At the beginning of her blog Yoani Sanchez says that her blog is inspired by the people whose names begin with the letter Y. She says that it’s for the people born in the 70’s and 80’s who have had to go to the strict countryside schools, have watched illegal exits of their fellow men and are frustrated. This may have been what her blog began as but it is definitely not what it has evolved into being. Generacion Y has formed its own legs and has allowed the world to hear real criticisms of the Cuban regime without being diluted.
Living in Communist Cuba and isolated in sorts from the world by nature of the Communist government it’s hard for the average person to criticize the Castro regime or at the very least shed some light on what the average life is for the Cuban who has not been able to leave. Yoani Sanchez has managed to do this and more by virtue of her blog. What makes this accomplishment even more special is that Yoani isn’t able to read her blog because the web address is blocked from Cuba, Unfortunately it wasn’t possible for Yoani to follow her chosen profession of philology, therefore she began writing candid snapshots of life in Cuba.
Rather than openly speaking against the regime. Yoani provides candid snapshots into life. Such as the ludicrously of the mail service in Cuba, or the unfairness of the dual monetary system. In the past the freedom of speech that Yoani displays would have been crushed by the Castro machine but under the new rule of Raul Castro it seems that debate is encouraged in a way.
Her blogging has already won her an award with a prize money of 16,000 Euro. Unfortunately it is not possible for Yoani to leave Cuba at this time due to a technicality. She left to live in Switzerland to study for 2 years and under Cuban law anyone that leaves Cuba for more than 11 months loses Cuban nationality. So, on her return she has been unable to get a new passport to travel.
Perhaps in some way Cuba hasn’t changed as much as one would hope but with people like Yoani we are sure to see more change afloat.
time
desdecuba
1 comment:
Very edcuational article and also cool artist pick :) I'm intrigued by the first line in bio;
"At the beginning of her blog Yoani Sanchez says that her blog is inspired by the people whose names begin with the letter Y. She says that it’s for the people born in the 70’s and 80’s who have had to go to the strict countryside schools, have watched illegal exits of their fellow men and are frustrated."
You always have (as I've said before) the most interesting and educational topics on your blog :)
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