The 21st Friendshipment Caravan Caravan to Cuba: latest blog posts
The 21st Friendshipment Caravan to Cuba happens this year from July 3 to August 3!
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Sierra Vista, AZ: Our View: Embargo has run its course
Published on The Sierra Vista Herald (http://www.svherald.com)
Our View: Embargo has run its courseOn Sunday, we reported that a Bisbee resident had joined a group on a trip to Cuba.
Since the 1960s, a trade ban and a travel ban have existed between the U.S. and that communist country.
Cecile Lumer was one of 85 people who ignored the ban with a trip organized by the Interreligious Foundation for Community Organization/Pastors for Peace.
The group took with it more than 100 tons of humanitarian aid, including several school buses, for use by Cuban churches, hospitals and schools.
Departing via Mexico, upon their return to the U.S., members reportedly told the truth that they had been to Cuba. No real action was taken by the government, and no penalties ensued.
We disagree with the group thumbing its nose at what is U.S. law. But we do agree with one of their stated reasons for visiting that country. And that is the longstanding embargo on that nation has run its course.
The blockade has stayed in effect long after the Cuban missile crisis. But it has done so not because of some high standard of upholding freedom. Instead, Congress enacted and continues to pass laws calling for the Castro government to satisfy claims against it by private U.S. companies that had been taken over by the state at the time of the communist revolution.
But over time, U.S. businesses have, in fact, found ways to do business with Cuba anyway. Sources say 6.6 percent of Cuban imports come from America.
On the emotional side, former President Ronald Reagan’s secretary of state, George Schulz, called the embargo “insane” in a 2005 interview.
On a more logical note, the Cato Institute says, “The embargo has been a failure by every measure. It has not changed the course or nature of the Cuban government. It has not liberated a single Cuban citizen. In fact, the embargo has made the Cuban people a bit more impoverished, without making them one bit more free. At the same time, it has deprived Americans of their freedom to travel and has cost U.S. farmers and other producers billions of dollars of potential exports.”
The fact is much has changed since the 1950s. Much more continues to change.
Communist countries around the world have wilted. And they have done so not because of bans on travel or trade. Instead, the world’s economics have forced them to change. The open exchange of free people mixing with those under a totalitarian regime has forced them to change.
People, who learn more and are exposed to freedom, soon become people yearning to be free.
It’s time to end the embargo.
If you find a correction for this story, please contact our editorial department [1]
© 2010 The Sierra Vista Herald
102 Fab Ave
Sierra Vista, AZ. 85635
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Source URL: http://www.svherald.com/content/our-view/2010/08/19/our-view-embargo-has-run-its-course
Coverage from British Columbia -- Canadian Press
U.S. officials seize computers bound for Cuba that were donated by Vancouver residents BY JACK KEATING, THE PROVINCEJULY 21, 2010
U.S. Customs and Border Protection guards seized five computers donated by Vancouver residents that were bound for Cuba Wednesday as part of the 21st Pastors for Peace Caravan to Cuba.
“They confiscated five computers that had been donated by people in Vancouver,” Janine Solanki, an organizer with Vancouver Communities In Solidarity with Cuba, said from the Texas side of the U.S.-Mexico border. “I think this is just an harassment and intimidation tactic.”
Solanki, one of five Vancouver residents on the 85-person humanitarian aid caravan to break the U.S. trade embargo against Cuba, said the reasoning behind the seizure was the U.S. authorities wanted to investigate whether the computers could be used for military purposes.
“These computers are Pentium 4s that are five-year-old used computers, so it’s a bit of a ridiculous charge,” said Solanki. “So they took five of them to inspect them to see if they could be used for military purposes by Cuba. That doesn’t even make sense, because they confiscated five of them and left another 55 computers with us.”
The caravan that includes 12 school buses, nine of which will be donated to Cuba, and more than 100 tons of medicines, medical supplies, computers as well as school supplies, sports equipment and construction supplies, was allowed to leave the U.S. at Pharr, Texas and enter Mexico, with the final destination Havana.
“And so this is something we have seen in past years,” said Solanki. “In 1996, they confiscated 400 computers and we actually had a 94-day hunger strike until they were released after getting international pressure on them.”
Solanki said the limited seizure was just to “annoy us and to show that they can confiscate the computers, but they didn’t confiscate them all so as to avoid a big international protest.”
The seized computers will be returned when the 85-member group returns to the U.S. through the same border crossing, she said.
After more than seven hours of negotiations at the Mexican border, the humanitarian aid for Cuba was allowed into Mexico Thursday night, where the buses and the cargo will be loaded on to barges Friday that will leave Tampico bound for Cuba.
Solanki and the other volunteers will fly from Tampico to Havana Friday, where they will meet the buses and humanitarian aid upon its arrival in Havana.
Solanki said the bus from Vancouver was allowed into the U.S. at Blaine, Wash., on July 4 with the humanitarian aid for Cuba after “questioning us pretty heavily for quite a while.”
