Cuban medical students visit U-Md.
Goal to promote cultural understanding
By Felicia Garay-Stanton
Staff Writer
Coming to America was not just a movie, it has become a reality for two Cuban scholars visiting the University of Maryland from the Cuban Student Exchange program.
Yenaivis Fuentes Ascencio and Anibal Ramos Socarras, two Cuban medical students, have traveled across the United States from Chicago, Atlanta, Minneapolis, Wisconsin and now to the Washington D.C. area since March 21, having dialogues on college campuses to promote an understanding of Cuba.
“At Nyumburu, we explore the African Diaspora, the African American the African Caribbean diaspora and certainly Cuba is definitely within that diaspora,” said Ronald Zeigler, director of Nyumburu Cultural Center.
Ascencio and Socarras have been with 1,410 people and have been asked 230 “formal questions” since they first arrived in the U.S., according to Ascencio.
“It’s a really great opportunity for us to actually hear from and get the perspective of Cuban citizens,” said Rennie Silva, a graduate public policy major.
The dialogue started with Ascencio’s presentation of Cuban history. She said that to understand what is going on in Cuba today, the Cuban history has to be explained.
Ascencio explained the difference between the pre-revolutionary area and post-revolutionary area through topics such as public health, education, and women’s rights. Before Cuban independence, these areas were not accessible to everyone and were not equal for everyone.
She later explained that after the gain of independence everyone, no matter gender, sexual-orientation, or personal differences, became equal and with equal opportunities in Cuba. Discrimination does not determine what an individual can be, said Ascencio.
When asked by an audience member about their views on the U.S. healthcare reform objectives, Socarras said that they felt healthcare in the U.S. was not going to work because people are too busy spending money to fix up their broken homes.
“Health is a right and not a business,” said Socarras.
Socarras, made clear that their political differences cannot be used against their work to help others.
“Cuba doesn’t hurt anyone,” said Socarras. The idea that they are political menaces is a manipulation of the Cuban situation, according to Socarras.
Students and faculty were well represented during this event that promoted the cultural exchange between these Cuban students.
Brenda Minor, a senior African American studies major from Howard University, attended the event because she was interested in anything that deals with community. As an intern in a research, Minor said that she was doing a project on health care, and “thought it would be interesting to see what they’re doing in Cuba.”
It was made clear by the curators of the event that since these two students were here for the cultural opportunity, respect was necessary, no matter the audience’s political views.
“You have to be respectful that they do not represent the Cuban government in any kind of way and they are just here to share their values and their experiences in Cuba,” according to Anwar Sanya, president of the African Student Progressive Action Committee.
“There’s a lot of negatives when it comes to the Cuban government, but also a lot of positives one being healthcare,” said Silva.
Ascencio and Socarras spoke on the ideals of community and how the country comes together to support one another and help the world, without any material desire or the idea of what they plan to get from others.
As they take what is good from the United States, Socarras says that the world, including the United States, has to take what is good from Cuba too.
Short URL: http://www.lavozlatinaumd.com/?p=548
Posted by