no free and independent nations. Without internal peace--that is, peace among citizens and between the citizens and the state--there can be no guarantee of external peace.
--Vaclav Havel
Posted by: Dave J at August 16, 2005 12:14 AM