February 26, 2006
Crosses - Another Perspective
This is not meant to supersede Val's post below, but I thought I would share my experience at the Cuban Memorial this morning.
Seeing the over 10,000 crosses is quite an experience. If you've ever been to Arlington National Cemetary, then you have an idea of what it's like. Once you begin to walk through the rows and rows of crosses, that's when it begins to sink in. The names of people on the crosses, along with dates and location where they were executed leaves quite an impression.
Each of those people had a family, a purpose in life, a dream. All of them died for no reason other than to fulfill some madman's wishes. What a waste, what a shame.
I can't begin to imagine the hard work that was put in by the volunteers to place each styrofoam cross on the ground and nail it down so they wouldn't get blown away. It was definitely a labor of love. There are two tents set up for donations and to leave testimonials of the victims. I met my father there this morning and went to the crosses bearing the names of cousins, five of them to be exact, who were executed between 1959 and 1962. Afterward, we headed to one of the tents where my father provided one of the volunteers with information regarding our fallen relatives. The Cuban Memorial organizers want to build an archive where the stories of each victim can be told not only for the present but for future generations as well.
The crosses swayed in the gusty breezes of a late February day. As they moved, they made a somewhat eerie sound. Seeing the crosses sway back and forth and make sounds in the breeze, I couldn't help but think that this was a sign: a sign that the memories of those names on the crosses are still alive and burning in our hearts. They were reminding us that their lives didn't end in vain, they died with the purpose and desire for freedom.
Posted by Robert M at February 26, 2006 01:01 PM
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Comments
Robert,
Great post, except I disagree with you on one thing - their death was not meaningless or wasteful. Au contraire, while we all weep and miss our loved ones, and even hate the Stooge for it, these men and women died for one very big reason - FREEDOM. In particular those who faced the squad, died in prison or where assasinated. Those who died because they were fighting this madman, as was my mom's step cousin who was executed at La Cabana.
And they are there to remind us of this madman, and how important it is to never give up, to never stop what we are doing.
I know it must be an impressive sight, but it also has to be an inspirational one.
Posted by: La Ventanita at February 26, 2006 01:42 PM
The activities at the Cuban Memorial have been going on Friday, Saturday, and today. It is interesting to note that the Miami Herald's online edition has not published anything about these activities on these three days.
Instead, today they did an article on a Cuban exile club that is "a haven for prostitution and drugs." They quoted "a well-known Cuban exile" Bernardo Benes for his opinion. Benes was exposed as a Castro agent in 1980
http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/benes.htm
and is generally regarded as a pariah among Cuban exiles. Yet, this is the person the Herald frequently quotes in representation of the exile community.
The anti-Cuban exile spirit of Jim DeFede and Jack Kofoed lives on at the Herald.
Posted by: delacova at February 26, 2006 01:47 PM
La Ventanita,
The first comment comes from the regime's point of view. The reason they died was to keep the regime in power, which is a waste of a human life for selfish purposes.
At the end of the post, I comment from the victims' perspective: "They (the dead) were reminding us that their lives didn't end in vain, they died with the purpose and desire for freedom."
Perhaps my choice of words could've been better, hopefully this clears it up a bit.
Posted by: Robert at February 26, 2006 02:06 PM
Maybe my brain is just mush from reading so much for school and it didn't register. Sorry Robert.
Posted by: La Ventanita at February 26, 2006 02:09 PM
That's OK...it's a bit ambiguous a first, but I decided to leave it there and hope that everyone will understand where I'm coming from.
Posted by: Robert at February 26, 2006 02:36 PM
Hi Robert, I thought this post was beautifully written. Indeed, there is something deeply moving about any cemetary, "real" or "symbolic." I'm sure the gusts were a sign. Voices speaking to a community conscience. Thank you for sharing.
M
Posted by: Manola B at February 26, 2006 03:18 PM
Not that it surprises me that the Miami Herald would do this but even the online El Nuevo Herald didn't even have a small blurb on this. It truly is sickening that this painful event, that touches so many in the community, would be slighted by the local paper. It truly is sad. Was there any mention in the actual paper?
Posted by: hsilio at February 27, 2006 12:57 AM
Beautiful post. Photos of the crosses should be posted all over so the message and the meaning stays out there - regardless of the "MSM's" purposeful neglect, people all over the world WILL notice. The "Herald" is a NOTHING rag.
Robert - losing 5 cousins...what can one say, except prayers. I know they were not lost in vain. God bless and keep them. Someday they will be honored in a free Cuba.
Posted by: Alberto Quiroga at February 27, 2006 07:59 AM
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