The year almost over saw many pivotal events in and related to Cuba, and people who shaped them, from the death of Orlando Zapata Tamayo to the release of many — but far from all — of his fellow political prisoners.
Here is my attempt to recognize those Cubans who made a difference in 2010.
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2. Guillermo Fariñas.
Even before he almost died this year during a lengthy hunger strike, independent journalist Guillermo Fariñas had established himself as a giant of the Cuban opposition. His latest protest not only reinforced that assessment, but it also helped force a response from the Castro dictatorship: An agreement to release 52 prisoners of conscience held since the "black spring" of 2003.
The thing I will remember about Fariñas' protest is that he never asked anything for himself, exhibiting a self-sacrifice essential to a successful struggle for freedom on the island. He again demonstrated that last week when he was awarded the European Parliament's top human rights prize. (His acceptance speech, delivered via videotape because the Castro regime denied him permission to travel to France to accept, is one of the more important writings to emerge from Cuba this year.)
Fortunately, Fariñas survived his hunger strike to lead another day.
Guillermo Fariñas (Reuters photo)
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Read about others on the list, here.
Stay tuned for the rest of the list in coming days. I welcome your ideas on who should — or shouldn't — be on the list. Leave the comments here, on Twitter @marcmasferrer or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/UncommonSenseCuba.
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