Eduardo Gamarra Americas Insights

The Mariel Boatlift: Reflections on Humanity, Resilience, and the Unfolding American Story Eduardo A. Gamarra   In the spring of 1980, as part of the collective effort at Ft. Chaffee, Arkansas, I had the unique opportunity to contribute to the resettlement of 25,000 of the 125,000 Cuban refugees who arrived during the Mariel boatlift. This experience, while decades past, continues to shape my perspectives on immigration, resilience, and the fabric of American society.   The refugees, derogatorily termed "Marielitos," carried with them not just their few physical belongings but the heavy stigma of persecution and denigration. In Cuba, they were labeled gusanos (worms) or escoria (scum), a cruel attempt to strip them of their dignity even before they set foot on foreign soil. This stigmatization did not end with their departure from Cuba; upon their arrival in the United States, they were met with suspicion and hostility. The narrative was tainted by the fact that a minor segme

Would a Trump Victory in November 2024 please Latin American 21 st  Century Socialists? Eduardo A. Gamarra   The geopolitical chessboard is often set with pieces that do not move in predictable directions, creating paradoxes that, at first glance, appear almost unfathomable. Among these, the relationship between Vladimir Putin, a constellation of Latin American socialist states, and the political dynamics within the United States presents a particularly compelling study in contradictions and ironies. Vladimir Putin has indeed fostered relationships with countries in Latin America such as Bolivia, Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Cuba. These nations, which align themselves with the ideology of 21st Century Socialism, have found in Russia a powerful ally willing to extend economic, military, and diplomatic support. This alliance is not merely a reflection of shared ideological underpinnings but a strategic counterbalance to U.S. influence in the Western Hemisphere. On the other side of this geo