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We welcome Obama to Cuba. It's what happens next that counts We welcome Obama to Cuba. It's what happens next that counts
(about 1 hour later)
When President Barack Obama landed at Jose Marti International Airport on Sunday, it was raining. It was not a flood. Nor a passing shower. Just the exact amount of water needed for Cubans to began to look for signs. For some people, the water became a symbol of ideological resistance – the sky conspiring against the American presence. For others, it was moment of purification to welcome the US leader. When President Barack Obama landed at Jose Marti international airport on Sunday, it was raining. It was not a flood. Nor a passing shower. Just the exact amount of water needed for Cubans to began to look for signs. For some people, the water became a symbol of ideological resistance – the sky conspiring against the American presence. For others, it was moment of purification to welcome the US leader.
Ordinary Cubans cling on to symbols desperately. On December 17, 2014, we received the first such symbol after more than 50 years of political confrontation. An American president said: “It is time for a new beginning”. A Cuban president said, on national television, that we were restoring diplomatic relationship with our longstanding enemy. The simultaneous announcements made a metaphorical bridge over the 90 miles of salt water that separates more than 11 million Cubans living on the island from two million Cuban Americans. Ordinary Cubans cling on to symbols desperately. On 17 December 2014, we received the first such symbol after more than 50 years of political confrontation. An American president said: “It is time for a new beginning.” A Cuban president said, on national television, that we were restoring diplomatic relationship with our longstanding enemy. The simultaneous announcements made a metaphorical bridge over the 90 miles of saltwater that separates more than 11 million Cubans living on the island from 2 million Cuban Americans.
We have witnessed the opening of embassies, the easing of travel restrictions to Cuba for American citizens, fierce discussions on human rights, not so fierce discussions on drug control, counterterrorism and property. And, for the first time, we have seen Air Force One landing in Havana. We have witnessed the opening of embassies, the easing of travel restrictions to Cuba for American citizens, fierce discussions on human rights and not so fierce discussions on drug control, counterterrorism and property. And, for the first time, we have seen Air Force One landing in Havana.
Obama’s visit is not a prize for Cuban people. Cuban people do not need prizes. Obama’s visit is a sign of respect, recognition and tolerance. It is the beginning of a relationship that should be based on the right of Cuban people to decide their future in an environment where we are not always facing a “historic moment”.Obama’s visit is not a prize for Cuban people. Cuban people do not need prizes. Obama’s visit is a sign of respect, recognition and tolerance. It is the beginning of a relationship that should be based on the right of Cuban people to decide their future in an environment where we are not always facing a “historic moment”.
Cuba has an overdose of historical moments and exceptionality. It is time to regain normalcy.Cuba has an overdose of historical moments and exceptionality. It is time to regain normalcy.
Tomorrow, and the day after that, there will be no American president arriving in Havana. Some people will wake up with fatigue caused by the mixture of history and hysteria. The streets where Obama walked will become covered up again by the dust that no longer needs to be hidden. Welcome posters will be gradually folded and put away.Tomorrow, and the day after that, there will be no American president arriving in Havana. Some people will wake up with fatigue caused by the mixture of history and hysteria. The streets where Obama walked will become covered up again by the dust that no longer needs to be hidden. Welcome posters will be gradually folded and put away.
Tomorrow, Cuba will still be Cuba. And Cubans will leave their television screens and start worrying again about daily issues: food, salaries, housing, public transportation. But it will be, hopefully, a better Cuba. Not because we received an American president on our soil, which is great, but because the signs we pay attention to will no longer be expressed in binaries: capitalism or socialism, good or bad, rain as resistance or as purification. Our world will be a more nuanced one.Tomorrow, Cuba will still be Cuba. And Cubans will leave their television screens and start worrying again about daily issues: food, salaries, housing, public transportation. But it will be, hopefully, a better Cuba. Not because we received an American president on our soil, which is great, but because the signs we pay attention to will no longer be expressed in binaries: capitalism or socialism, good or bad, rain as resistance or as purification. Our world will be a more nuanced one.
We can start looking at the water falling from the sky as what it is: water falling from the sky. And we can do so without being concerned about History with a capital H. This burden of symbolism has been removed from our shoulders. Or, perhaps I should say, it has been washed away. We hope that, in its place, we will see something smaller, simpler – and more normal.We can start looking at the water falling from the sky as what it is: water falling from the sky. And we can do so without being concerned about History with a capital H. This burden of symbolism has been removed from our shoulders. Or, perhaps I should say, it has been washed away. We hope that, in its place, we will see something smaller, simpler – and more normal.