January 12, 2009

A step forward

By Yoani Sanchez

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Andy is one of those who doesn’t wait. He had a mobile phone when they were only for foreigners, bought an apartment at the margin of the obsolete housing law and sells—since last year—the toasters the newspaper Granma announced for 2010. He wanders around to the large stores that sell in convertible pesos and offers his merchandise, diverted from state warehouses. He’s a man of these times and at the same time a step forward into the future, a complete product of a long era of illegalities.

He rents movies and soap operas copied from a satellite dish that he hides in a supposed water tank. His clients always ask for something with sex, a lot of action and little politics. He satisfies them. Whatever is banned is the direct source of his earnings and as there is so much one can’t do, he is a king in the country of the forbidden. This young man, not yet forty, sniffs out any restriction that creates a niche market. His long experience in subterfuges has taught him that respecting the penal code and survival are contradictory actions. So, in the face of criticism for his work as an illegal vendor, he says he only provides that which the State doesn’t offer or sells at prohibitive prices.

His ethics dictate his pocket and he has scammed some who trusted him too much. Nothing keeps him from sleeping peacefully at night because he knows that among his victims there are those who cheat others to obtain dividends. He belongs to that generation that has seen their parents steal from the State, grew up with the black market and taught their children the ruthless code of taking everything within their reach. It could be that one day they’ll nab him, put him behind bars for getting too far ahead of himself, but it won’t change anything. In this town there are many Andys.


This was originally written and published in Spanish by Yoani Sanchez and translated and posted in her English version blog. Since the castro regime continues to curtail her internet access and continues to block access to her blog and other internet sites in and out of Cuba, we are posting Yoani's work in its entirety in solidarity and to help promote and distribute same.

Posted by Val Prieto at January 12, 2009 09:13 AM

Comments

I've been saying it for a long time - those who profit from the black market are in many ways - patriots. It is the responsibility of every Cuban - and I count myself among them when I'm there from time-to-time - to steal as much as possible from the government. The time for eye-for-an-eye is long overdue.

Posted by: CubaWatch [TypeKey Profile Page] at January 12, 2009 09:30 AM

Although that's one of the few ways to survive in the island,we have to "open our eyes" and realize that a lot of these "blackmarket dealers" are blackmailed by the "gestapo" or "segurosos",and in many cases,they are informants,that are allowed to "deal" in exchange for information about everything that moves in that area,who buys what,prices,goods,etc.

For me,they are not patriots,they are "survivors".

saludos

Posted by: tony44 [TypeKey Profile Page] at January 12, 2009 03:53 PM


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