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CUBAN PATRIOTIC COUNCIL

            For almost half a century, the Cuban people have suffered and the exile community has tried endlessly to renew the freedom Cuba once had. Hopefully in its last fight, this battle with the Castro regime has surpassed the test of time to the point where it has affected not one, not two, but three generations. Those that bravely left the island after only a slight taste of the revolution are growing older and many have passed. The future then lies in the hands of those that came after them: The children and grandchildren of the Cuban exile community. The question then arises: how much do they know about the past of Cuba, and more importantly how interested are they in the future of Cuba? Most having U.S. citizenships, are they going to return to the island when it is liberated? Do they even know who is currently ruling Cuba? How much of what they know about Cuban history is fact and how much is just fabricated by the liberal media? How big of a part do they hope to play in the reconstruction of Cuba?

            In an effort to educate the youngest generation and to encourage activism towards a free Cuba to those at our reach, the organization CAUSA: Students United for a Free Cuba was created by University of Miami students, all of whom are sons and daughters of Cuban exiles. Only a couple years old, this student led organization has focused its efforts to educate the campus community about Cuban history, the current political, social, and economic situation and explore ideas for a post-Castro Cuba. Through panel discussions and forums, students engage in heated discussions and learn the truths of the Cuban revolution. Guest speakers have also provided endless knowledge on a range of topics geared to helping students understand what is going on in the island only 90 miles away.

CAUSA hopes to become involved in various organizations within the Miami community geared towards finding a prosperous future for Cuba. We hope to tighten the gap between generations and give students the necessary resources and contacts they need to make their mark in the fight against a communist Cuba.

With only a month into the new school year, we have also had two general meetings, a forum on Cuban Healthcare, and the first of our Guest Speaker Series (fellow CAUSA members from Harvard chapter). We are revising our constitution and reaching out to various community wide organizations including La Junta Patriotica. We have recorded a segment for TV Marti in an effort to reach out to the Cuban community on the island. Our planned events include a teleconference with students in Cuba to gain an understanding of the perspective, mentality, and interests of the Cuban youth. Also, various topics to be discussed this semester include Cuba’s relation with Venezuela and the Embargo.  Furthermore, we hope to provide as much humanitarian aid as possible by participating in citizenship drives and collecting clothes and such items for political prisoners in the island. We have recently become affiliated with the national organization, Raices de Esperanza (Roots of Hope), in an effort to be part of a larger network focused on bringing democracy to Cuba.

CAUSA understands the need for our generation to take a stand against the political oppression in Cuba and recognize the need for freedom in the island. As students, we are called to question the ideologies and governments in place. Like Jose Marti once said, “A child, from the time he can think, should think about all he sees, should suffer for all who cannot live with honesty, should work so that all men can be honest, and should be honest himself.”

If you would like to know more about our organization, participate in our events, or make a donation, please e-mail us at CAUSA@gmail.com. Written by Nathalie Marcos, Vice President of External Affairs, (n.marcos@umiami.edu or 305-799-9500)

Himno Nacional Cubano (Cuban National Anthem)
Credo Patriotico Cubano   (Cuban Patriotic Creed-English Translation)

Last updated January 19, 2008