“The aim of the caravan is to break the U.S. embargo against Cuba,” said Solanki, a 23-year-old BCIT student, travelling with volunteers from Canada, the U.S., Europe and Mexico. “The Cuban aid and the U.S. citizens with the caravan are going to Cuba without a licence from the U.S. Treasury Department, so that we are openly breaking trade block and the travel ban against U.S. citizens.”
“The U.S. economic blockade is something that very much hurts the Cuban economy and therefore is harmful to the Cuban people. It is illegal under international law and must end.”
© Copyright (c) The Province
Greetings from Birmingham, Alabama
Mulling around the food English - July 14 We are here in Birmingham, a city that served as the center of black industrial employment for nearly a century, and the major site of black labor struggles and civil rights protests. There’s a point in your trip — when you decide that your trip will involve riding on a non-air conditioned school bus with thirteen other opinionated people for five to ten hours a day — that you begin to get tired. There is a point when personal issues begin to enter peripheral vision of even the most focused goal. Alex and Roger each spoke briefly about their experience on the caravan. When you’re eyes become blurred, you visit an optometrist. Where do you go when your purpose is hazy? Let me tell you where we go. At every stop there are people who organize events, who contact the press, who cook, and who lodge. The contributions these people make to the caravan is enormous, because their presence and awareness is its entire purpose, and their help is what keeps it running. There help is what keeps us running. Just like the bus, we overheat. We run out of gas. Our batteries need a little jump. Sometimes, as a human being, a distant goal is not enough. But when we stumble on our winding road to Cuban justice we are always caught by strong arms. These are arms that will help us up and hold us close until we have the will or energy to look up. And there, shockingly in focus, there are the warm eyes and curling lips and crooked nose of a friend. We love the stories and the questions and the smiles and the energy. Each morning we leave with an infusion of warmth and love. We’re riding that wave down the I-60 till we hit the bottom of Texas with a thunk, such a thunk that we’ll smash straight through, speeding across Mexico and the Gulf and washing up on the sandy beaches of Cuba. So to those who we have met and who those we have yet to meet along the way - with our growing hearts, our pulsing souls, and in the name of the call for Justice that we share with the Cuban people, we thank you. We wish you well. As for the Birmingham event itself, it was fabulous. (And thanks to an hour gained by a time-zone change, we were on time!) The food was outstanding, there was a showing of the Pastor for Peace film ‘People to People’ of 2009 and of Rob Collins, and we had several interesting speakers. David Waters shared his experience with the Caravan. Roger (age 21) and Alex (age 18) of the route K bus got up for the first time to express their stories. And Luis, as always, reminded us all exactly what this caravan is all about. We send our special thanks to David Waters, Susan Putnam. It’s an early 6:00 start tomorrow - but at the end of the day we will be closer to Cuba. Today we also welcome Nancy Kohn, who has been on another caravan route, into our family! In revolutionary love, we the people of God…. Kaceem, Sabine, Alana, Ayana, Dan, Kenya, Roger, Carlos, Alex, Suzanne, Raya, Amir, Nancy and Luis. Espanol - 14 de julio Saludos desde Birmingham, Alabama…esta es tu Ruta K…Kaceem, Sabine, Alana, Ayana, Dan, Kenya, Roger, Carlos, Alex, Suzanne, Raya, Amir y Luis. Estamos aquí en Birmingham, una ciudad que sirvió como centro de empleo industrial para la comunidad negra durante casi un siglo, y el lugar principal de trabajo en donde se realizaron muchas luchas y protestas afro-americanas por los derechos civiles. Hay un momento en el viaje –cuando usted decide que el mismo incluye el transitar en un autobús escolar sin aire acondicionado, con trece personas que se la pasan dando opiniones, por espacio de cinco a diez horas diarias- que comienzas a cansarte. ¡Hay un momento cuando los problemas personales comienzan a entrar en la visión periférica aun en la meta más importante! The whole Birmingham crew! Permítanos decirles a donde nosotras/os fuimos. En cada evento siempre hay personas que organizan, contactan a los medios de comunicación, nos cocinan, y nos hospedan. La contribución que toda esta gente hace por la Caravana es enorme, porque su presencia y comprensión en todo su propósito, y ayuda, es lo que nos permite continuar. La ayuda que nos brindan nos mantiene continuando. Como el autobús, nosotras/os nos calentamos. A veces estamos sin gasolina. Nuestras baterías necesitan volver a ser recargadas. Muchas veces como seres humanos, una meta a distancia no es suficiente. Pero cuando en este viaje por la justicia hacia Cuba comienza a titubear, siempre hay manos fuertes que nos sostiene. Siempre hay manos que nos ayudaran a levantarnos y mantenernos unidos hasta que volvemos a tener la voluntad o la energía para mirara hacia arriba. Es ahí, que volvemos a reencontrar los ojos tiernos, los labios sensibles y la nariz encorvada de un/a amigo/a. Nos encantan las historias y las preguntas y las sonrisas y las energías. Cada mañana salimos con un nuevo brebaje de calor y amor. Hemos estado viajando en la carretera I-60 hasta que lleguemos a Texas con nuevos bríos, nuevos bríos que nos conducirán velozmente a través de México y del Golfo, bañándonos en las playas arenosas de Cuba. Así que todos/as quienes nos hemos conocido, y a quienes vamos a conocer a través del viaje –con nuestros engrandecidos corazones, nuestras rítmicas almas, y en el nombre del llamado de practicar justicia que compartimos con el pueblo de Cubano, le decimos gracias. Le deseamos que siga bien. Host Speaker Y sobre la actividad en Birmingham, la misma fue fabulosa. (¡Y gracias a que ganamos una hora al viajar de un estado a otro a través de la zona de cambio de horario, llegamos a tiempo!). La comida estaba sabrosísima, compartieron un video de los de Pastores/as por la Paz –People to People of 2009-Rob Collins, y tuvimos varios oradores/as muy buenos/as. David Waters compartió su experiencia con la Caravana. Roger (caravanista de 21 años de edad) y Alex (caravanista de 18 años de edad) de la Ruta K por primera vez participaron dando a conocer sus historias. Y Luis, como siempre, nos recordó los propositos de la Caravana. Muy espacialmente enviamos nuestro agradecimiento a David Waters y a Susan Putnam. Mañana será un comenzar temprano; a las 6:00am. –pero al final del día estaremos mas cerca de Cuba. ¡Asimismo le damos la bienvenida a Nancy Kohn, quien estuvo en otra Ruta de la Caravana y ahora se ha unido a nuestra familia! En el amor revolucionario, nosotras/os el pueblo de Diosa…Kaceem, Sabine, Alana, Ayana, Dan, Kenya, Roger, Carlos, Alex, Suzanne, Raya, Amir, Nancy y Luis.
