Breaking News UPDATED
Agustin Tamargo, arguably one of the exile community's loudest voices, exceptional journalist, editorialist, editor and reporter, has passed away.
It's a sad day in Miami today.
Hace treinta años que me di cuenta del raro talento de Agustín para encontrar el ángulo original que nadie había visto en el asunto que todos habíamos visitado, y al que parecía imposible extraerle una gota más de jugo. Por aquellas fechas circulaba entre los exiliados una antología de los textos periodísticos de Tamargo publicada bajo el pendenciero título de Furias e improperios, supongo que inspirado en el Contra esto y aquello de Unamuno. Si uno leía los artículos sin reparar en los matices, inevitablemente advertía la agilidad del lenguaje, la pasión del autor, el contenido ético y la buena gramática, pero si afilaba cuidadosamente la mirada siempre encontraba, además, argumentos sutiles, atinadas asociaciones históricas y un punto de vista inteligente. Era imposible pedirle más a un articulista.
Pero hay otra virtud aún más rara en este gran exponente del mejor periodismo cubano: la cordialidad cívica. Tamargo es siempre respetuoso, incluso con quienes le parecen equivocados. Eso se agradece. Ni hace ni contesta ataques personales. No pierde el tiempo en el intercambio de insultos, y puede cultivar un amplísimo abanico de amistades diversas que van desde figuras formadas en el fragor de la ya casi borrosa república, como Rolando Masferrer, Tony Varona o Rafael Díaz-Balart hasta Rafael Rojas, Emilio Ichikawa y Ramón Colás, cubanos jóvenes y brillantes criados a la teta marxista que tuvieron el coraje de pensar con sus cabezas, enfrentarse a la dictadura y partir al destierro. Tamargo, que no conoce la envidia ni la vanidad, sólo exige un requisito: el talento. Cuando hay inteligencia detrás de la palabra, entrega su amistad sin condiciones.
¿Qué más decir de este hombre singular y bueno? Muchas cosas, pero no hay espacio y lo más importante, Agustín, es devolverte la observación que, con mucha elegancia, me hiciste recientemente: estamos al final de un largo y doloroso proceso que tú conoces como nadie.
Debes llegar a Cuba, Agustín, con esa rica experiencia tuya, hecha de muchos aciertos y unos cuantos yerros --como nos sucede a todos--, a ponerle el hombro a la aventura de recoger los escombros, recuperar la libertad y ayudar a las nuevas generaciones a que rehagan la patria, consuelen a los desvalidos y empiecen una nueva andadura. Los que lleguen, Agustín, y los que están, van a necesitar esa voz honrada e insobornable que censura sin miedo lo que está mal o abraza con entusiasmo la obra bien hecha. Siempre es útil, Agustín, quien le llama pan al pan y vino al vino. Pero mucho más cuando lo hace pensando en Cuba ayer, en Cuba hoy y en Cuba siempre.
UPDATE-Henry
Some details from his bio.
He worked for several newspapers and magazines in pre-castro Cuba including Bohemia. He was working for Cuba's TV channel 2 in Havana in 1958 and resigned his post in 1959 in protest of the nationalization of the channel.
He exiled in 1960 and worked for newspapers in Venezuela and later the exile version of Bohemia as well as New York's El Tiempo and Diaro la Prensa.
In 1980 Tamargo came to Miami and got into radio. His show on Radio Mambi was called La Mesa Revuelta.
Tamargo had been ill in recent years and had been on and off of the radio with others filling in his time slot.
Yet another example of the cruel injustices of this world: Castro should have disappeared in time for Tamargo to return to Cuba, as he always wanted and intended to do. Rest in peace.
He was a voice of reason and not an idealogue. And an overall nice guy. A dear friend to my mom. The link don't work Val. ANy word on services?
Mike,
Univision must have just removed the page. Link was working a while ago.
Chanes. And now Tamargo. Is Fidel Castro destined to outlive his entire generation?
Tamargo, was and always will be one of our greatest. Que Dios, nuestro Señor lo tenga en la Gloria.
Val,
You and I should definitely send a corona to the funeral seeing as how he probably died after hearing our attempt at a radio show.
Val,
You and I should definitely send a corona to the funeral seeing as how he probably died after hearing our attempt at a radio show.
Que Dios lo bendiga. It's a sad day for us exiles.
Back in the 80's, once a week, my wife and I would have dinner with my father at El Trianon when it used to be on 8th street. Agustin was a frequent visitor as well. He would join us at our table to discuss Cuba and politics with my dad. He was a true patriot and a gentleman. He will be missed.
here's the herald link. still nothing on services
http://www.miamiherald.com/416/story/35313.html
A sad day indeed. May he rest in peace.
For those wishing to send their condolences to the family you can do so at the following email address:
gfernandez@univisionradio.com
Sir:
Your update omitted that Tamargo worked for the Cuban Communist Party newspaper Hoy and later Tiempo, which was the organ of the Revolutionary Socialist Movement. The El Nuevo Herald mentioned these publications but not their political affiliation.
One of our great ones has passed. Doing a search on the internet I came up with this. This is how those in charge across the straights see him. Que Dios lo tenga en su gloria.
http://www.cip.cu/
TAMARGO, AgustÃn
(1924-...). TenÃa ideas marxistas en su juventud cuando trabajó en el periódico Noticias de Hoy. Colaboró en los diarios Tiempo en Cuba, Avance y la revista Bohemia. Marchó a Estados Unidos en 1960 y desde entonces ataca a la Revolución por las emisoras y periódicos de Miami.
Mambo Watcher probably did a little jig today and will sleep sounder tonight.
20 Cuban refugees arrived yesterday from the town of Puerto Padre, Tamargo's beloved hometown in Cuba. It would have pleased him greatly. The struggle is eternal; the faces change but nothing else changes.
Every time another old, decent, honorable Cuban man dies in exile yearning to return to Cuba, I can't help thinking of my father, who was one of those men. It makes me very sad and very angry, because most of the bastards responsible will never pay for what they did, not in this world, anyway. So many people robbed of their country, family ties, society, way of life...robbed of their heritage and birthright, and for what? For whom? NEVER, EVER FORGET.