Everyone is familiar with those little yellow rubber bracelets that a lot of people wear to support cancer research. Many people wear them as a fashion statement, and a multitude of colors have arrived. Olive green ones show support for our men and women in uniform, pink ones are for breast cancer awareness, black ones are for our POWs and MIAs, and multicolored ones are for autism. Well there is a new craze sweeping the island Paradise of Cuba and it is a white bracelet with the word "cambio" written on it. Cambio is Spanish for change. These are being worn by dissidents and have recently become a fashion statement for teenagers.
The bracelets were sent to Cuba by a Miami-based initiative to foster dissent, but appear to have become the "must have" fashion accessory in high schools. But probably not for much longer ...
It seems the Cuban dictatorship government really hates these bracelets. Last week, about 60 young people that were sporting these bracelets were rounded up and thrown in jail. They were released a couple of days later (minus the bracelets), and warned that authorities were preparing files and would later charge them with "social dangerousness".
I guess Raul Castro, like his brother is afraid of words like change (or freedom, democracy, etc.). The bracelets had to be confiscated because they were "dangerous". I guess in the wrong hands they could be used as a slingshot and put someones eyes out.
Have you ever really thought about how lucky we are to live in a free society? One that tolerates Iranian despots coming to our University and delivering tirades against our government? One that permits miscreants to protest funerals and burn flags? How fortunate that we don't live in Cuba ... and how fitting that this country supports dissent in Cuba.
VIVA EL CAMBIO
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12 comments:
I'll be the first to confiscate the white bracelet first chance I get. Sure wouldn't want one of the kids to use it as a 'slingshot'!(lol)
Those bracelets, like you say, are a fashion statement around here. I doubt that any of the kids would even know the meaning of the phrase, Viva El Cambio.
Change is what dictators fear.
Keshi.
Cambio
One of the reasons for fearing those asking for EL Cambio is that "La Revolucion" is not over yet! The Marxist-Leninist gang running the island is now in phase 2 of 3 of La Revolucion Cubana. In Cuba they believe in SOME rights, they believe that "Los Deportes" [the sports] are a right of every citizen. I do expect to see some type of CAMBIO after "El Camarada" Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz is at room temperature!
cfs
So how long before I am taking away or asking my teeny whores to remove it...because it is not, NOT part of the dress code?!?!?! LOL ;o)
I can see it now..."FREE Cambio"...LOL ;o)
Oh I am the dictator damn it! LOL ;o)
we live in a free society? are you sure? robert redford says we don't have freedom of speech here in america. perhaps he should read your blog...
You will vacation in Cuba someday, and the change will be as bloodless as the fall of the U.S.S.R.....
Confiscating those bracelets is truly stupid. The last thing you want to do when you want kids not to do something is tell them they aren't allowed to do it! LOL! Once they start confiscating them, the kids will hide them, then continue to wear them in secret. I can see it now:
Maria rolls up her sleave just a bit and says "See. I'm still wearing mine. Have you got yours?" It's the nature of teenagers to rebell and rebell they will.
Dictators are just naturally stupid!
Have you ever really thought about how lucky we are to live in a free society?..every day my friend!!
I had not heard about this, but I'm not surprised. People want to be free. In Venezuela students were shot with rubber bullets because they protested Chavez. Iranian students, bloggers, etc. are put in prison or killed for speaking out against the mullahs or Ahmadinejad.
There is good news though. I have it from very good sources that we have 'operatives' in Pakistan, Iran, and even Cuba. God bless them all and keep them safe.
Don't forget the red ones for the heart issues!!
My husband bought a bunch .. but I can't wear it...drives me batty.
Matthew plays w/ his.
inspired ... maybe we can use the rubber bands for a good purpose ... to hold up their baggy pants.
keshi ... unfortunately change is what too many people fear, even if the current situation is bad.
tlrb ... I have a Cuban friend that tells me that when Fidel goes to room temperature, there will be parties in Miami and across the country that will put Mardi Gras to shame.
bambi ... I'm sure you would be a "good" dictator, or as the politically correct would say a "benevolant ruler".
heidianne ... Robert Redford says a lot of things, so does a lot of the Hollywood elite ... pay no attention to the man behind the curtain.
buffalo ... care to join me in a fine Havana cigar on that vacation?
gayle ... some of those kids were picked up from the jail by people who immediately gave them a new bracelet. Yeah, you can't tell a teen what to wear ... otherwise no one would be wearing those baggy pants.
angel ... I'm glad you do, so do I.
debbie ... well I hope those operatives do their jobs well, and they stay safe.
terri ... and the red ones for the heart problems.
I am doing research for my university paper, thanks for your useful points, now I am acting on a sudden impulse.
- Laura
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