From Birmingham
Greetings from the Birmingham, Alabama…this is your Route K….Kaceem, Sabine, Alana, Ayana, Dan, Kenya, Roger, Carlos, Alex, Suzanne, Raya, Amir and Luis. 
From Birmingham
From Birmingham
Cuando tus ojos comienzan a nublarse, usted visita a un optómetra. ¿A quién usted acude cuando el propósito de tu vida comienza a desaparece? 
From Birmingham
From Birmingham
Greetings from Columbia, South Carolina!
Columbia, South Carolina/Columbia, Carolina del Sur
English - July 13
Greetings from Columbia, South Carolina…this is your Route K….Kaceem, Sabine, Alana, Ayana, Dan, Kenya, Roger, Carlos, Alex, Suzanne, Raya, Amir and Luis.
From Columbia
The jazzy band's drummer
The Columbia event took place in the backyard of a house that serves as the office of Benedict College. Norma Lozano-Jackson, who received us there, is Director of International Programs there. The school runs a really interesting program which brings international students in on scholarships – and we had the chance to meet a few of the very interesting and intelligent young women who are currently at the school from Kenya and Columbia. The school also runs a program in which they send students at their school to other countries. Students can go to China, to certain countries in Africa and South America, and more. They go through language courses while they are there, and often take one-one-one classes with professors who help them with language difficulties.
Our heart beats to the rhythm of an African drum and whirring wheels, it beats louder than the crack of Carolina thunder and drowns out the restless growling of our failing transmission. It beats with the power of thousands of human hearts from across the United States, Mexico and Cuba, even Europe. It beats with the hope and compassion and purpose of a people who want health and prosperity for their sisters and brothers everywhere - and who are bringing love and aid to Cubans in need to prove it.
From Columbia
Chatting at the Columbia event
We know why our heart beats. That’s why we haven’t blown anything up. So who’s crazy?
In revolutionary love, we the people of God…. Kaceem, Sabine, Alana, Ayana, Dan, Kenya, Roger, Carlos, Alex, Suzanne, Raya, Amir, Nancy and Luis.
Espanol - 13 de julio
Saludos desde Columbia, South Carolina…esta es su Ruta K...Kaceem, Sabine, Alana, Ayana, Dan, Kenya, Roger, Carlos, Alex, Suzanne, Raya, Amir and Luis.
From Columbia
Play that funky music!
La actividad en Columbia se realizó en el patio trasero de una casa que se desempeña como la Oficina de Asuntos Internacionales del Benedict College, la cual es dirigida por Norma Lozano-Jackson. Esta universidad dirige este programa de una manera maravillosa y a su vez con becas atrae a estudiantes internacionales-tuvimos la oportunidad de conocer a algunos/as de estos/as inteligente e interesantes estudiantes; una estudiante de Kenya y tres Afro-Colombianas. La universidad asimismo tiene un programa desde donde envían estudiantes a otros países. Pueden ir a China, África y Centro América, etc. Reciben una inmersión en diferentes idiomas mientras realizan sus estadías y además tienen sus mentores que les ayudan a pulir los idiomas.
From Columbia
Some of the amazing international students
Nuestros corazones latían al ritmo de un tambor africano y su sonido era mucho más fuerte que uno de los relámpagos de Carolina o de los pedazos de metal que sonaban dentro de nuestra transmisión. Sonaba como miles de corazones humanos a través de Estados Unidos, México, Cuba, y Europa. Sonaba al ritmo de esperanza y compasión y como la razón de un pueblo que quiere salud y prosperidad para sus hermanas y hermanos en cualquier lugar – y quienes a su vez están trayendo amor y ayuda a Cuba como una manera de demostrarlo.
