BY AMANDA ULMAN
The article below appeared in the September 5 issue of the Ball State Daily News, published at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana, under the headline "Trip to Cuba great experience for all who attended conference." The paper also publicized a reportback meeting by the author.
Editor's note: Student Amanda Ulman attended Cuba's International Youth Festival this summer. Below, she shares a day-by-day account of her experiences.
BY AMANDA ULMAN
July 31
I am attending the International Youth Festival in Cuba where 1,500 participants are representing 67 different countries from around the world. This festival was organized to protest the U.S. embargo against Cuba.
The United States has maintained an embargo against Cuba for 36 years - since the beginning of the Cuban revolution. Under the embargo, Americans are not permitted to visit Cuba without special permission; fines and jail time of up to 10 years threaten violators.
Furthermore, Cubans may not trade with American companies; the United States will not trade with countries that trade with Cuba. Because of this blockade, Cuba does not receive the aid which the United States offers to other Third-World countries.
Cuba may not turn to other countries for trade because of the pressures the U.S. government places on all countries which depend on trade with the United States. After the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, Cuba lost most of the trade it had in spite of the blockade. Cuba now lacks many material goods - necessities such as soap, toothpaste and medicine.
Aug. 1
I visited an athletic training center today. Built in 1991, this center trains young men and women in judo, boxing, volleyball, basketball and many other events for world competition. Compared to facilities in the United States, this center seemed rather shabby, yet world class athletes are trained here.
We met the women's judo team, which placed first in all eight divisions at the last Pan American Games. While we were visiting, several 9- and 10-year-old girls from Ecuador were training for gymnastics in the facility. They were from a province that had very little experience with this event.
Cuba sent 40 of its best trainers to that province to train young Ecuadorian women for national and international competition. Cuban trainers are helping young athletes in many countries all over the world. I am truly amazed at Cuba's dedication to helping people who don't live in Cuba and its ability to do so in spite of economic hardships. I am learning that Cubans really consider themselves citizens of the world.
Aug. 2
Today the delegates separated into different provinces of Cuba to stay with Cuban families. When five bus loads of us arrived in San Antonio de los Baņos, we were greeted by musicians playing African rhythms and by residents dancing through the streets shouting slogans in support of the revolution and their commander in chief, Fidel Castro.
They were welcoming us all to their city, eager for us to understand the Cuban way of life. I talked to many Cubans today. I did not meet one person who did not support the Cuban revolution. One person I talked to, Felipe, told me that he personally did not like politics but that the vast majority of the Cuban population of 11 million was willing to fight for the Cuban revolution which started more than 35 years ago.
Aug. 3
While visiting a cooperative farm, we learned a lesson in history. Before the revolution, a small percentage of the population had a good life, living in mansions, owning most of the land and supporting gambling and prostitution rings. Very few people had steady jobs; even fewer received any kind of formal education. Most Cubans were homeless, and the people who were lucky enough to have shelter lived in shacks. Health care for Cuban citizens was practically nonexistent.
The Cuban revolution brought many benefits of the Cuban people. No one there goes without a job or a home. Rent can be no more than 10 percent of a person's wages. All people are entitled to free medical care of all types. They have one of the lowest infant mortality rates in the world. Every person receives a free education - up through college if so desired.
No wonder the Cuban people are so supportive of their revolution. One more benefit of the revolution, which came as a shock to most of the Americans, is that racism in Cuba simply does not exist. Starting in 1959, racism was systematically eradicated. Citizens embrace culture of all kinds.
Aug. 4
During the past few days, we visited many medical facilities. We went to a rehabilitation hospital which treats many problems but is specialized in treating cerebral palsy.
We went to a complex for dentistry that, in addition to treating people inside the facility, had a strong presence in the community - treating people in their homes or at school who were unable or afraid to visit the center. We visited a standard hospital which had a traditional medicine wing where a specialist used acupuncture to treat different medical problems.
I personally experienced free medical care in the office of a family doctor. In San Antonio, a family doctor has an office every two blocks. I knew I was getting the best medical care I could have. Cuba has some of the best medical facilities in the world. Treatment is free and available for all people, even to those from other countries who survived disasters like the Chernobyl meltdown.
Aug. 5
On Aug. 5, 1994, a failed attempt by a few people to hijack a boat and sail to the United States sparked an impromptu demonstration by Cuban citizens. A few thousand people ran into the streets to show support for the Cuban revolution.
This year, a modest estimate of 500,000 people marched through the streets of Havana to commemorate last year's demonstration, to protest the U.S. blockade, support the revolution and show support for Fidel Castro, a leader of the revolution.
About 260 people from the United States, the largest delegation of the festival, lead this march through torrential rains. The most popular chants of the demonstration were "Cuba yea, blockade no" and "Long live Fidel, long live Cuba."
Talking to demonstrators, I learned that Cubans do not see Fidel as the strength of the revolution but only as a symbol of its strength. They say that when Fidel is no longer able to serve as commander in chief, there are others just as competent to take his place.
Aug. 6
I learned many things during the past week. Cuba has a lot of problems because of the blockade and because of some problems in government from influences of the Soviet Union. There are parasites of the system who give little manpower and steal from true workers; doctors worry about the nutritional levels of citizens; people need basic necessities such as toothpaste and soap.
Cuba has no comparison to poverty in the United States: all people of Cuba can afford culture, can feed their families and have roofs over their heads. I have never experienced such a strong sense of community as I experienced in Cuba. The spirit of the revolution lives in the people of Cuba. The only way for the United States to crush the revolution is to starve everyone to death.