April 18, 2007
Adjust Your Blogrolls
Claudia for Libertad has a new URL: www.claudia4libertad.com so adjust your blogrolls accordingly. And while youre at Claudia's, do check out the Tribe of Cuba by Alberto De La Cruz:
Even though I had been born in the US—my parents managed to escape the dictatorship in 1961—my mother and father raised me as if our family were still on the island. Not until I became old enough to comprehend the difference did I realize that I had not been born in Cuba. This realization, however, did little to affect my identity as a Cuban. As a young child, my Cuban born family members referred to me as “El Americanito,” but my upbringing, and the culture that surrounded me during my formative years, made me feel as Cuban as black beans and rice. Growing up in Miami in the 60s and 70s surrounded by Cuban exiles, I did not fully experience the vast differences between the Cuban exiles and the rest of the Latino immigrants in this country until I reached adulthood. It was then, while dealing with the many Latino nationalities that live in South Florida and other parts of this country, when I noticed that not only do we differ with our Latino cousins politically, but we also are not exactly looked upon favorably. In the beginning, I had a difficult time understanding the reasoning behind the animosity many Latinos felt toward the Cuban exile community. We spoke the same language, ate similar foods, shared many cultural customs, and were all considered Hispanics by the Anglo community. One would think that a group, however diversified internally, would rally together based on the immense amount of similarities we all shared. Still, as I traveled this great country we have all adopted as our new homeland and met Hispanics from all different backgrounds, one comment continued to be repeated: “You’re not a bad guy, for a Cuban.” Whenever I asked for clarification, they offered differing rationalizations based on anything from personal experience, to hearsay. All of these explanations, however, shared a common perception—Cuban exiles are an arrogant lot that think they deserve special treatment. No matter how well or how badly they articulated their point, it never failed to dumbfound me that my fellow Latinos would view us in such a light.
Read the whole thing right here.
Posted by Val Prieto at April 18, 2007 04:38 PM
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Comments
Nice thorough piece by Alberto. But I fear he is casting pearls before swine.
Posted by: LittleGator ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.babalublog.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at April 18, 2007 04:52 PM
Envidia. The great green monster. That's what it is. They call us Los Judios del Caribe. Why, because like the Jews we strive and prosper. Makes no difference where we're exiled.
Posted by: Jewbana at April 18, 2007 05:12 PM
To this day I will not mark the "hispanic/latino" box on surveys. I mark "other" and state "Cuban".
Posted by: Eloy M at April 18, 2007 07:36 PM
Great article!
Posted by: R S at April 18, 2007 08:00 PM
We cannot all be put into the HISPANIC Pot and consider us all the same. I too check other on applications and specify White Cuban.
Posted by: jose dominguez at April 18, 2007 08:16 PM
It's amazing how we all think/feel alike. I also refuse to check the "Hispanic" race/ethnic box, and my children (who are U.S. born) the same thing.
The article cuts it to the hard-core truth about why we Cubans feel the way we do, and so apart from other "hispanics".
The majority, it not all, of us Cubans/Cuban Americans that are here, (except the spies and chivatos), are here simply because a gang of thugs disguised under the state religion of Communism raped the social fabric and consciousness of our country. As individuals, we and our families were 'personally' victimized by this horror through personal experience of seeing our family and friends murdered, tortured, and imprisoned.
NOW, I ask all of my other hispanic friends, do you know 'why' we think/feel/act so differently?
Posted by: LaConchita at April 19, 2007 09:06 AM
With pitifully few exceptions, appreciated though they are, our supposed "brother" countries from the Mexico-US border on down have behaved abominably badly with respect to Cuba's tragedy. At best, they've been indifferent, and many have repeatedly and consistently gone out of their way to play along with the Castro dictatorship. They've had half a century to "get it," which obviously hasn't happened, and I personally want no part of such a miserable "family." So please, don't call me "Latin." I'm Cuban, or Cuban-American, but that's it.
Posted by: asombra at April 19, 2007 10:53 AM
Most Cubans came to the United States escaping from the Communist butchers to save there families. Most came without a Dime and not knowing the language nor understanting the culture. Yet in 50 years they have risen to be the highest achievers in gaining the AMERICAN DREAM. The Cubans do not have a victim mentality. They see an opportunity to exalt and they take it. They do not have time for the "Oh poor me" mentality.
If Cubans feel that they are a people who strive and prosper. They are 100% right. I agree with them. Cuban Americans vote and they make a difference. When Cuban American settle in an area, that area tends to prosper. We have seen that in Miami, New York, New Jersey, California, etc..etc. So I say to my CUBAN BROTHERS ...continue to move forward and not to worry about the comments of others who for the most part are jealous of your prosperity or are just scum bag commies that hate the fact that you have made it in a country where ANYONE with a little pride and determination can make it.
Vivan los Cubanos......Especialmente las CUBANAS que son LAS REINAS DEL CARIBE.
Posted by: Henry Agueros at April 19, 2007 11:45 AM
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