As a Punishment for My Blog, I May Not Leave Cuba

For the third time, in just a year, I've been denied permission to leave Cuba to travel abroad. In the Office of Immigration and Emigration in my municipality, a uniformed lady told me I was not "authorized to travel." I demanded that this functionary give me an explanation, but she was only the wall of contention between my demands and her hidden bosses. Like small children, who need permission to leave the house, so are we, the eleven million inhabitants of this Island.

Coincidentally, a month before I received this new denial, an important Cuban official denied that there were any restrictions on leaving Cuba. These declarations were made by Miguel Barnet, president of the Artists and Writers Union of Cuba (UNEAC), an official body that encompasses poets, novelists, painters, musicians and actors. The well-known official asserted that:

"People believe that we Cubans can't travel and I've been to more than 47 countries. Cubans are traveling; the only ones who don't travel are those in prison."

I have never been charged in court yet I am condemned not to leave this Island. The possessive logic of this Daddy-State sees it as normal that I, as a punishment for writing a blog, like a box on the ears for having believed myself a free person, will not receive the so-called "white card." The same thing happened to the old woman sitting next to me in the office, who could not obtain permission because her son had "deserted" while on a medical mission. Similarly, the boy waiting in the corner, because his athlete father was now playing under a different flag.

The list of the punished is so long and the reasons so varied, that we could establish a huge group of forced "stay-at-home" Islanders. It's a pity that the vast majority are silent, in the hopes that one day they'll be allowed to leave as one who receives compensation for good behavior.

I confess to you that I do not want them to allow me to travel as if it were a gift. I have a feeling that I will travel from Cuba when everyone can do it freely, but in the meantime, I will continue besieging them with my demands, my posts and my questions.

Yoani's blog, Generation Y, can be read here in English Translation.

Comments

[sandokan1]

This is a very good article, “Comparative Study Of Cubas Gross Domestic Product (Gdp) Based On Existing Statistical Data During The Republic And Today’s Communist System”, with solid references and incontrovertible data that refute the lies about the vaunted underdevelopment. The author shows how Cuba had a per capita twice that of Spain in 1958 and today has 10 times less. In Chile's case the relationship is 6 to 1.
Link: http://www.lanuevacuba.com/archivo/bert-corzo-1eng.htm

[negotiatethis]

Because you dare to speak your mind about the Cuban government, you are a prisoner of Cuba. It is a sad state of affairs and it is time that it changes. We need to have the political will in the US and from the people of Cuba to make such a change. The embargo is used as an excuse by the Cuban government for its failed economic policies and its continued repression of human rights. It's used in the US as an excuse not to do something meangingful to support democracy in Cuba. http://talkingcuba.wordpress.com/

[eriker]

Yoani -- you are amazing. My mother used to say (as mothers are wont to do when the kids use "everyone else is, does, can, will" as a reason to do something)... "if everyone jumped off a cliff... would you?"

All I can say is -- If everyone were like Yoani -- tyranny anywhere in the world would last less than five seconds.

It's a great pleasure to see you here on Huffington Post so you can reach more and more people. Readers... check out Yoani's blog. It's worth a long visit and you won't be sorry!

[bobo5]

This just shows the world that the Cuban government is intolerant and petty.

[vietveter]

They always talk about "free medicine and free education"---as if democracies like America do not provide education and health care for citizens

The reason they say it is because it is true

[eriker]

Are you suggesting that there are not public schools in the U.S.? With free education through high school?

And speaking of heatlh care, you're right -- the US doesn't have a great record, but what about France, Canada, Sweden, Norway, etc.

[arteagle]

stay strong yoani
I have a couple of friends who think highly of the castro regime. They always talk about "free medicine and free education"---as if democracies like America do not provide education and health care for citizens. I tell my friends they are the ones who should put more pressure on Fidel (now raul) to allow free elections--after all--if Cuba is paradise then 99% of would-be voters will vote for Castro. The fact that yoani is not allowed to leave proves that Communism is wrong. Unfortunately, it's difficult to overthrow a bad government when citizens are not armed and when so many people are brainwashed to support a oppresive government.

