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Marifeli Perez-Stable. Posted on Thu, Sep. 26, 2002 in
The Miami Herald.
In June the Cuban government put on a political performance of surreal
proportions: Millions of citizens were mobilized to sign a petition seeking a
change in the constitution that would declare socialism ''irrevocable.'' With 99
percent in agreement, the constitution was modified.
Such was the official response to the Varela Project.
Oswaldo Payá Sardiñas, other project organizers and the 35,000
citizens who have signed it are prime examples of ''the power of the
powerless.'' The government leaders' response was of such magnitude, it's only
reasonable to ask: What are they afraid of? They are afraid of the power of the
powerless, because the ideas of the Varela Project can take in the sunshine;
theirs cannot. In their minds, consciences and hearts, the Varelistas and other
Cuban dissidents are free men and women.
People sometimes worry about the influence that Cuban Miami might have in a
democratic Cuba. Few, however, talk about the healthy influence that the
opposition on the island already has on us here. It is the first opposition
against a dictatorship in Cuban history to renounce violence and embrace human
rights, which is the heart of democracy.
So whatever influence Cuban Miami might have in a future Cuba, the
opposition on the island already has influenced us, without question to make us
better, an influence that has contributed to making our community more open and
inclusive.
If what happened in Cuba in June weren't so tragic, it'd be laughable. No
human community agrees 99 percent on anything, let alone 11 million Cubans. But
because our goal is a free Cuba, we need to think about the reverse: 99 percent
of Cubans are not against the government.
Why some Cubans still honestly the government, and why many more
cling to the revolutionary ideals of their youth while decrying what Cuba has
become is unimportant. What is important is to imagine a democratic Cuba, where
all peaceful opponents will have the right to speak, organize, demonstrate,
compete in elections and serve if elected.
We should look forward to seeing how the Communist Party does in the
opposition tomorrow, how it does in the sunshine. Its will have it easy
because they won't be harassed, intimidated, imprisoned, killed or forced to
leave Cuba. A democratic Cuba will not do unto them what they did unto the
opposition over decades.
If only Vaclav Havel could have included Havana in this his farewell trip to
our side of the Atlantic as president of the Czech Republic. If only he could
have spoken to us instead about the difficulties of consolidating democracy.
Nobody has explained the nature of communist ideology and language like Havel
has.
In Cuba's case, however, we also have to think about something else: The
polarization and divisions that we suffer today have Cuban roots -- to be sure
intensified to unprecedented heights by communism, the Cold War, but Cuban
nonetheless. Within our own rhetoric and history, there are undemocratic seeds,
and we must be cognizant of them.
TAKE CARE OF CUBAN MIAMI
Havel is here because Cuban Miami is closest in every sense to Cuba and
because it is the place where Cubans can be free. That is why we are compelled
to take care of Cuban Miami as the apple of our eyes. We are living a preview of
Cuban democracy, thus we have a sacred responsibility to make it ever stronger,
more inclusive, more open.
Let us continue to learn from the opposition in Cuba as we draw even broader
links of solidarity with them, as we bring together our minds, consciences and
hearts for a democratic Cuba that will thrive on our diversity.
Marifeli Pérez-Stable is a professor of sociology at Florida
International University. These are excerpts of her remarks on Monday during
Czech President Vaclav Havel's visit to FIU. | 
