IDENTIDADES 1 ENGLISH IDENTIDADES 6 ENGLISH | Page 21

My cousins were waiting for me. I met
family members that had not yet been
born or were not part of my family that
last time I was in Havana. I immediately
loved them. Just one nephew who was in
Pinar del Río, and could not find a way
to get to Havana, was not there. I know I
will love him after our very first
embrace. On August 14th, I entered the
Embassy patio. Among the people there,
there were a few Cubans, including

some, who like me, had been in favor of
the raising of the embargo and the
reestablishment of diplomatic relations
for decades. It was an historic day, but
also one for healing wounds, and not
only for those born in Cuba. The United
States and Cuba had finally become
neighbors once again. In fact, this
incipient neighborliness is more
complicated for Havana than the 54
years.of.enmity.

Richard Blanco—the Cuban-American poet who recited at Barack Obama’s second
inauguration—read the poem “Cosas del Mar,” which began with the following words:
El mar no importa,
Lo que importa es esto.
Todos somos del mar entre nosotros,
Todos nosotros.
[The sea is not important,
What is important is this.
We all belong to the sea between us,
All of us.]
Although there was no specific reference
to them, the tens of thousands of Cubans
who lost their lives in the Florida Straits
were also present there. What Secretary
of State John Kerry’s said was
respectful, but he did not mince words
regarding human rights and democracy.
He met with members of the opposition
and independent civil society at the
Ambassador’s home. Human rights are
ours, either because we believe that God
gave them to us as an inalienable part of
our being, or because our shared
humanity obliges us to treat everyone
with dignity. Human rights are not
favors that governments doll out at will.

When the rights of a group of citizens
are violated, all of our rights are
transgressed, even if the authorities have
not abused us directly. Everyday Cubans
support rapprochement between Cuba
and the United States. Even so, I worry
that their expectations not be met.
Although only Congress has the power
to lift the embargo, President Obama has
taken steps that weaken some of its
restrictions. Despite the existing
prohibitions, trips by Americans-not
including Cuban Americans—have
increased by 35% sin January 2015.
Delegations of individuals from private
sector,.universities,.professional

21