[Weirdwriter]

Yoani, stay strong. You have made admirers here for speaking your mind despite the repercussions. Good luck to you and your country in obtaining more freedom and happiness.

[brklynivn]

The Cuban government needs to chill out a bit. After 50 years they still haven't learned that criticism is a good thing. They've done some good things for their people, but imposing travel bans makes them look like autocratic dinosaurs. Ease up!

[hippie chucker]

I guess the good thing you refer to is healthcare?

Don't you think you would trade Cuban healthcare.....for the ability to own property? A car? To earn more than $16 a month? To be able to use the internet, or not have a file on you from birth that details your faith in the Revolution? To be able to speak out against the government, without being thrown into prison?

I just think when you learn about Cuba, to say they have good healthcare, as if that makes living in a totalitarian police state, where your neighbors inform on you, as being worthy of praise by the Left here is a joke, frankly. It's akin to praising the timeliness of Hitler's trains, or the smooth roads he built....

[eriker]

Cuba used to have good health care. Now thousands and thousands of doctors are sent abroad on "missions" -- which means they are traded for something Cuba needs -- over 30,000 work in Venezuela in exchange for Chavez's oil... leaving clinics and hospitals in Cuba empty of doctors, not to mention equipment and supplies. Read Yoani's post about Hospitals -- it's called something like "You bring everything" -- people needing surgery not only have to paythe doctor under the table, they have to bring their own sutures....
And read today's post about education. The teachers are all driving cabs to make some money... so teenagers and television sets are standing in for them. It's a disaster.

[ilovevegas]

Wow alot of interesting comments in here. I don't know alot about Cuba other than its oppressive and a communist country. This lady writes her blog at the risk of upsetting the folks who says she can't travel out of Cuba. Its sad how she has no choice in something Americans do everyday Travel. I hope someday she gets to leave the island.

[Hopefulinfl]

While you may think that we Americans have the freedom to travel, the funny thing is that our own government, denies us the freedom to travel to Cuba. Thankfully, Obama will soon end this policy.

[eriker]

Hey everyone -- Contact your representatives in Congress and tell them we want freedom of travel... ALL travel.. including to Cuba. NOW.

[JnrNorman]

Hi Ms. Sanchez,
Its starts with trading with China and VietNam. Canada said for years "TARIFFS AGAINST COMMUNIST COUNTRYS"
We know we could run guns to Cuba and let the people decide what kind of goverment they want.
Australia is now starting "CHINESE STYLE INTERNET BLOCKING"
Good luck blogging.

http://www.peaceteam.net/action/pnum959.php

[research]

Castro: Let this woman travel!

That said, we have 10,000 people on our "can't fly" list.

[fcsakes]

We can't go there, they can't come here. What kind of fear is behind this?

[vietveter]

The rich ex-Cuban loby in florida

and the repubs

[Chubbster]

Hold on a second, wait...we are supposed to love Cuba now and admire it's clever fortitude. Or so the spinners say.

[sector1463]

People here don't really understand how our freedom of the press is such an important idea to the rest of the world. We need to know what happens in your country. Thank you for your blog.

[MaDmOnKy]

Dont worry Yoani literaly thousands of liberals blog here and would love to live under a communist regine and im sure would be orgasmic to trade places with you!!

[marco01]

MaDmOnKy, this is the second time I am responding to your idiocy. FYI, liberals believe in Free Market Capitalism. The difference between us and those of your ilk, is that we liberals still believe that governance and control of our economic system should reside with the people, not the corporations.

[Chubbster]

And who are the people? Our masters in Washington D.C?
Do you realize 39 Democrats support a bill that will ban organic farming because it is "unsafe?"
This is not free market capitalism, this is nanny knows best. Nanny always knows best.
And if you don't see the endless "smash the system" mob howling here endlessly on Huffpo you are not paying attention. I'm happy you are a liberal -as I am- who thinks America is great and whose systems of govt and enterprise are the best in the world.

[sagebrush5]

Dumb.

[mlaiuppa]

Hater.

[vinny]

using words you dont understand. stop learning from the tv.