Sabemos el por qué nuestros corazones laten. Esa es la razón por la cual no hemos volado algo. ¿Quién entonces está desequilibrado/a?
En amor revolucionario, nosotras el pueblo de Diosa… Kaceem, Sabine, Alana, Ayana, Dan, Kenya, Roger, Carlos, Alex, Suzanne, Raya, Amir, Nancy y Luis.
From Columbia
The Columbia crew the morning of departure!
Greetings from Roanoke, Virginia!
English - July 12
From Roanoke, VirginiaEating dinner
Greetings from the Roanoke, Virginia…this is your Route K….Kaceem, Sabine, Alana, Ayana, Dan, Kenya, Roger, Carlos, Alex, Suzanne, Raya, Amir and Luis.
Well weren’t we just a spoiled little group of caravanistas in Roanoke! The Church of the Brethren groups received us with much food and absolutely delightful conversation. We talked about Cuba and listened to Luis talk about Cuba. Then we were distributed to four different amazing homes around the city. A big shout-out to Catherine Detweiler, Cecily Wood, Mary Bishop & Dan Crawford and Mark and Jonna Detweiler for opening up your beautiful homes to us, and to Mary Bishop for basically setting up a breakfast cafeteria on her porch.
From Roanoke, VirginiaOur host speaks
Unfortunately our bus has lately begun braying and balking and kicking up a general fuss about a quickly deteriorating transmission. In fact it threw such a fit yesterday morning in Shepherdstown that we thought we were going to have to stay there to get it fixed. We sent Luis to take the bus so he would make the event. About ten minutes later we got the bus approved by a mechanic (‘It’ll probably keep moving in a generally forward direction, you know, maybe…’). We hopped in, and after six hours at a maximum speed of 50 mph we made it to the event. We arrived both on time and before Luis! (He took two buses and spent 2 hours in Washington writing postcards. He says he’s still trying to figure out how the hell we got there before him.)
From Roanoke, Virginia
Caravanista and driver Tom speaking
We’ve named our bus Forward – or in Spanish, Pa’lante. Our driver Dan is an artist. He says that driving is the opposite of making art. Driving is mechanics, fuel, staying awake. It’s being locked onto one road, looking at oil levels, it’s staying within the boundaries. It’s different than painting ideas on a wall. But it’s something Dan loves all the same. Everyday he gets up and gives the bus a pat-down. He says “It’s alright sweetheart, I’m listening.” Luis likes to say Dan’s making love to the bus when he drives. But Dan calls it “a dance between the driver and the diesel fuel. It’s a melding of flesh in and steel. The revolution’s in the motor.”
Onwards, Pa’lante.
From Roanoke, Virginia
Alex and her wonderful host Catherine
In revolutionary love, we the people of God…. Kaceem, Sabine, Alana, Ayana, Dan, Kenya, Roger, Carlos, Alex, Suzanne, Raya, Amir, Nancy and Luis.
[Spanish translation coming.]
From Roanoke, Virginia
Most of the Roanoke gang!
Greetings from Richmond, Virginia!
Greetings from Richmond, Virginia…this is your Route K….Kaceem, Sabine, Alana, Ayana, Dan, Kenya, Roger, Carlos, Alex, Suzanne, Raya, Amir y Luis.
From Richmond
Kenya, Raya, Ayanna and Alana eating dinner.
The Richmond event brought a unique outlook to the struggle for the Cuban people. It was organized by the great Lee Robinson of the African Awareness Association. This group stands in solidarity with all their Cuban sisters and brothers (Woman power, Luis!), but primarily focuses on the Africans in Cuba. They were largely slaves or plantation workers in Cuba until the revolution. The African Awareness Association focuses on raising the awareness of African-Americans to their ancestral relation to the people of Cuba and the struggles they face there. The event included a viewing of the film The Eyes of the Rainbow and a video interview with one of the African-American medical students currently studying in Cuba.
Everyone from the event was then invited to dinner at the Golden Corral buffet! We thank the incredibly friendly people of Richmond for a lovely time. We especially thank Lee Robinson, who not only organized the event and our sleeping arrangements (we were spoiled by a hotel!) but also drove with us around the city doing errands to ensure that we didn’t get lost.
When Luis spoke in Richmond, he told us a story. Luis’ grandmother back in Puerto Rico (the woman must have had a sense of humor) used to punish him by putting him in one of her dresses and making him stand on the balcony where his friends could laugh at him. Luis didn’t like this. So one day one of the neighbors came into Luis’ grandmother’s house looking confused, asking “What’s wrong with your grandson?” So Luis’ grandmother goes outside – to see her grandson standing there in a dress. “Grandma,” he told her, “I like dresses. I’m going to wear them all the time now.” Well, she never used that punishment again! The lesson from this story is that we always need to find a way to resist when people do things that you don’t like.
From Richmond
The audience while Luis is speaking.
