Cuban Art & Living

Cuba, oh Cuba.  Pearl of the Caribbean, Sibling in the Sea. 
You are at a crossroads, on the brink of monumental change in your land.  And you must walk tall.

Walk tall, Cuba.  You are proud.  You, too, are American.  From South to Central to North America, we are all of the Americas, and you know this, deeply.

In the weeks and months at hand, stride forward with head, high, but, consider lessons learned from our long history together. 

You are strong and you are resilient.  But keep your eye on me. 

Remember, I have waltzed in and out of your life, at will, when it was in my interests … then I left you at the ball.

Walk Tall, Cuba.  I fear for you.  It is your nature to trust, but remember, barely three weeks before the end of what you call ”the Cuban-Spanish War,” I intervened.  When I arrived, your brave warriors had been fighting for three years, and were winning.  I took your victory.  I took the glory.  “Remember the Maine?”  Remember, too, it was Spain and I who went to Paris to sign the peace treaty.  You were not even invited to the party.

Walk Tall, Cuba.  I weep for you.  Stand with me, not behind me.  For five long centuries, you have been dominated by powerful giants. You’ve danced with the Crown, the Bear and the Eagle.  And, regardless of what is thought about your leaders, the last fifty years represent the first time in five hundred years that you have governed yourself.  Even I could not change your leadership through the tenures of ten of our presidents.

Walk Tall, Cuba.  You are eager, especially regarding the “blockade” as you call it.  But, be cautious.  This time, I am well-meaning … but I do have agendas.   Remember at the end of the Spanish-American War, in the Platt Agreement?  I vowed to “ensure your independence, to protect you from all foreign invaders.”   But, I needed Guantanamo Bay to do that.

Walk Tall, Cuba.  I ache for you.  The support you have gained is world-wide.  But, beware the seduction of too much capitalism.  Do not allow me to exploit your noble people and exquisite land with my influence and riches.  Because you’ve been reintroduced to capitalism slowly over recent years, you might escape the perils that Russia and Eastern Europe experienced.  Go slowly.  Don’t  let  me  eat  you  up.

Walk Tall, oh Cuba, you indomitable, passionate, and politically-conscious men and women, who are more like us than we are different.  You, with your southern joy of living and northern work ethic.  Here on the brink of extraordinary change, your entrepreneurial spirit is alive, and your laugh is not lost.  The world can be yours.

Cuba, oh Cuba, oh Cuba.   Pearl of the Caribbean, my Sibling in the Sea.  Your drums are on the wind.  This is the hour to fly beyond the leagues of the horizon and deeper than the depths of your rich seas, to forge a new beginning with me, your brother in history, your sister in time, across the Florida  Straits.  Stand tall.

 

 

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Dr. Victor Bruno a professor at the University of Havana was here on university business a few years ago, visiting my dear friend, Dr. Marcelo Alonso, when it was decided to have a party.  I volunteered to make the mojitos (móe-hee-toes) but Dr. Bruno would not have it as he was, he said, always the mojito maker at departmental functions at the university. 
 
This is his delicious recipe…the way Cubans in the birthplace of the mojito, drink them.  And the way we drink them at Cuba! Gallery of Fine Art Openings.  No soda water, bitters or other fancy ingredient.  Just a good lemonade with mint and rum.

1/3 cup white sugar
3/4 cup lemon juice
3 cups plain water
Rum
Fresh mint

Pop a Rubén Gonzalez CD into the Bose.  For a batch, mix sugar, water and lemon juice.  Pour glass half full of the mixture.   Bruise the stem of a mint sprig, not the leaves, against the side of the glass with a spoon to release the oils into the liquid.  Drop in the sprig.  Dance over to the refrigerator.  Add ice to trap the mint at the bottom.  Add rum and stir.  Salud!