I have to admit that I struggle quite a bit when I see these images. I am Cuban American, both of my parents were born on the island. We only went back once since they left in the 1950s. For my mother, her parents left to Venezuela even before she left because they knew what was coming. They left her to finish her schooling, which was quite advanced at that time, knowing she would get out in time. The rest of the family, except one aunt that staying in the country and one that left, were all communist in the end.
I still remember the horror of going back there, of the way we were treated because we were of Cuban origin with American passports, and I honestly hate it when people talk to me about their visits, because there is no way for me to make them understand what has really happened there, and what is still happening. I can't get them to hear about all the friends that were murdered or thrown in jail because of their opposition to the regime, or those that lost businesses, families, homes, or how a countries that was among one of the most prosperous for its time, is now one of the lowest.
So I stopped trying. The island is breath-taking and the people wonderful, so I live in the memories of my mother's stories. I live with the dual-heritage I was fortunate enough to have growing up in Miami where we were free to be both American and Cuban at the same time.
Thank you for this interesting comment. I am from the Czech Republic and we used to be a communist country too. I was too young to remember but I know very well from my parents what was going in my country and I think it was - at least to a certain extent - similar to what Cuba has been through. So sad that your country hasnt fully recovered yet though, the consenquences of the regime are still visible almost everywhere. I wish all the best to the Cubans, as you said - they are a wonderful nation and they deserve a better life and freedom.
Thank you for the sentiment. I was in Bulgaria last year speaking with friends that lived through Soviet rule, and they had similar experiences. It was slightly different, because as you said about the Czech Republic, the country is now open. The problem that most people don't understand about Cuba is that the fight is still online. Everyday, people disappear or are tortured because they are opposed to the government. I am not saying it doesn't happen in other countries, but because the island is so close to free countries, people who visit choose to believe that this is Cuban's past, instead of understanding that it is the present.
I can tell you that it is sad that human beings like any other country, spend a long journey of their lives subjected by a strong regime. God protect them.I liked your point of view, hello soon I will be publishing my post, I am new in steemit of venezuela.
Hola Maribel! If you are in Venezuela, then you know when what it means to be subjugated--I am so sorry about the conditions of your beautiful country. My grandparents lived there, they left my mother in Cuba when she was 15 so they could build something new in Venezuela, little did they know the direction the country would take. We only went to visit them a few times because of the conditions, but luckily my grandmother was a US resident as well and came to visit us every year. ¡Un abrazo!