August 31, 2007
Exiles and immigrants, a response
Robert, I know where your heart is on this, but I don't agree.
I am a completely assimilated American. I took the oath of citizenship for this country and meant every word. I'd die for this country if I had too. My sister was born here, my wife, my son, my niece.
But I am still an exile. Why? Because the country of my birth was stolen from me. The term used by me (I cannot speak for Dr. Eire) represents a state of mind, not a condition of citizenship. My using the term "exile" means that my birthright was illegally taken from me, taken by one man and his followers, by a political act, by deception, by murder.
Being an exile implies a different feeling, a different mindset, a different set of premises, than that of an immigrant. An immigrant "arrives," an exile "flees;" an immigrant knowingly chooses to come to a new land because he has made a choice, an exile also does this, but he does it because he has no other choice; an immigrant desires a new life in a new land, the exile does the same knowing that that new life comes with the pain of forced separation, a pain that never leaves. And there's the rub. I am here because my parents fled a political system, a philosophy, not an economic disaster. Ask the East Germans, the Czechs, the Hungarians, the Poles, the Vietnamese; ask the German Jews fleeing the Nuremberg Laws or Kristallnacht; ask Alexander Solzhenitsyn. He knows the difference.
That's why the two experiences are different. And make no mistake, my definition of the terms can only apply to the Cuban experience because I know no other. It would be unseemly of me to to speak for other groups. But I was born in Cuba, so I have the right and the duty to speak out about that island and what was done to her. If a Cuban chooses to call himself an immigrant, then to me he is denying with his words what was done to his country, he is denying the very reason for his exit, whether he admits it to himself or not. Because in the end, the Beast of Birán is the author of both experiences. A Cuban calling himself an "immigrant" denies to the world the crimes fidel has committed, the evil he has wrought on the island. It gives him an out in the eyes of the world. Our destiny, our lives, were formed by him. He is the author of our destierro. I just choose to accept the reality of what he did to us. I don't wear rose-colored glasses, and I am not, nor can I be, nor do I want to be, "objective" when speaking about what he has done.
I work with many who have left the island as recently as thirteen years ago who consider themselves exiles. Why? Because their desire for liberty was greater than their desire for work or economic stability. Not that they weren't thinking of brighter pastures here; quite the contrary. Many wanted a new life, to start a family, to have the ability to own property, to have a career -- a real one, not one paid by the government at $12 per month. But the prime mover of their decision was liberty: the ability to do, say, think, believe and live however they wanted. When all is said, where better to seek that liberty than here.
Posted by George Moneo at August 31, 2007 07:15 AM
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Comments
Wow, my feelings exactly
Posted by: Vedado ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.babalublog.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at August 31, 2007 07:35 AM
All true, George. Well put.
In a certain way, Castro, made 'everyone' an 'exile' - even those now on (and 'in') the very Cuban soil that they were born.
Posted by: LaConchita at August 31, 2007 08:20 AM
Who really cares if they consider themselves exiles, refugees, Cuban Americans, Americans of Cuban ancestry, economic immigrants, balseros, marielitos, Batistianos, etc..? The only thing that matters to me is whether they want freedom for Cuba and its people. There are some people in this forum who have never been to Cuba, yet they care more about freedom for Cuba than people who came a few days ago. Having said that, I think the Cubans who intend to return to Cuba and become permanent residents of a free Cuban society should have a bigger voice, than they do, in US policies towards Cuba. I imagine that those who consider themselves "exiles" are less likely to return than those who are "economic refugees". Yet, the policies in Washington reflect the views of only those who consider themselves "exiles". The exiles care only about the wonderful Cuba that was stolen from them. We may never see that Cuba again during our lifetime because of the way Communism has transformed Cubans. The Cuba that will follow the Castro brothers may be too messy for those exiles that are living in comfort. I personally, cant wait to get dirty and become a full-time Cuban. I've already told my wife that she can stay here if she doesnt want to go back. I've spent too many hours totally consumed with the idea of a free Cuba not to be right there when that day finally gets here.
Posted by: Roberto at August 31, 2007 08:44 AM
What a cynical statement:
The exiles care only about the wonderful Cuba that was stolen from them.
And wholly untrue. Coño, Roberto, you should be ashamed of yourself for saying such a thing. I was a little over three years old when I came here. I remember very little about Cuba, except what I saw through photos and what I heard through anecdotes. But to paint my generation with that broad brush is insulting. We may not move there, but we want it free of fidel, out of principle, just like you do.
Shame on you.
Posted by: George L. Moneo at August 31, 2007 08:56 AM
Oye bro, Im not the most articulate person so maybe you misunderstood me. What im saying is that "exiles" like my father, for example, who want to see Cuba free just like you and I, will not return to Cuba because its not the Cuba he once knew. He says he is too old to deal with that shit. Cubans like you who want Fidel out and democracy in are still important for the future of Cuba, but those who cant wait to return are probably a little bit more essential for the future Cuba.
Posted by: Roberto at August 31, 2007 09:10 AM
George,
Great post.
I understand your view on this because you are applying the literal definition of exile and immigrant. My point is two-fold:
- After almost 50 years of destierro, the community's state begins to evolve into something resembling the classic immigration patterns than pure exile. For a long time, it was indeed purely exile, but with each generation born outside of Cuba, the line shifts away from exile. This is a natural evolution, and there's nothing wrong with it.
- I agree that exile/immigrant is a mindset as much as it is a actual state. However, and mainly because the exile/immigrant lines are still quite blurred in the Cuban-American community, even those of us like myself who were born here feel a passion and an interest for a free Cuba that pure immigrants lack for their homeland, yet I wouldn't dream of ever living in Cuba. My life and my family's future is in the United States, plain and simple. The two sides tug at us.
Therefore we need to be cautious in painting with too broad of a brush those who don't consider themselves pure exiles, because it's not as clear cut or as black and white as the definitions imply. In the end, it's beliefs, values and actions that matter.
Posted by: Robert at August 31, 2007 10:27 AM
We'll agree to disagree, Robert. I understand your point, but I don't buy it. And, BTW, there are some in the C-A community that I would DEFINITELY paint with that broad brush. Hell, I'd dump the can of paint on their head...
Posted by: George L. Moneo at August 31, 2007 10:51 AM
Please refer to the comments for the "Round Two" thread below for the latest on Jose Marti's response to an American newspaper's vilification of the Cuban people.
Posted by: asombra at August 31, 2007 11:01 AM
No problema George.
Of course, I know a few right off the top of my head whom I'd love to dump the paint can on. But I know many more who understand the true nature of the beast, and we don't want to alienate those folks just because they may not consider themselves to be 100% exile.
Posted by: Robert at August 31, 2007 11:01 AM
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