The U.S. goverment is mistaken if they think that they are going to break the Cuban government or the Cuban people’s spirit with this blockade. People will always find a way to rebel and resist, to hold their own, whether they are wearing a dress, driving a bus, or dancing in the streets of their independent country. Cuba has held their ground for fifty-one years. Pastor’s for Peace has done twenty-one caravans. And we and our Cuban sisters and brothers will continue to find ways to rebel and resist as long as the blockade exists.
In revolutionary love, we the people of God…. Kaceem, Sabine, Alana, Ayana, Dan, Kenya, Roger, Carlos, Alex, Suzanne, Raya, Amir and Luis.
Espanol - 11 de Julio
Saludos desde Richmond, Virginia…esta es su Ruta K…Kaceem, Sabine, Alana, Ayana, Dan, Kenya, Roger, Carlos, Alex, Suzanne, Raya, Amir y Luis.
From Richmond
At the event
La actividad en Richmond estuvo fundada en el contexto de la lucha por el pueblo de Cuba. La misma estuvo organizada por el extraordinario Lee Robinson de la African Awareness Association. Este grupo comunitario mantiene su solidaridad con todas/os las hermanas y hermanos Cubanas/os (el poder de la mujer, Luis), pero principalmente resalta en la presencia Africana en Cuba. Estos/as eran en su mayoría esclavas/os o trabajadores/as de plantación antes de la revolución. El African Awareness Association es una organización comunitaria que pone gran énfasis en desarrollar en personas Afro-Americanas el entendimiento de la relación ancestral que existe entre ellos/as con el pueblo de Cuba y su lucha. La actividad asimismo incluyó el ver la película The Eyes of the Raimbow y un video-entrevista con una joven Afro-Americana quien en la actualidad participa como una de las estudiantes en la escuela de medicina
From Richmond
Happy Birthday Kaceem! He turned 18 in Richmond on the caravan.
¡Al finalizar la actividad todas/os fuimos invitados/as a comer en el restaurante Golden Corral! Agradecemos la amistad tan bella y el tiempo tan maravilloso que el pueblo de Richmond nos brindó. De una manera especial agradecemos a Lee Robinson, quien solo organizó la actividad, pero asimismo los detalles para que pudiésemos dormir (¡nos mal acostumbraron con la estadía en un hotel!), pero además nos guió por toda la ciudad para asegurarse que nos perderíamos.
Cuando Luis habló en Richmond, él nos contó un cuento relacionado con su abuela en Puerto Rico (una mujer con gran sentido del humor).quien solía castigarlo poniéndolo uno de sus trajes y luego parándolo en el balcón de la casa para que los demás muchachos se burlaran de él. A Luis no le gusta esto. Así que un día decidió resistir haciendo algo para cambiar la situación. Un día uno de los vecinos llegó donde su abuela preguntando: “¿Algo anda mal con su nieto?” Así que la abuela de Luis salió a buscarlo y encontró a su nieto parado en la esquina vestido con un traje de mujer. “Abuela, el dijo a ella, me gustan los trajes de mujer. De ahora en adelante los voy a usar.” Que les parece, ¡ella jamás volvió a utilizar ese castigo conmigo! La lección que podemos extraer de este cuento es que siempre tenemos que encontrar una manera de resistir cuando la gente hace cosas que no nos gustan.
El gobierno de Estados Unidos está equivocado si cree que con el bloqueo van a destruir el gobierno Cubano o el espíritu del pueblo Cubano. El pueblo siempre encuentra una manera de rebelarse y de resistir, el mantenerse en pie, ya sea que están usando un traje, guiando un autobús, o bailando en las calles de su Cuba independiente. Cuba ha mantenido esta posición por cincuenta y un años. Pastores/as por la paz han realizado 21 Caravanas. Y nosotras/os y nuestras/os hermanas y hermanos Cubanas/os mientras este bloqueo exista continuaremos encontrando maneras de rebelarnos y resistir.
From Richmond
The Richmond crew!
En el amor revolucionario, nosotras/os el pueblo de Dios… Kaceem, Sabine, Alana, Ayana, Dan, Kenya, Roger, Carlos, Alex, Suzanne, Raya, Amir y Luis
Greetings from Sheperdstown, West Virginia!
English - July 10
From Shepherdstown
Greetings from the Canada-USA border…this is your Route K….Kaceem, Sabine, Alana, Ayana, Dan, Kenya, Roger, Carlos, Alex, Suzanne, Raya, Amir and Luis.
Shepherdstown was also the first event we attended together as a thirteen-person caravan. We stayed the night at the Shepherdstown Presbyterian Church. Rie Wilson, Vivian Headings, Verle Headings, Quincy Northrup and Rob Northrup kindly received us the evening we arrived with excellent food and conversation. The next morning we woke up to find that two delightful women, Kay Schultz and Vicki Smith, had gotten out of bed in the early hours of the morning to have a scrumptious breakfast ready for us by 7:20 a.m. Those of us who wished had the opportunity to attend the 8:15 service. Reverend Doctor Randy Termba gave a really stirring and very appropriate service on the United State’s approach to foreign policy titled “Can America be Christian?” The conclusion was yes – but he reminded us of Thomas Jefferson’s famous line, “I tremble for my country when I remember that God is just.” Luis gave a talk on the Caravan after the service.
