United in Purpose

Recent posts at Babalu and Cuban American Pundit, and the comments that followed, focused on unity - or lack thereof - within the Cuban community, both on the island and in exile.

As a proud product of Cuban culture, one of the biggest flaws which Cubans AS A GROUP seem to exhibit is a lack of a united voice - something which is ironic considering our reputation in the U.S. as monolithic and unwavering. Cuban-Americans all over the world, and I would imagine most in Cuba, want one thing - to see fidel castro and his regime disappear. That much is clear. How we accomplish this is a different story. We have some conservative "hard-liners" accusing moderates and liberals as "dialogueros" and "comunistas". We have some moderates and libs calling hard-liners "intolerant" and "fascist". Too bad, because the vast majority of these people have a common cause and purpose which, if channeled properly, can make a difference. That's why I am particularly amazed and proud of this phenomenom known as blogging, so perfectly illustrated by the range of comments on display at the above-mentioned blogs. People with diverging opinions on specific topics, but agreeing on the main goal, and reaching out to thousands of people all over the world.

There's no shame in having this weakness, after all we are humans. Other cultures exhibit flaws which can be analyzed ad nauseum. What separates thriving, successful cultures from those that languish in oppression and misery is the ability to look past differences and embrace and promote a common cause.

A few months I was watching "A Mano Limpia", a Miami Spanish-language evening talk show, in which acclaimed Cuban journalist Carlos Alberto Montaner said that Cubans as individuals have made great accomplishments in business, the sciences, and the arts; but as a collective have not displayed the necessary maturity to achieve greatness as a nation. Considering what Cuba is today, I couldn't agree more with Montaner. This is in contrast to the United States, where people of different ethnic groups, with all their strengths and weaknesses, have overcome their differences in order to foster and promote a fair and strong democracy.

The reasons are many and highly debatable. Perhaps Cubans have gone through too much hurt and suffering to allow others who think differently to have their way. Perhaps it is part of our nature to "resolver" - we can find a way and manage on our own without anyone else helping us. Perhaps it is our stubborn streak which we inherited from our Iberian ancestors. Or maybe we overestimate our power and influence, after all, 2 million Cubans can't compare with several million Jews, for example.

If change is to come about in Cuba, it will have to have contributions from all facets of Cuban society. Cubans on the island must play the leading role. Cuban-Americans, with their financial and entrepeneureal savvy combined with democratic sensibilities and technological know-how, must play an important role as well. This includes this phenomenom known as blogging, as so perfectly illustrated by the range of comments on display at the above-mentioned blogs.

For this to happen and for fidel to disappear, we must be willing to "bury the hatchet", as Cuban American Pundit poster Songuacassal said, and become united in purpose.