Dear Paula and ophthalmic friends:
Please, don't get me wrong. I understand perfectly Sigfedo's views; as well as,
his grandfather and father.
I am a world traveler who loves to "see" how the other half of the planet lives.
Just like I photograph retinas, I also document the daily life of different
nations and their unique cultures.
Saludos (Greetings, in Spanish),
Héctor
Sent from my iPhone
Sent from my iPhone
On Sep 8, 2016, at 3:44 PM, Paula Morris <paula.morris@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
My wonderful son-in-law, Sigfredo Mendoza Alonso immigrated from Cuba in 2008
after 8 years on the waiting list. He will be taking his US citizenship test
in the next few weeks and get his US passport. We are all excited to visit
Cuba.
Sigfredo is not so sure. His family in Miami was well acquainted with the
two Brotherhood to the Rescue , "Hermanos al Rescate", pilots who were shot
down by the Cuban government in 1996. Sigfredo, while growing up in Havana,
was taught his whole life that you never validate the regime... and the
relaxed trade embargo does just that. He is really struggling with wanting
to have access to his friends and family in Cuba, while respecting the
anti-Castro/anti-regime passion of his grandfather and father. It is a
perspective I never would have thought of until he was so profoundly affected
by the news of the change in the embargo.
It is humbling and inspiring to see someone who was raised in a Communist
country be awed and grateful for the freedoms we have in this country. In my
opinion, everyone who is overcome with cynicism about the United States or
many other countries, should spend some quality time with this thoughtful
young man.
Just sayin'
p
From: optimal-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [optimal-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] on behalf
of Hector Mendez Caratini [dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Thursday, September 08, 2016 12:29 PM
To: optimal@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [optimal] Re: La Habana, Cuba
The world' most famous iconic photo of Che was taken by my friend Korda.
Sent from my iPhone
On Sep 8, 2016, at 12:25 PM, Hoffmeyer, Gregory <gregory.hoffmeyer@xxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
Hector obviously didn't take that pic LOL. Che - I often ask college kids
wearing that T shirt if they know their history...
My wife's family had their farm seized by Castro regime - would like to see
it some day. I have Kodachrome carousels in my office w wife's mother with
her cousins in the 50s down there.
G
On Sep 8, 2016, at 11:21 AM, Darrin Landry <darrin@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Hasta La Victoria Siempre!
From: "Hector Mendez Caratini" <dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, September 08, 2016 12:17 PM
To: "optimal@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <optimal@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [optimal] La Habana, Cuba
Dear Ophthalmic Photographer Friends:
Here I am, taking a break from photographing patients at the clinics.
I am currently in Cuba, documenting the secretive African religious cults
brought down by the slaves, from Africa to the New World.
Next week, I travel to the sugar cane plantations in Matanzas.
All my love, from the Caribbean,
Hector
Sent from my iPhone