From Shepherdstown
Blessing Kaceem on his birthday
At Shepherdstown we all had a chance to speak in front of an audience. This was a significant time not just for our guests but for our own caravanistas, since many in our group of thirteen were just getting to know each other. Amongst our new Pittsburgh caravanistas are five youth. We had the opportunity to hear from them that night – so now we pass that opportunity on to you. Here they are.
Alana Phillips – 15
Well when I first joined the caravan I really just thought of it as a vacation and a way to get out of Pittsburgh, but when we actually got on the caravan Ms.Ayanna and Mr.Amir talked to me about the blockade and what the United States Government was doing to the Cuban people and I just want to give back to the world all that I have taken. I want to learn to love and learn to help and I think this would be a very good experience to learn how to do just that.
Kaceem Barnett – 18
I learned that it is important to help people that need it more than you do, and to just make sure that you’re doing well but also to think about others - think about what they need and how you can help and be supportive to people in Cuba but also people around the world.
Raya Almond – 16
My school is closing next year so I’m most likely going to Cappa for acting or singing. I’m an average singer, though my family says I’m amazing. I came on this caravan because my brother and sister told me so many stories about it, and it’ll be fun!
Roger Wilson - 21
Shepherdstown was a small town with a lot of stories. It had a lot of nice people and it was a beautiful sight. I learned a lot of new things there, and there were a lot of people willing to help Cuba out. There were a lot of people asking us what we had to say about Cuba, and they told us a lot about themselves.
From Shepherdstown
Kenya Turner – 17 I am on this caravan to help the people in Cuba. I think that when we stayed in the church in Shepherdstown that it was very different. [We slept in the church.] I really didn’t like doing that but the rest of the trip is very nice so far. In revolutionary love, we the people of God…. Kaceem, Sabine, Alana, Ayana, Dan, Kenya, Roger, Carlos, Alex, Suzanne, Raya, Amir and Luis. Espanol - 10 de Julio Saludos desde Shepherdstown, West Virginia...esta es la Ruta K...Kaceem, Sabine, Alana, Ayana, Dan, Kenya, Roger, Carlos, Alex, Suzanne, Raya, Amir y Luis. Shepherdstown es la primera actividad que participamos el grupo completo de las/os 13 caravanistas. Pasamos la noche en la Iglesia Presbiteriana Shepherdstown. Muy cariñosamente Rie Wilson, Vivian Headings, Verle Headings, Quincy Northrup y Rob Northrupnos nos dieron un caluroso recibimiento, incluyendo una deliciosa cena y una bellísima conversación. Al otro día al levantarnos descubrimos que dos hermanas muy dedicadas, Kay Schultz y Vicki Smith, habían madrugado para prepararnos un exquisito desayuno el cual ya a las 7:20am estaba listo. Aquellas/os de nosotras/os que participamos en el servicio religioso de la 8:15am tuvimos la oportunidad de disfrutar el sermón del Reverendo Dr. Randy Termba sobre la política externa de Estados Unidos bajo el titulo de: ¿Puede América ser Cristiana? La conclusión fue si –pero nos recordó el famosos discurso de Thomas Jefferson: “Mi país me hace temblar cuando recuerdo que Dios es justo.” Luis realizó una presentación sobre la Caravana al finalizar el servicio religioso.
From Shepherdstown
En Shepherdstown todas/os tuvimos la oportunidad de poder compartir nuestras historias. Esto fue un momento especial no solo para nuestros/as invitados/as pero asimismo para las/os Caravanistas, ya que para la mayoría de nosotras/os todavía nos estábamos conociendo unos/as a los/as otros/as. Entre las/os Caravanistas tenemos a cinco jóvenes de Pittsburgh. Tuvimos la oportunidad de escucharles, ahora le damos la oportunidad para que los escuchen: Aquí están:
Alana Phillips – 15
Cuando llegué a la Caravana yo solo pensaba que era una oportunidad para unas vacaciones y en una manera de salir de Pittsburgh, pero cuando llegué inmediatamente la Sra. Allana y el Sr. Amir me hablaron del bloqueo a Cuba y lo que el gobierno de Estados Unidos le están haciendo al pueblo Cubano y yo solo quería devolverle al mundo todo lo que yo he tomado. Yo quiero aprender a amar y aprender a ayudar y yo creo esto será una buena experiencia para poder aprender a hacer exactamente eso.
From Shepherdstown
At breakfast
Kaceem Barnett – 18
Yo aprendí que es importante el poder ayudar a la gente que necesita más que uno, y de estar seguro que estás haciendo lo correcto, pero asimismo el pensar sobre otras personas –pensar en lo que necesitan y el como puedes ayudar y poder brindar apoyo al pueblo de Cuba y al resto del mundo.
Raya Almond – 16
Mi escuela la cerrarán el año que viene. Lo mas seguro que me toque ir a Cappa para actuar o cantar. Yo soy una cantante promedio, aunque mi familia me dice que soy espectacular. ¡Yo vine en esta Caravana porque mi hermano y mi hermana me contaron muchas historias sobre la misma, y que disfrutaría mucho!
