O Marquez: A dialogue among Cubans
O Marquez: A dialogue among Cubans
By Orlando Márquez
From Palabra Nueva, the archdiocese of Havana’s magazine
As previously announced, the meeting “A Dialogue among Cubans” was held at the St. John Mary Vianney House of the archdiocese, on April 19-21.
It certainly was not an open meeting, but rather limited. Although it was conceived in this manner, the meeting was by no means secret, as others may have interpreted. Several speakers presented papers, while others improvised. Now we are working on the editing of all presentations, written or not, and in the transcription and editing of the discussions. As soon as possible we will place in the hands of our readers all that rich experience of analysis and dialogue.
The meeting began on Thursday 19 at 6:30 p.m. with a welcome speech by Cardinal Jaime Ortega, Archbishop of Havana. He was followed by Dr. Eusebio Leal, the city’s historian, who delivered the inaugural conference and conveyed to those present his vision of the country’s present context. He also shared personal experiences on the subject of migration and talked about the need of opening doors and looking forward.
The 21st and the 22nd were dedicated to working sessions, two in the morning and two in the afternoon, each one hour long, so that there was enough time for all to speak. The first panel was dedicated to the conference “The Cuban Diaspora in the 21st. Century”, presented by one of its authors, Dr. Jorge Duany, who teaches at the University of Puerto Rico. Subsequently Dr. Ileana Sorolla, head of the University of Havana’s Center for International Migration Studies (CEMI), discussed the paper on Cuba’s present migratory process and its possible evolution.
In the afternoon, during the panel dedicated to the economy, Miami-based Cuban American businessman Carlos Saladrigas shared the stand with Dr. Omar Everleny Pérez, head of the University of Havana’s Center for Studies on Cuban Economy (CEEC). Saladrigas spoke about the importance of small- and middle-sized businesses and the convenience of their development in any type of economy, while Pérez lectured on the updating of the Cuban economic model.
The morning of Saturday 21 was reserved for a panel on Cuban culture. Uva de Aragón, a retired professor from Florida International University (FIU), and for many years head of FIU’s Institute of Research on Cuba, talked about Cuban culture in the diaspora, its preservation and assimilation, assisted by testimonial images about the reaffirmation as a nation among Cuban émigrés in the US. On his part, Dr. Roberto Méndez, member of the Cuban Academy of Language, of the Pontifical Council of the Holy See and part of our editorial staff, presented a wide historic and cultural panorama, from Espejo de Paciencia to the present, in which Mary of Charity is also inserted, by her own right and by the will of Cubans.
The last session on Saturday afternoon began at 2:30 p.m. with the presentation of “The Law that Separates Us and the Law that Binds Us”, by Cuban American lawyer Rolando Anillo, expert on migratory issues and a resident of Miami. His intervention included “legal recommendations” that both Cuba and the United States should assume for facilitating a rapprochement among all Cubans. The other panelist of the session was Dr. Juan Mendoza, Assistant Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Havana, who gave his personal vision on what should be the migratory reform announced by Cuban authorities, yet to be applied, and that should benefit those living in Cuba as well as émigrés.
Each panel was followed by rich and intense discussions and exchanges among panelists and the rest of the participants.
The closing speech, “A Dialogue among Cubans” was given by Monsignor Arturo
González, Bishop of Santa Clara, and empowered by the Catholic Bishops Conference of Cuba with heading the commission that oversees relation of Catholic émigrés. Monsignor Arturo called on all those present to reach their own conclusions and considerations toward the future, having in mind the experience of these past days. Several of those present expressed their thanks and their satisfaction for the opportunity granted by the meeting. They also agreed on the convenience and need of dialogue among Cubans, not only on the diaspora, but also about many other subjects of national interest. Many discussions about the most varied matters and in any corner of our country, in order to sensitize, commit and hold Cubans accountable with the present and future of the nation.
Orlando Márquez Hidalgo is the editor of Palabra Nueva
Orlando Márquez in the Progreso Semanal/Weekly photo.
