Pastors for Peace passes through McAllen en route to deliver aid to Cuba

McALLEN — After a 10-year wait, Jorge Aros of Sonora, Ky., joined the Pastors for Peace Caravan that will challenge the U.S. blockade of Cuba by taking humanitarian aid to the island.

The United States has had an embargo against the island nation since 1962 for human rights violations. Aros has wanted to join the caravan but could not; as a civilian photographer at Fort Knox, he could lose his security clearance and his job.

“So when I retired, I was free to go” Aros said.

Now he can join the caravan and visit the country that was so influential to the musical idols of his childhood.

“As a child just to watch I Love Lucy, Desi Arnaz, Tito Puente, Xavier Cugat,” Aros said.

But he not only admires the Cuban culture; he believes the blockade is illegal and immoral.

“The Cold War is over. It would be better for the United States to have a market in Cuba; it would be better for the Cuban people,” he said. “Cubans also (have) things that are good for the U.S., like the Latin American School of Medicine that provides doctors.”

Aros is among 85 people who plan to cross into Mexico today and then travel from Reynosa to the port of Tampico, where they will ship nine buses, a car and 100 tons of humanitarian aid for the Cuban people. The aid has been collected throughout the year in all 50 states. This year’s caravan, the 21st such trek, is dedicated to the children of Cuba.

The caravanistas believe Cuba deserves a second chance and that the blockade should be lifted.

This time the caravan is more at risk while traveling within Mexico due to drug-related violence there. Nevertheless, the caravanistas expect Mexican authorities’ cooperation while traveling on the nation’s roads.

“We are getting support from the Mexican authorities,” said Thomas Smith, chairman of the board of directors of the Interreligious Foundation for Community Organization, the ecumenical agency that oversees the Pastors for Peace ministry.

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Martha L. Hernández covers Mission, western Hidalgo County and general assignments for The Monitor. You can reach her at (956) 683-4846.