From Shepherdstown
Roger Wilson - 21
Shepherdstown es un pequeño pueblo con muchas historias. Tiene mucha gente muy buena y un lugar maravilloso. Yo aprendí muchas cosas nuevas en este lugar y había mucha gente dispuesta a brindarle ayuda a Cuba. Había mucha gente preguntándonos a nosotros/as lo que teníamos que decir sobre Cuba y ellas/os nos dijeron muchas cosas sobre ellas/os.
Kenya Turner – 17
Yo estoy en esta Caravana para ayudar al pueblo de Cuba. Yo creo que cuando nos quedamos en la Iglesia en Shepherdstown todo fue diferente. {Dormimos en la Iglesia. No me gustó hacer esto, pero el resto del viaje es muy bueno.
From Shepherdstown
En el amor revolucionario, nostras/os el pueblo de Dios….Kaceem, Sabine, Alana, Ayana, Dan, Kenya, Roger, Carlos, Alex, Suzanne, Raya, Amir y Luis.
Greetings from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
English - July 9
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| Pittsburgh |
Greetings from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania….this is your Route K….Kaceem, Sabine, Alana, Ayana, Dan, Kenya, Roger, Carlos, Alex, Suzanne, Raya, Amir and Luis.
We had a good time in Pittsburgh. On our way there we decided to make a quick stop in Cuba to get some postage (for we had finally found postcards!). That wasn’t a typo, we stopped in Cuba – Cuba, NY that is. Once we left Cuba the rain started coming down. Normally this would be a relief after all that heat. But we had all the windows on our big bus open, and half of them had boxes piled in front of them. At first we didn’t worry, but when those big fat cold drops started coming through the windows and hitting our faces we jumped out of our seats and started running around like mad trying to close those windows. Luckily nothing got too wet!
The event for that night was at the Monumental Baptist Church. The church’s reverend Thomas Smith was already out West on another route. Driving into The Hills (otherwise known as Little Haiti) in Pittsburgh was a bit of a ride. Pittsburgh has only two directions: up and down. But the warm welcome we received when we walked into Monumental made the journey worthwhile. There was hugging and kissing and handshaking. Then Amir took the stage. Amir was one of those joining our bus the next morning. But more importantly, Amir is a story teller. When he starts talking, everybody else shuts up. He read a poem by the brilliant black poet Paul Lawrence Dunbar, and told us a story. Then he introduced the food (though there were many of us who would have gladly introduced ourselves). We filled our tummies with some warm delicious home-cooked food to the beat of two drummers. Pittsburgh’s Carla then spoke to us on the importance of helping the Cuban people and the possibility of buying them water barrels. When Luis finally went up to speak there already was an energy in the room, and when you put Luis in front of an attentive audience you know the energy is just going to grow. We are here to do, Luis reminded us. We are here to do.
We send our thanks to the people of Pittsburgh, especially the event organizer, Gwen Ware and those who gave us space to sleep in for a night, Trinidad. We also send our great congratulations to Destia Muhammad and the whole Monumental Baptist Church. Destia became, this year, the first Pittsburgh student to graduate medical school in Cuba. This is exactly the kind of friendship with Cuba and the Cuban people that this caravan fights for and represents.
We travel onwards with a new energy in the bus as we’ve been joined by five lively young people – Alana, Kaseem, Kenya, Roger and Raya – and two equally lively supervisors – Ayana and Amir.
In revolutionary love, we the people of God…. Kaceem, Sabine, Alana, Ayana, Dan, Kenya, Roger, Carlos, Alex, Suzanne, Raya, Amir and Luis
Espanol - 9 de Julio de 2010
Saludos desde Pittsburgh ….esta es su Ruta K….Kaceem, Sabine, Alana, Ayana, Dan, Kenya, Roger, Carlos, Alex, Suzanne, Raya, Amir and Luis.
Tuvimos un momento maravilloso en Pittsburgh. Cuando estábamos conduciendo para llegar a nuestro destino decidimos detenernos por un momento en Cuba y comprar estampillas de correos para las tarjetas postales. (¡Por fin encontramos las tarjetas!). Esto no fue un error de escritura, si paramos en Cuba, pero en Cuba Nueva York. Una vez abandonamos a Cuba la lluvia comenzó a caer. Por lo general esto tiende a ser un alivio cuando tomamos en consideración la temperatura tan caliente. Pero teníamos todas las ventanas de nuestro autobús abiertas y la mitad de ellas estaban bloqueadas con las cajas de la ayuda humanitaria. Al principio no nos preocupamos, pero cuando la lluvia comenzó a entrar por las ventanas y a darnos en la cara saltamos de nuestros asientos y comenzamos a correr locamente tratando de cerrar las ventanas lo más pronto posible. ¡Afortunadamente nada se mojo!
