Getting it Done

Wow. I know protesters and getting arrested for a cause or performing acts of non-violence creates quite a stir and many mixed feeling but bottom line, Guillermo Farinas is getting it done. For many many years Cuba has been stained by an ever increasing list of political prisoners. International pressure has continued to be maintained but Cuba had yet to budge. Then Orlando Zapata Tamayo, a political prisoner started a hunger strike from jail. Unfortunately he died after 85 days as Cuba did not want to change its unjust position of arresting people with differing views. The day Orlando Zapata Tamayo died, Guillermo Farinas started his own hunger strike to keep up pressure on Cuba. After over 130 days Guillermo and the numerous human rights organizations got their wish. Cuba quietly agreed to release 54 prisoners. Many of whom have been held many years.

I know many people criticize actions like this but I really think it’s as the heard of non-violent direct action. You have to fully confront and disrupt the injustices people are facing and sometimes it’s painful and it doesn’t look pretty but sometimes there are victories and these victories of advancing humanity without bloodshed is invaluable.

I had always appreciated my first amendment rights in America but never really realized how important it is. (Sidenote: Yeah America is not so free on the speech thing with corporations running TV shows and newspapers, the racial profiling in Arizona, those in jail for looking different, those unjustly held for being a little too true but it’s a lot better than many countries and that I’m thankful for) until I moved here and see how hushed opposition is and how important opposition and different views are. (Even if they are incredible stupid and self-centered, but lets please stick to facts though)

I want you to see his Guillermo's picture to make a little bit more real