Cubans in South Florida and the Conch Republic

CUBANS

We continue to experience the Cuban exile influence.  The trip to the salon for a pedicure provided an hour long talk about the lady's experience as a sixteen year old, coming as part of the Mariel Boat Lift in 1980, when Castro opened prisons and encouraged dissidents and other "undesirables" to leave Cuba.  Castro's agreement to the mass departure, estimated to be as many as 125,000 over a six month period, resulted from 10,000 Cubans trying to gain asylum by going to the Peruvian embassy.  Her personal background was interesting, with a Chinese mother and French father.  She later married a Cuban man of Lebanese origin.

The next experience occured at lunch in a small Cuban cafe in Key West.  You reached the restaurant, named Juan Loves Lucy,  by walking down a narrow corridor from the street.  Visible behind the open air cafe was a small hotel, originally the Custom House.

Cafe Juan Loves Lucy

Inn behind Juan Loves Lucy

Being the only customers, we began a conversation with Juan, who along with his wife Lucy, owns the cafe.  Lucy was in Cuba, visiting relatives but Juan says he never goes and he expressed a continuing hatred for Fidel Castro.  He showed us an album of his artwork, including the translation of his story of coming to America:


In 1994 we escaped in a raft.  Many of those who sailed that day were lost at sea.  The huge storm was right behind us.  We used our rain wraps as a sail.  It took us to a ship.  We all shouted thanks with joy.  We were saved.  I gave my Virgin my thanks.

Juan explained that their rescue just preceded Clinton's change to Cuban refugee policy, instituting the current "wet foot, dry foot rule."  As a result, he and his wife spent 8 months in Guantanamo while the US decided his fate.  In the end he was able to choose Virginia as his destination.  He did not want to go to Miami as he wished to learn English and develop useful American skills.  Because he sensed we were truly interested he gave me his card, with his blog address and encouraged me to read the entry called "Rebel," about the night of the revolution, a petrified six year old and his dog Rebel.

http://cubaenmi.blogspot.com/2012/06/rebelde.html

Juan Ego is a self taught artist.  Some of his art is on his blog at

https://plus.google.com/105984311971650590789/posts/Z1B3g2qPSvD?pid=6230786300014944818&oid=105984311971650590789&authkey=COm8h9jQtfSLmwE

Coincidentally, among the books I brought along was The Boys from Dolores, a story of the Castros and others who attended Dolores, the Jesuit school in Santiago, Cuba. Nonfiction but reading somewhat like fiction are the well researched stories of men who went to school together in the 40's and 50's, where they ended up and their views of Cuba's experience and the Castros.  The author visited Cuba many times and includes his observations.  The book was published in 2007 and included some of the following interesting facts/observations:

2.2 pounds of pork cost about 10 days' wages

Medical school is the first choice for advanced education among students and entry is based on grades, test scores and also on things such as who you know and membership in communist youth groups.  Despite this, doctors do not make as much as busboys

Operation Peter Pan was organized by the Catholic Church following closure of all Catholic schools replaced by state run schools with precisely proscribed curriculum.  The church arranged for over 14,000 mostly boys to travel to the US and live with foster families or relatives and continue their Catholic education.  Many never saw their parents again.

It is estimated that there are nearly one million Cuban exiles in the United States.


THE CONCH REPUBLIC

The Keys are a unique place where free spirits can find a home.  Over 100 years after the Civil War, during which Florida was part of the Confederacy, the Keys again found it necessary to proclaim their independence.  The impetus was an instance of clueless, governmental overreach.

On April 18, 1982, the United States Border Patrol established a roadblock on U.S. 1, just south of Florida City. The only access point by land from the Florida Keys to the mainland was closed, and people leaving the Keys were treated as though they were exiting a foreign country.

The U.S. Border Patrol claimed that the roadblock was established to stop “illegal” immigrants from entering the mainland United States from the Florida Keys. Every car leaving the Keys was checked thoroughly by the Border Patrol, including unlikely hiding places such as glove compartments and under seats.

The 17-mile traffic jams that accompanied the roadblock had an immediate negative impact on tourism in the Florida Keys. Reservations were canceled, hotels stood empty, and local attractions had no customers.

Community leaders from Key West filed an injunction against the U.S. Border Patrol roadblock in Federal Court in Miami. The court ruled that the roadblock could continue.

As Key West Mayor Dennis Wardlow left the courthouse, he was greeted by press from around the world. When asked what would happen next, the mayor said, “Tomorrow at noon, the Florida Keys will secede from the Union!”

The press — and federal agents — flooded Key West the next day. As promised, at noon on April 23, 1982, Mayor Wardlow read a Proclamation of Secession, declaring that Key West would be a sovereign nation known as the Conch Republic.

Having changed his title from Mayor of Key West to Prime Minister of the Conch Republic, Wardlow followed his mock secession with a declaration of war on the United States. The “war” started and ended with loaves of stale Cuban bread being broken over the head of a man dressed in a U.S. Navy uniform.

After one minute of rebellion, Prime Minister Wardlow surrendered to Union forces at the Navy base in Key West. He immediately demanded $1 billion in foreign aid and war relief “to rebuild our nation after the long federal siege.”

With their highly publicized mock secession and fake war against the United States, the residents of Key West successfully used humor to bring attention to a serious issue affecting the local economy.

Following widespread reports of the establishment of the Conch Republic, the U.S. Border Patrol roadblock was quickly and unceremoniously removed.

Today, the Conch Republic continues to issue its own passport. The republic has its own flag with the motto “We Seceded Where Others Failed.” In April each year, Key West residents and visitors celebrate the independence of the Conch Republic.

The 32nd Anniversary Conch Republic Independence Celebration includes a raising of the official Conch Republic flag, a parade, a Drag Race on Duval Street (high heels, not cars), and numerous other excuses to party through the end of the month.

The Flag of the Conch Republic

Key West Florida | Conch Republic Independence Celebration – Each year Key West locals celebrate Conch Republic Independence Day. The U.S. Coast Guard and Conchs re-enact the battle with water cannon fights in the harbor. The Conch Republic Air Force drops rolls of toilet paper on defending Coast Guard boats.