"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free." - President Ronald Reagan
Sorry but what is wrong with these two? We will file their pictures in the very "Idiota" section of the blog. I guess that they most love a racist society that controls the press and puts dissidents the jail. Our friends at Babalu have been doing a great job covering these two "idiotas" in Cuba: See Alberto de la Cruz's post today! Maybe someone should ask these two "idiotas" about black Cubans and how the regime treats those who write about "real racism" in the island: "The editor of a publishing house inCubawho wrotea critical articlein The New York Times opinion section about persistent racial inequality on the island, something revolutionaries proudly say has lessened, has been removed from his post, associates said on Friday." (NYTimes) Shame on this woman and whoever her husband is! Click for Sunday's show:
We had a huge turnout and it was fun to meet friends, sell and sign a few more books. As I think about "Cubanos in Wisconsin", and those family members who came before, it leads me to a few conclusions:
1) I have a great family. The Canto & Lastra families were great examples of everything that was good about pre-Castro Cuba. I am talking about good role models and a strong work ethic.
3) Cubans were a rather elegant people. They loved to dress and celebrate events.
Let me start with my mother's family. She was the daughter of a Spanish immigrant Pedro Lastra and a woman from Ciego Adelina Martinez. Pedro came to Cuba in the 1920s with his brothers and took advantage of every opportunity that the island gave him. His brothers went on to be successful entrepreneurs but lost everything when the communists destroyed private enterprise. My grandmother Adelina was a self reliant woman who would "hum" songs when she walked around the house. She told me many times that life was full of "sorpresas", a statement that proved to be prophetic when the island turned communist. You can tell from these pictures that Pedro and Adelina had that confident look that so many Cubans projected:
Let's talk about my father's family. Silvio and Senda had roots in 19th century Cuba. A few years ago, I found this about the Canto family dating back to the 1840s. It turns out that there was a farm outside of Sagua and a small lake named Laguna Canto. The small lake provided my father and uncles a great place to fish, swim and take pictures. My grandmother Senda had two favorite subjects: my grandfather and stories of Cuban independence in 1902. She was a 10 year old girl on that day. She was also related to several men who fought for Cuban independence. Her mother was a piano teacher who insisted that she'd learn English "just in case" she ever traveled to the US. My grandmother Senda is the only one of my grandparents who left Cuba and is buried in Dallas. They are my connection to Sagua La Grande:
My parents met, got married and their elegance is all over those photos that I recently saw.
Let me encourage every Cuban of my generation, or the ones who grew up in the US, to check out that box of photos from old Cuba. You will enjoy it as much as I did:
Click here for my Spanish and English interviews about the book:
Tags:Writing "Cubanos in Wisconsin" has connected me with my family To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the My View by Silvio Canto, Jr. Thanks!
