One Year of Relations. Now What?

One Year of Relations. Now What? / Somos+
Posted on December 21, 2015

Somos+, Eliecer Avila, 17 December 2015 — Today marks one year of the
historic reestablishment of diplomatic relations between the governments
of Cuba and the United States. At this point, although it's true that
there has been no notable change in the quality of life of Cubans nor
the state of their rights, what has been shown is that the only obstacle
to achieving development and prosperity in the nation is our own government.

Today, it would be unjustifiable to do what was quite comfortable just
yesterday: blaming everything on the Empire of the North. However, the
fundamental challenge is for millions of Cubans, who today are convinced
about what the problem is, to assume the historic responsibility of
working towards the solution and not to continue running away from a
reality that will chase us wherever we go, in one way or another.

All changes in history start first in the minds of citizens. Here, this
transformation is already advancing at a fast pace, and it consists of
an ideological detoxification that follows, inevitably, the same cycle
as treatment for any addiction would.

Today, December 17, I'm also celebrating my father's 47th birthday. It's
because of this coincidence that I have "Lázaro*" in my name. One more
reason to share this day with all of you, united in our hope and belief
that daily work and the righteous motivation that we defend will give us
victory in this fight for dignity, freedom, and happiness amongst ourselves.

Eliecer Ávila, Engineer

President, Somos+ Movement

*Translator's note: 17 December is the feast day of Saint Lazarus,
"Lazaro" in Spanish.

Source: One Year of Relations. Now What? / Somos+ | Translating Cuba -
http://translatingcuba.com/one-year-of-relations-now-what-somos/