Yoani Sanchez: Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the World
Yoani Sanchez is quickly becoming a personal hero of mine. When I heard this story on NPR this morning, I could not stop smiling, could not stop shaking my head at her audacity and courage and smarts and big you-know-whats.
If you don’t know about Sanchez, she’s a Cuban in Cuba who blogs about Cuba — with honesty and regularity, defying government regulation, censorship and blockage.
In Cuba most don’t even dare tell their brother what they really think about the government, but the 32-year-old Sanchez tells the world. Her posts can get more than 1,000 comments. I believe she is educating the globe and inspiring change on the island. (I hope those who defend The Retired Bearded Dictator and his brother read her blog thoroughly.)
The Spanish newspaper, El Pais, gave her a prize for journalism, which the Cuban government did not let her go get this week. (Thank you to my Spanish friend, Raul, for correcting my original post. I had said it was the government who gave the prize).
And now, Time has named her among the 100 Most Influential People in the World.
I love her. I cheer her. I wish her safety. And freedom.
An interview in Spanish:
Hi,
I have also been following Yoani’s fascinating story in the Spanish (as in “from Spain”) press. Her blog is available outside of Cuba, but not in the island, from what I read. The dictatorship is blocking it to Cuban citizens. Fortunately for her, she is now too well known to be imprisioned like so many other dissidents.
Only a small but important note. The “Ortega y Gasset”, the prize that she won in Spain, was not awarded by the Spanish government, but by “El Pais”, the main newspaper in Spain. The difference may sound small, but it is important, since the current Spanish government has proven to be extremely “understanding” (some may say “too friendly”) towards the Cuban regime. For that reason, I strongly doubt that the current Spanish government would have awarded her a prize. Fortunately, the media is often a better reflection of a country that the government itself, and Yoani won a well-deserved prize.
Good luck to her, and may she be able to write soon in a free Cuba.
Saludos!
Raúl
Raul! Gracias. Everyone needs an editor. I am going to go fix that now. It is an important point. Gracias, again.
No problem, Carrie… That little detail does not detract from your great post anyway!
By the way… I think I read a post once about how you had your daughter in some bilingual immersion program. How did you find it? Is there a website or something where I could find out about other programs in the country (I live in Long Island, New York)? Thanks!
She is such an amazing woman and a force to be reckoned with.
She just blows me away.
Thank you for this post! I had never heard of Yoani until I read this. I am now reading her blog and appreciating what it is about. I also just posted about it on “SfN” and linked to you as well. I think more people need to hear about her, about her blog and about the real US (Cubans) in general.
I love this as well. I admire her a great deal and think she’s brave and kick-ass. You’ve inspired me to write about her as well.
Does anybody know how i might be able to contact Yoani Sanchez?
Thanks so much