They say ignorance is bliss. And when it comes to Cuba no other statement holds more weight than this one. Everyone is so excited about Obama's proposal of free trade and travel to and from Cuba. But what are we really excited about? As a photographer a certain part of me wants to go to Cuba to capture its natural beauty pressed tightly against the destruction of a failed revolution. All those pictures we see of Cuba are so cool -- so different. Kids playing baseball on the street in the rain, old men playing dominoes on street corners, Hemingway's "La Bodeguita del Medio ," the tobacco factories, the sugar cane fields, the mountains and beautiful beaches. It is as if its people, buildings and cars are stuck in a time capsule - and perhaps a little part of me longs for this. No doubt "there is beauty in simplicity." And I believe Cuba clinches on to that beauty. Amidst it's lack of freedom, and it's evident destruction - there is a certain "charm" that only that island holds. It is captivating and it grips on to you and doesn't let go. It is so easy to get wrapped up in emotions as we ponder about walking on soil that should have been our birth place, swimming in oceans we should have called our beaches, walking on cobblestone streets we should have called our downtown. But we should be focusing on what really matters - the people of Cuba. Yes let us travel to Cuba - but while we capture photos of its beauty let's think about ways to fight for the freedom that was stripped from our grandfathers, our fathers and to some extent us. Let us fight for and help to set up a system that will return basic human rights to its people. Let's not forget Cuba's history of oppression, abuse and murder. Because if we forget it will happen again and all this hype about Cuba will be no different than a well orchestrated infomercial. Once the hype is over, and all have visited the "once prohibited island" the charm will fade and it will be forgotten but the product will remain the same - helpless. Until then I will hold on to my dream of once again visiting the island my ancestors called home and will patiently await my time to capture images of Cuba. #iwokeupnostalgictoday #tellyourstory #freedomforcuba #dontneedawalmart
