Many Thanks to UTA

at 12:20 AM Thursday, October 27, 2011

From the University of Texas-Arlington's newspaper, The Shorthorn:

Activist Mauricio Claver-Carone encourages youth to push for ‘cambio’ in Cuba

Mauricio Claver-Carone wants youth to take initiative in politics and speak for what they believe in.

Claver-Carone, executive director of Cuba Democracy Advocates in Washington, D.C., spoke to a group of 82 people Wednesday night as part of the Fall 2011 Diversity Lecture Series. He spoke about U.S.-Cuba Policy. In Cuba, 90 miles away from the U.S., a large young population is working toward change, the speaker said.

Cuba is a mystery, and some people only have a certain view of what it is through media, Claver-Carone said. But Claver-Carone spoke about the importance of the power of the youth and how they are providing a voice for the entire population.

One of the most famous campaigns in Cuba was Cambio, which means change in Spanish. Young people would wear white wristbands, T-shirts and backpacks with the word “cambio” on it and would be arrested for wearing such items.

“There was a huge repressive streak of young people, your peers, being thrown in jail for wearing a white wristband with the word ‘cambio’ on it,” Claver-Carone said. “It’s important for people to know what’s going on, for people to relate, for people to understand what future is because one thing we do know is that those young people will be the future leaders of Cuba.”

Anna Quinones, a UT-Dallas political science senior, attended the talk to earn extra credit for her Latin America class.

“I thought it was great. I mean, I’m really glad I came,” she said. “I actually studied in Madrid for a long time — international relations, so I did know a lot about Cuba before. It was enlightening, however.”

Quinones asked Claver-Carone what he thought about the concert Colombian artist Juanes gave in 2009 in Cuba to spread change.

Claver-Carone commented that the artist had a good idea, but he didn’t push hard enough to stand up against the regime. Claver-Carone said the artist instead just gave a concert without incorporating Cuban musical artists.

“I thought it was a political move. I thought it was just to help people forget for a second what was going on,” Quinones said. “But I didn’t think about it that way before. I never thought of Juanes even doing that, calling attention to the government.”

Biology freshman Aiza Daud said she attended the lecture to learn more about her background.

“I’m Cuban, and I’m very interested in learning more about Cuba, especially about the U.S. policy toward Cuba,” she said.

Daud also asked Claver-Carone a question about human rights and how Cuba isn’t able to provide medication for the population. Cuba doesn’t have regard for its people because it is under a dictatorship, Claver-Carone said.

“I went to Cuba when I was 8, and everything he said was right. And I like how he talked about how we should be politically involved,” Daud said. “As a Cuban, I can relate because in the ‘States you can be politically involved. Whereas in Cuba, you get beat up for saying what you think about the government.”

Multicultural Affairs director Leticia Martinez said she hopes students feel inspired by the lecture to vote and make a difference.

“Whenever we do programs for the students, ultimately we are hoping that they’re going to understand their own ability to make a difference in the community,” Martinez said. “So hopefully this was inspirational for the students.”