New Year’s Eve 2006

by

Here we are on yet another New Year’s Eve, this one on the heals of the execution of a brutal dictator, and Cuba has yet to find reason to celebrate. For all intents and purposes, and much to our chagrin, fidel castro is still in power, ruling with an iron fist 48 years after the supposed “victory” for the Cuban people.

Sure, there are the rumors of the demise of the Caribbean dictator and recently released photographs and videos of fidel castro give us a ray of hope that his life, his reign will soon be over. But realistically speaking, there will be no major changes to the political structure in Cuba after the death of fidel castro. Raul and his minions are still there to see to it that they remain in power for as long as possible and by any means possible.

The Cuban people still live in squallor. The Cuban people are still slaves in their own land. The Cuban people remain second class citizens in their own country. The Cuban people are kept in the dark as to the world around them. The Cuban people are still suspended in time, in limbo, without futures or hopes for one. The Cuban people are treated like cattle by their own government.

For as long as I can remember, every New Year has been greeted and toasted with “El año que viene en Cuba.” Next year in Cuba. In all honesty, I have never recited that particular phrase. Maybe it’s the realist in me or my pragmatism and frankly I dont know if that hope is any closer or farther away this year than ever before.

But as God is my witness, tonight, at the stroke of midnight, after Ive eaten my twelve grapes, after Ive kissed my wife and congratulated all friends gathered around, after Ive called my parents over the phone and thanked them for this beautiful life theyve given me and all the sacrifices they made so that I may live the life of a free human being, I will, most assuredly through teary eyes, raise in toast to Cuba’s freedom and cry “El año que viene en Cuba!” at the top of my lungs.

And hopefully tonight will be the night that we put that phrase to rest, never to be needed again. Hopefully this year will be the year that we are able to take it and bury it forever along with the nightmare that bore it.

18 thoughts on “New Year’s Eve 2006”

  1. “El año que viene en Cuba!” fidel can do anything if you let him. Don’t let him steal your hope. He can’t take mine away from me. “El año que viene en Cuba!” Viva Cuba Libre

  7. “Feliz Año Nuevo” Happy New Year!

    For SURE, Next year will be the happiest New Year of all… For all Cubans.

  11. Happy New Year Val y Maggie y Que Dios bendiga a todos Ustedes que dan tanto de sus vidas por una Cuba libre y soberana. Que Dios bendiga y ampare a todos aquellos que se tiran al mar en busca de libertad.

  13. Happy New Year!
    I have just come back from Cuba. A truly depressing trip. First time in 17 years. I had to go for family reasons. Will post a report in the following days.

  15. Fidel can ‘speak’ with his Chinese facilitators, and his best friend Spanish surgeon, but cannot communicate with the same vigor (as in live in person), with islanders….?…something is definately a-miss….

    May the world enjoy a 2007 with one less dictator than it ended 2006….

    a bayou state Cuban American awaiting a Calle Ocho celebration.

    El Nemo

  17. Maybe it’s too early for the big homecoming, but all bets are against the old bastard celebrating number 49. And that’s a big step closer. Feliz y
    Prospero Ano Nuevo!!!!

Comments are closed.