See update below.
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.
No. 8 — Jordan Allott.
If the Jews have their "righteous gentiles" who do a great service to the Jewish people, then we Cubans have our "righteous gringos," who although not Cuban, use their skills and interests to help the cause of Cuban freedom with a passion no less fervent than those of us with family roots on the island.
The Anglo-American filmmaker Jordan Allott has done just that with his documentary, "Oscar's Cuba," in which he tells the story of Dr. Oscar Elias Biscet, the island's best known political prisoner, and other Cubans on the front lines of the struggle for liberty.
The film, which deserves as wide a distribution and viewing as possible, is a poignant, sometimes maddening testament to Biscet and other courageous Cubans, and the reality of life in Cuba today.
And ironically, that the filmmaker is not Cuban, makes its message that much more powerful, that much more convincing, that much more righteous.
UPDATED, Dec. 22, 2010 — Pedazos de Cuba has published an outstanding interview with Allott.
Jordan Allot at screening of "Oscar's Cuba" at the University of South Florida in Tampa, Nov. 4, 2010.
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No. 7 — Cuban bloggers.
Like all tyrants, the Castro dictatorship held onto power for almost half a century by controlling the flow of news and information, shaping what and how it was delivered in whatever manner it took to keep the Cuban population in check, and its lies to the world intact.
The Internet has changed all of that.
The censors do what they can to restrict access. But the egalitarian quality of the 'Net has allowed Cubans with a little bit of ingenuity and a lot of guile and guts to take to the ether to break the dictatorship's information blockade.
Almost every week, a new blog is launched, with authors of different approaches and writing styles reporting on the reality of Cuban life, sharing their inner hopes and dreams and frustrations, criticizing the Castro regime — whatever they want!
The challenges — technological, political and otherwise — can be daunting but with the help of supporters overseas, and of each other, the blogueros have built a real community and shown what is possible with just a little bit of courage.
Yoani Sanchez, who has repeatedly been honored internationally for her blogging, is the godmother of Cuban bloggers, inspiring and sharing with her colleagues tips and strategies on how to use their blogs, Facebook, Twitter, etc. to get their messages out, and to tweak the dictatorship.
But Sanchez is not the only one deserving of attention. My favorites include Claudia Cadelo, Iván García and Luis Felipe Rojas.
Each has done their part to ensure that what the world knows about Cuba is not limited to what the Castros want the world to know.
You will only embolden them if you take the time to read them.
Graduates of Yoani Sanchez's Blogger Academy.
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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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