Alvarez Guedes, the iconic Cuban American comic legend, celebrated his 85th birthday this past Friday, June 8th. We want to wish this extremely talented comedian who was and remains such an important and valuable part of the Cuban exile experience here in the U.S. a very happy birthday!
In an interview with Café Fuerte, Alvarez Guedes had this to say about nostalgia for Cuba (my translation):
“I have no nostalgia [for Cuba]. I lived in Cuba during its most splendid moments. When we first arrived in exile, we recalled Cuba too often and every Nochebuena we dreamed of returning with that “next year in Cuba.” Too many Nochebuenas have passed to continue waiting for that. Today, after seeing the situation in Cuba and meeting the people from there now coming here, honestly, I have no interest whatsoever in returning.”
Some of Alvarez Guedes’ classic comedy. Ño!:
He reminds me of my mother, who also spurns nostalgia. She figures Cuba, her Cuba, is dead and buried, and certainly not coming back in her lifetime, so it’s better to let the dead rest.
Good comedy (satire especially) is always based on truth. So unsurprisingly–Guedes, even when not on stage–can’t help but blurt out what many (most?) keep inside:
“Today, after seeing the situation in Cuba and meeting the people from there now coming here, honestly, I have no interest whatsoever in returning.”
As I so often hear from my parent’s generation: “ya eso se acabo.”