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7/1/1973 - Report from a Cuban Prison IX: Ernesto by Frank J. McDonald

NOT FOR PUBLICATION WITHOUT WRITER S CONSENT INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS New York New York July Fifth Avenue Ne York No Yo 100117 ErneSto The names altered series dialogue opinions reconstructed conversations I another friend Ernesto Sola night Like Hebert Sola everyone called member History Department turer Art History taught graduate students three times But there similarities ended Quiet instead garious highly strung touch cynicism Soia thing easygoing idealstlco I thought interesting though Hebert Sola friends perhaps because liked share their Both generous ready companlonswho never I introduced Sola because Hebert interested Santerla Afro Cuban served intricately complex anclent African religion called Yoruba The Yoruba people years before Portuguese discovered Africa devel highly advanced cvlizatlon southwestern Nigeria The capital Yoruba Ife founded according dition Obatala Yoruba seccnd illustrious 0rlsha deity 0batala after descending skies golden chain created water Olorum owner supreme Orlsha directed Obatala Other Or include Ogun patron smiths warriors hunters Eshu chance ccldents carrier messages Chango potency hurler light This religion carried hearts slaves Africa Caribbean Portuguese traded Africans sugar Thus Trinidad Haiti Cuba today Anangos Shango LucUml practice religion Yoruba ancestors despite efforts French Spanish English missionaries baptize Holy Mother Church The preservation Santerla clever device stitution adaptation sectarlanlsm whatever which Yoruba Orlsha shrewdly identified particular Christian saint Chango whose colors white example juxtaposed Saint Barbara ously enough because dress painted white Obatala became Saint Lazaro until pantheon filled preserved intact along complex rites beliefs music dances myths symbols So Santero found praying St Barbara actuality secretly praying paying homage Chango And looks closely enough around devotee wears string white glass beads patron The point Ernesto Sola about And I wante learn about Yoruba I called For Yoruba important because I search patron Orisha because I convinced cannot feeling Caribbean Cuban culture without understanding myths music ritual Santerla For S understanding knowledge Ssnterla I Chango Obatala Eshu represent creative which themes poems plays Indeed first thing about Sola really remained middle class though alone entire family still supports Cuban Revolution recently divorced after years marriage often dreamed about seeing Madrid The about Sola published Cuba which something again After initial meeting arranged llttle Guanabacoa second place original Spanish settlers founded Located drive Havana contains beautiful square grass trees wooden cathedral colonnades remain Gonzalo Perez earlier governors island Our search Museum History where since Revolution exhibited ethnographic display Santeria On entering Sola noticed public vendor selling coffee Hurry there before It morning breeze cooled square where formed everyone happy ticularly standing directly front I could curious about I Cuban Sola Guanabacoa Finally curiosity compelled inquire Pulling packet Suaves cigar ettes tobacco offered I declined Sola accepted courtesy Graclas De Sola antlclpated question We Havana Museum History Know where Certainly But I morning Sometimes sometimes It depends curator whether It street repair about three blocks And looking direction You Cuban No I North American Here visiting while Ah North American nodded My Alonso I miles outside Guanabacoa We shook hands Felicldad We enough small coffee But before Alonso become friend He explained Cubans Americans though American government They better baseball players Americans Finally daughter getting married owing Saturday Beaming pride pulled packet white velopes pocket Here handing envelope I wedding There plenty dancing You address house inside And weicome Returning after visit museum Sola I decided visit cathedral There luxuri carved ceilings church though couldn believe anyone Cuba could still faith little light burning sanctuary Sola couldn admire beauty place Then walked where across cemetery overgrown weeds grass I decided stone while Sola checked graves Suddenly waved called Join He standing beside gravestone which carved How about quipped There S Cuba first Ernesto I Then bending picked little piece stick painted white yellow other See It placed Santero symbol companion The colors Yemaa Ogun Why picture I camera Sola stick nonchalantly posing I focused tanned rimmed glasses I thought strange standing graveyard taking picture playing That I shall