Manuel David Orrio, CPI
HAVANA, June - My first encounter with The Monster happened about a year
ago. During a visit to a family who live west of Havana, the opportunity arose
to buy it for 400 dollars.
Abandoned in a room, covered with dust, and showing scars produced by the
abuse of former masters, The Monster and I -one would say- looked at each other
as enemy powers. The contraption had grown unaccustomed to being treated with
the enlightened despotism that characterizes intelligent owners. From the
beginning, it seemed to warn me it would offer resistance.
Yet, its intense aura of negative energy could not hide its wish to roll
free again. For me, it represented a challenge; to go from being a handicapped
cyclist to being... a motorcyclist. One of the very few in the country.
It was also like clearing one of the obstacles imposed on independent
journalists. For let it be said, once and for all, The Monster is a
small-displacement motorcycle whose purchase bears witness to the impossibility
of buying a motor vehicle for the island's handicapped, even if they have the
money. It's unconstitutional, plain and simple.
In spite of obvious vices, I saw in The Monster some essential virtues that
would prevent confiscation by the political police: a valid title and
displacement under 50 cc., which earns it an official classification as a
motorized bicycle, even as it emulates a Harley Davidson in speed and drive.
The temptation was great and I ended up accepting the challenge, with a
little help from my friends, in and out of Cuba. From Miami, California, and
Europe, several parties, commited to the cause of freedom of expression for all
Cubans, sent 550 dollars to acquire, repair and adapt to my handicap the still
untamed Monster.
Of the orginal 550 dollars, 510 have been invested. The Monster, snorting
and aggressive, still without paint and lights, roams the streets of Havana,
attracting comments from motorcyclists who wonder at the sheath for my cane,
like that for the Winchester hanging from the saddle in the Far West.
In ten days I've received 12 offers for it. Ten years of pedalling against
the wind in Havana would not let me think of accepting them.
There is a culture of resistance and an economy of resistance to
post-totalitarism. That economy is capable of producing the parts needed by The
Monster. The brake linings came out of the hands of Fonseca. He is known to
Havana's motorcycle enthusiasts; some say his parts are better than those
produced by multinational conglomerates.
Profit is not the only motivator in the economy of resistance. Julio César
and Emilio, mechanics of brilliant resourcefullness, did not accept payment when
they learned I'm an independent journalist. "For people like you, we put
the knives down."
The Monster and I are beginning to reach an understanding. The day is long
past in which we seemed to be eyeing each other as foreign enemy powers. Love
given, love returned. Especially with the Havana wind in our face, blowing free.
\Versión
original en español
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