El evento de la noche fue en la Iglesia Bautista Monumental. El reverendo de la Iglesia, Thomas Smith, no estaba presente porque está participando de la Caravana en otra Ruta en el Oeste del país, guiando. Manejando hacia la comunidad llamada The Hills (también conocida como la pequeña Haití) en Pittsburgh fue toda una aventura. Pittsburg solo tiene dos puntos de dirección: para arriba o para abajo. Pero el recibimiento que nos dieron cuando entramos a la Iglesia convirtió este viaje en algo maravilloso. Allí había abrazos y besos y saludos de manos. Entonces Amir subió al escenario. Amir fue una de las personas que se nos unió al otro día. Pero más importante, Amir es un narrador de cuentos. Cuando comienza a hablar todo el mundo se calla. Leyó un poema del brillante poeta negro Paul Lawrence Dunbar y luego nos dijo un cuento.
Luego se introdujo la comida (aunque había muchos de nosotras/os que teníamos mucho deseo de presentarnos). Al ritmo de dos tambores, llenamos nuestros estómagos con una comida que tenia un estilo hogareño, estaba caliente y sabrosa. Carla, la coordinadora en Pittsburgh, nos habló sobre la importancia de ayudar al pueblo Cubano y la posibilidad de poder comprar barriles de agua.
Cuando finalmente Luis tomó su oportunidad ya había una energía muy buena en el ambiente y cuando usted pone a Luis frente a una audiencia que presta atención, ya usted sabe que la energía aumentará. Estamos aquí para poner en práctica nuestras acciones, Luis nos dijo. Estamos aquí para hacer.
Enviamos nuestro agradecimiento a la bella gente de Pittsburgh, muy especialmente a quienes organizaron la actividad con Gwen Wares. y quienes nos dieron alojamiento para dormir esa noche, como por ejemplo Trinidad. Asimismo enviamos nuestras felicitaciones a Destia Muhammad y a toda la Iglesia Bautiza Monumental. Destia, es la primera estudiante de Pittsburgh que finalizó los estudios de medicina en Cuba. Esta es la clase amistad con Cuba y el pueblo de Cubano por la cual esta Caravana sigue luchando y representa.
Continuamos nuestro viaje hacia delante con nueva energía dentro de nuestro autobús, mientras que cinco jóvenes se nos unieron -Alana, Kaseem, Kenya, Roger y Raya – junto a dos de su mentores y guías -Ayana and Amir.
En el amor revolucionario, nostras el pueblo de Diosa…Kaceem, Sabine, Alana, Ayana, Dan, Kenya, Roger, Carlos, Alex, Suzanne, Raya, Amir y Luis
Greetings from Charleston, South Carolina
I am finding that a Caravanista experience leads you to grow in ways that cannot be anticipated beforehand. And, I was in for a surprise, during our sixth stop, in Charleston, South Carolina. I had never heard of the Avery Research Center. As I walked into the building, I instinctively knew that this was a special place. The Avery Research Center, built in 1985, is immaculate. I passed the smiling receptionist and went bounding upstairs to the third floor. I entered a room where a film on the success of previous Caravans was ending; however, I was drawn to the walls and display cases. They were filled with the photos/artifacts of my people's struggle from our origins in Africa through our enslavement, emancipation, segregation, migration, the civil rights movement and our ongoing struggle for social and political justice in the South. Many of the names/photos were familiar to me but I had much to learn since I was seeing others for the first time. I eventually pulled myself away, closed my mouth (it was wide open) and ate the best meal ever. Afterward, we introduced ourselves, and explained that this year's caravan is dedicated to the children of Cuba. We, then, delighted in our hosts' sharing of their many contributions to the cause of justice for Cubans and African Americans. We later found that some of these venerable older brothers knew the director of the (Arthur) Schomburg Research Center, who is doing complimentary work, in New York. I was chosen to take words of greeting back to him.The world is indeed getting smaller and there is something new (and uplifting) to be learned everyday. Geraldine Gregg
Route C Berkeley, CA Event
Route C of the Caravan has been rolling down the West coast and into Northern California for three successful events.
First stop was Chico, where the Chico Peace and Justice Centre welcomed the Caravanistas with a storefront dedicated to the Caravan and a well attended event in the community garden behind the centre. The Peace and Justice Centre has been supporting the Caravan for many years, and there were familiar faces in the crowd as well as young people who were interested to learn about the blockade and the case of the Cuban 5.
A quick trip to the hardware store also found a chance encounter with a friendly local who donated $50 on the spot to help the Caravan continue.
Berkeley had a packed house in the Unitarian Church where local musician Vic Sardot sang a Phil Ochs song dedicated to Cuba and David Welsh contributed by singing many of the songs he wrote for earlier Caravans including the favorite, “Let the Little Yellow School Bus Go.” There were many former Caravanistas in the audience singing along, and the route has already sold out of most sizes of t-shirts.
The Berkeley event was also dedicated to the memories of Hyde, Patsy, and Hilda – three longtime Berkeley Cuba solidarity activists who have passed away.
Palo Alto’s event was again held in a Unitarian Church and feature the documentary People to People about the 2008 Caravan. Sarah also read a poem by Antonio Guerrero of the Cuban 5. The room was again full with longtime Cuba supporters, as well as new friends who took many postcards for the Cuban 5 after hearing about the case for the first time.
The past three days have confirmed that there are still many friends of Cuba in California, and that people continue to be moved to end the injustice of the blockade on Cuba and free the Cuban 5. We are continuing to prove the power of the “People to People” foreign policy.