always remember smiling front grave holding small stick placed there Santero I picture suggested feeling uneasy about taking pictures graveyard Sola pocketed small stick proceeded ahead through grown weeds grass entrance Aren going leave stick Sola I might Or whoever there Of course I these I collect When I feathers small dolls sticks kinds things That Sola would Guanabacoa write Yoruba would never published every thing could hands about Santeria qualms would religious artefact Sola evidenced complexities Revolution He worked first three years Revolution accomatant INRA Instituto Nacional Reforma Agraria distributing millions pesos compesinos direct beneficiaries Land Reform decree May The three years taught Marxist Lenlnlsm schools formed prepare cadre party after which entered University Havana History Art After severa years teaching stagna Sola worked really believe Not disillusioned Revolution soured If anything could described liner positions against those openly criticized Revolution Padilla other poets publicly chastened Revolution their intellectual elitism I believe writer actively support Rewolution neutral To criticize constructively accept insidious criticisms Padilla writing A writer demoralize people ennoble On other I stand writer defend Take Pablo Armando poets publicly accused Padilla counter revolutionary tendencies The writer Fuentes Now Pablo calls When Padilla criticism before assembly writers artists UNEAC named almost dozen other Cub writers including committing errors Only Norberto Fuentes stood could agree Fuentes would defend written front nyone wants friend I I stand because defend himself chance I respect Sola viewed Che Guevara guerrilla campaign Bollvls noble ineffective I respect Che would really believes But Bolivia Tat suicide The Soviets right thank goodness beginning listen Revolutions individuals people ready Fidel support leftist coalitions rather proposing armed struggle route revolution Hard liner Sola tired onger sustain emotional psychi commitment revolutionary When someone reaches point state Cubans quemada burned For twelve years I devoted myself Revolution My totally integrated But I tired I myself devote Teaching I contribute maybe better create somethg Inside I empty Nor point Sola about Every months membership solicited joining Party ranks advanced workers But process demanding Each candidate first nominated peers He obliged crltlcal analysis personal professional Then workers selves devote several public sessions reviewing nominee habits political attitudes ability along workers where relevant individual personal relationships A summary Investi gatory Commission staffed members Party whose establish authenticity nominee statements prepare would security check All completed report handed center either accepting rejecting candidacy Party If nominee accepted Party taken assembled workers ratification membership If Party opposed nominee there options center submit nomination demand reason rejection center matter there Very candi dates rejected Party workers decide favor nomination All public scrutiny thereason Sola reluctance place before colleagues department however I I could devote myself I would I litan member P C C The effort demndlng Now Hebert He could And become party member Not though I myself There other things preoccupying Sola transition other He preparing apartment sister house temporarily until could place To trade little cottage Varadero seaside resort rtment Havana In Cuba there estate agents buying selling houses apart ments One allowed lving space apartment house other residence countryside vacations Because Sola residence little children obliged notice detailing hopes trade appropriate bulletin board To trade cottage Varadero equivalent sized rtments central Havana Prefer location unlverslty We talking about family seated thick runnY Malecon perhaps nearing mldnght around several couples found alone hours watching lights refreshed breezes blowing We walked Sola apartment carrya bottle Anejo equal Caribbean Not Mount Gay St Lucy Parish Barbados rival S bottle problem Sola referring women Now working Ym pedatriclan But theburden working I blame Revolution The would normal Margo alone younger Why blame Revolution I asked I could stayed She Yes I But wanted because moral obligation practice sLnce doctors short Supply Most Madrid Mam She remamed And Now Danilo autistic There nothing Sola looked around The anymore What about anyway accusatory You understando You listen watch write When enough leave board plane You understand Quiet reached shirt pocket cigarette Taking packet poked finger discovering He crumpled remnants threw Cono Have cigarette Received New York August