Havana, Part II
At a Cuban grade school, in contrast to ones I often see in America, I witnessed children being treated with dignity.
As we settled into the routine of the trip, if only for a few days, my roommate and I rose early to swim a few laps in the hotel pool. The chilly water washed over us in a way that matched the spiritual transformation that was taking place. Cuba called us for such a particular time as this.
For our first stop on October 24, 2023, we visited the Cuban National Assembly. The ornate Capitol was constructed from 1926 to 1929, and it rivaled Vatican City in its grandeur.
We sat in a chamber as a Cuban statesman explained the structure of the Cuban Parliament and the 2019 Constitutional Convention. There are 470 seats in Parliament, and 261 of them are held by women.
With regard to the forward-thinking 2019 Cuban Constitution, the National Assembly selected 33 members in 2018 to take on the process of creating it; they presented a draft to the Cuban people from July 21-22, 2018, and it was voted on and approved by 60% of the people. The National Assembly is the only body that can amend the Constitution, and the body is also responsible for electing the President of Cuba.
As we engaged in discourse, we discussed various components of governance, and broader Cuban society, that draw our attention as American socialists. The subject of the 2021 protests in Cuba came up, where a number of people were arrested for destruction of property. This fact largely drew our ire, as it brought to mind the ways in which American policing unfolds - without concerns for people and devotion only to protecting private capital and property. However, it sparked the meditation for all of us - how can we continue to make space for young people in socialist movements, especially those who are critical of their government?
We ended on a hopeful note, with assertions that socialism must be adaptive to meet the needs of the people & and the construction of socialism is largely a trip to the unknown - where everything that must be changed is changed.
We continued our second full day at the Cuban Federation of Women. This inspiring group is committed to defending the Cuban Revolution and the gender justice that undergirds it.
The Cuban Federation of Women works with diverse families to continually strive for the full equality of women in Cuban society. Membership in the federation is available to young people at 14 years old, and it has worked with the U.N. since 1990 to support this vision in other countries. The federation works assiduously to achieve pay equity for Cuban women and to honor their bodily autonomy. After the Dobbs decision from the U.S. Supreme Court in June 2022, it was incredibly inspiring to hear Cuba’s approach to abortion care; in Cuba, abortions are legal, safe, and done within a medical institution.
As we discussed at the hospital the previous day, representatives of the federation reinforced the idea that life expectancy is in a good place in Cuba; for Cuban women, the life expectancy is over 80. During a question-and-answer period, we conversed about workplace protections for Cuban women and the possibilities presented by labor organizing to extend the imprint of socialist feminism. This stop reinforced the hopeful note that characterized the day.
Next, we headed to the Cuban Ministry of Science, Technology, and the Environment. Like many countries that are impacted by the dangerous pollution of the United States - primarily through its military - Cuba is being quite nimble in its approach to the detrimental effects of climate change. The Ministry is focusing on mitigating the challenges presented by rising sea levels, deprivation of the soil, and the loss of biodiversity. Cuba works with other countries, through an initiative called IRIS, to advance its goals of more sustainable modes of transportation, a widespread system of conservation culture, and integrated management to address floods and droughts.
If you will bear with me at this point, I’m going to skip the afternoon of October 24, 2023 in the chronological retelling. Look out for Havana, Part III for a fascinating series of events that constituted that several-hour period.
Our delegation once again rose early on October 25, 2023 to venture to the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the People. There, Vice Foreign Minister Carlos F. de Cossio addressed us with grace and deep eloquence. He spoke of the material impact of the artificial standard imposed by the embargo - one that seeks to provoke economic discontentment within Cuban society.
He made the case, and I believe that many of us agree, that the most convincing argument against the blockade is a moral one. This arbitrary economic policy affects 11 million people, making their lives unnecessarily difficult. Cubans have given a lot in pursuit of normalized relations with the United States - the existence of Guantanamo makes this point clearly - and over sixty years of a failed policy should push the federal government to reconsider its thinking on Cuba. Virtually the entire world recognizes Cuba’s right to self-determination; it has the second highest number of embassies of any country in the Western Hemisphere. It is beyond time for the United States to recognize that fact.
Following Vice Foreign Minister de Cossio’s fascinating talk, we went to an open air marketplace; this location served as the perfect place to grab souvenirs, take a breath by the open water, and behold the innovative artwork of the Cuban people. From there, our group split up - half of us went to the Civil Defense Ministry and the other half went to a neighborhood Cuban school.
As we were warmly received by the head of school and a group of children who sang and dance, I felt the restoration of my soul reach its peak. Even with the impact of the blockade, I observed teachers who were attuned to the particular needs of their students and children who felt supported by the adults charged with their care. 15 students are assigned to each classroom, and they are given instruction in international affairs - within a class entitled ‘The World in Which I Live.’
As we wrapped up, I posed a question to the head of school. I spoke of the intractable existence of the school-to-prison pipeline in American schools, as well as the general philosophy that children need to be brought to heel. Accordingly, I inquired about how discipline was treated in this school environment; in response, the head of school spoke about how the school is indeed a community, and children are therefore afforded the grace to be children. Discipline is a reality of instruction, but police officers do not need to be involved in it. I saw no police officers at the school, and I generally didn’t witness many during my four days in Cuba.
We left the school with elevated hearts, with a Jose Marti quote imprinted upon our minds.
Los ninos son la esperanza del mundo.
Thank you once more for reading, and stay tuned for the final installment of this series in the coming weeks.
Solidarity & Cuba Si!
"The chilly water washed over us in a way that matched the spiritual transformation that was taking place. Cuba called us for such a particular time as this."
🔥🔥🔥