Most who know me also know that my boyfriend is Cuban. Because of this, I have developed a unique set of stories and bits of information about Cuban culture. Today, I will share one with you.
Yesterday, September 8th, was a special day for Cubans. It was the day they celebrated their Patron Saint, Our Lady of Charity. How did she become their Patron Saint, you ask? Well, I will tell you. In the 1800s, back when Cuba was still a Spanish colony, there were three fisherman off the northern coast of Cuba. They were lost in a terrible storm for three days. For two days straight they prayed and prayed for salvation. They asked to be taken home and saved from the storms. On the third day, The Virgin Mary (Lady of Charity) appeared above their boat, holding the Baby Jesus. She calmed the waters under them as the storm raged all around. Swiftly, the Virgin Mary led the boat back to the safety of the bay and saved those three fishermen from the storm.
When the fishermen told the people of the bayside town their story, the people of Cuba rejoiced. They erected a statue of the Virgin Mary and said she was their Lady of Charity. They celebrated and worshiped her every September 8th from then on, even after the communists took control in th 1950s.
Well, yesterday, as many of you know, Cuba began to be slammed by Hurricane Ike. It has caused great devastation. It is predicted that, before the Hurricane passes, over 50% of the homes and buildings will be uninhabitable. But, in what many Cubans are calling Divine Providence, the eye of Hurricane Ike passed over the very same bay where the fisherman were saved over 100 years ago. On the very day that Cubans celebrate their Patron Saint. That town, was spared the beating of the storm, again. Coincidence? Maybe.
Many Cubans, like my boyfriend, are hoping and praying that, just as those three men were saved, so will the people of Cuba be saved this time. However, it is not a storm they need to be saved from, it is their own government. The Cuban government is a cruel and oppressive force. The people there are denied the most basic essentials of life such as shampoo, toilet paper and potatoes. So many go without so much that, eventually, they have resigned themselves to this life. No one deserves that. In a show of how much they do not care for their citizens, the Cuban government has already issued a statement saying they will take no help from America. They do not care that we can provide, and would provide, building materials (which they don’t have), food and clean water (which they will need) and clothing. This is not out of political motivation on our part, it is out of a basic human need to help those in pain. But the Cuban government does not see that and will spin this and state that we are unwilling to help, when in fact we were denied the ability to help.
Maybe, finally, this storm will wash away the bad and bring back the glorious days for Cuba. We can only hope, and pray.
Recent Comments