From Cuba-Caudia Cadelo of Octavo Cerco narrates to us about the few minutes of freedom, artists and writers enjoyed last night in Havana, Cuba. This has no precedence. Let Freedom Reign!
Yoani Sanchez said only: "There is a performance, it will be good and I'm going to participate, be there at the Wifredo Lam Center at 8 in the evening."
I could never have imagined finding a podium and a microphone ready for all, for each of us. The place was crowded, to make it to the front row I had to slip through the multitude saying I want to get permits from the microphone. Everything began with a woman, white dove on her left shoulder, made a face without sound, (I should mention that this is meant as a mocking of Castro, who 50 years ago, stood before the Cuban people with a white dove on his shoulder, right before his reigh of terror began) while two boys, dressed in the uniform of the MININT, had the time to give an end to its intervention and throw her back to the muted plebs.
Yoani happened right after, she talked about the blogosphere, the censorship, and there was total silence and lots of applause when she finished, people knew and were happy. Then I ran and it was my turn, I was very nervous and had not had a microphone in front of an audience and listen to me since I was 9 years, when dressed in a pioneer uniform I assaulted a CDR(Commeteis in Defence of the Revolution) reunion, to read an incomprehensible statement, over time I developed a sort of phobia to that device only served to mask the reality my country.
I prepared a text which I read with a knowt on my throat:
That one day we will all have all the minutes of the day in front of a microphone to say anything we want. And incidentally also now have that opportunity, take a minute or even less, to tell the truth.
I got off, but I had so much more to say, then Reinaldo Escobar went up, he did not have enough time to finish, and the two in military unform took him down and the opportunity was the last they heard of his speech and with the feet placed on the floor. Time elapsed and no one else went up, people were frightened, and an artist said:
I am very afraid.
I walked toward the podium again and said: that one day freedom of speech in Cuba will not be a performance.
Yoani Sanchez said only: "There is a performance, it will be good and I'm going to participate, be there at the Wifredo Lam Center at 8 in the evening."
I could never have imagined finding a podium and a microphone ready for all, for each of us. The place was crowded, to make it to the front row I had to slip through the multitude saying I want to get permits from the microphone. Everything began with a woman, white dove on her left shoulder, made a face without sound, (I should mention that this is meant as a mocking of Castro, who 50 years ago, stood before the Cuban people with a white dove on his shoulder, right before his reigh of terror began) while two boys, dressed in the uniform of the MININT, had the time to give an end to its intervention and throw her back to the muted plebs.
Yoani happened right after, she talked about the blogosphere, the censorship, and there was total silence and lots of applause when she finished, people knew and were happy. Then I ran and it was my turn, I was very nervous and had not had a microphone in front of an audience and listen to me since I was 9 years, when dressed in a pioneer uniform I assaulted a CDR(Commeteis in Defence of the Revolution) reunion, to read an incomprehensible statement, over time I developed a sort of phobia to that device only served to mask the reality my country.
I prepared a text which I read with a knowt on my throat:
That one day we will all have all the minutes of the day in front of a microphone to say anything we want. And incidentally also now have that opportunity, take a minute or even less, to tell the truth.
I got off, but I had so much more to say, then Reinaldo Escobar went up, he did not have enough time to finish, and the two in military unform took him down and the opportunity was the last they heard of his speech and with the feet placed on the floor. Time elapsed and no one else went up, people were frightened, and an artist said:
I am very afraid.
I walked toward the podium again and said: that one day freedom of speech in Cuba will not be a performance.
I remember other interventions: Claudio Fuentes asked for a vote, after talking about dictatorship and of political prisoners called for the lifting of hands from those who agreed to change things, almost everyone raised their hands. A Puerto Rican said that although he lived in a colony, in his country he had freedom of expression and asked to leave the microphone open 24 hours. An American: I do not speak Spanish but: ¡viva la cambia! Reinaldo Escobar with a black bag over his head took a second opportunity and said: I think this should be banned. Hamlet Labastida, a plastic artist, called for democracy and for at least one more to go up to the podium, at least one. Ciro Diaz was going to sing "The Commander", but time was up and not the boys dressed in military uniform, but a sullen sound man walked up and shouted: It's over!, While ordering: Disconnect it already! A sizable audience was shouting: Ciro, Ciro, Ciro!, Like a "Porno Para Ricardo" concert asking for another song. The rapid response squad was poor, with only two people, and I suppose they felt strange being the minority without power on the stage: a completely new experience for them. Posted by Claudia at 5:32 | ||
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