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On the occasion of the 250th anniversary of the independence of the United States, the U.S. Embassy in Cuba published a video this Sunday featuring messages from Cubans about freedom, under the hashtags #Freedom250 and #ConCubanosDeAPie, in which journalists, activists, and citizens from the island express their desire to see the Caribbean country free.
The video brings together voices of Cubans in exile and on the island who connect the celebration of the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the United States with their own aspirations for freedom, at a time when Cuba is experiencing a deep crisis of blackouts, water shortages, and a lack of food and medicine.
The journalist and activist Magdiel Jorge Castro, exiled in Spain and a central figure in Cuban activism, opens the video with a powerful statement: "Freedom is more than a slogan or a flag; it is the ability to believe, to think, to speak freely, without fear of facing consequences. Only in freedom can we have the Cuba that we Cubans deserve, a prosperous Cuba."
The journalist Mario J. Pentón, based in Miami and one of the most followed voices of the Cuban diaspora, emphasized that freedom cannot be taken for granted: "The United States was born as a promise of freedom, as stated in the Constitution; it is the pursuit of happiness, the pursuit of freedom, and for millions of Cubans, it has also been a land of refuge, a land of hope, a land of opportunities."
Rancel Arias Fonseca, a Cuban in exile, thanked the United States for opening its doors for him to pursue his dreams and expressed his hope that "one day all Cubans can enjoy prosperity, freedom, and opportunities to grow without having to leave their homeland."
The activist Magaly Díaz Campillo, exiled in Spain, emphasized that "freedom of expression is very important, without fear of being repressed for thinking differently from others."
A Cuban woman was more direct in pointing out the regime: "I want a free Cuba, where the tyrant who oppresses us leaves, and it's not us who have to leave our land."
A Cuban doctor who participated in the video called for a healthcare system detached from politics: "We long for a Cuba where medicine serves the people and not ideology, where every patient is treated with dignity, and where doctors can practice freely."
Caridad Merino connected freedom with the most basic needs that are currently scarce on the island: "I desire the freedom of Cuba and that Cubans living in Cuba have water, food, and electricity, which are necessary for living. The United States and Cuba share a history together, and together we must rebuild Cuba."
Magdiel Jorge Castro himself, who in recent weeks has spread the news of protests and demonstrations in Havana, closed the video with a call for young Cubans to stay in their country to venture and create wealth, because "freedom is more than a right; it is the essential condition to make everything else possible."
Pentón concluded with a sentiment that reflects the feelings of all the participants: "My wish for these 250 years is that the light of freedom that has inspired this great nation also shines on our country, Cuba."
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