Food, Travels, and Everything in Between: Las Mariposas (The Butterflies)

Food, Travels, and Everything in Between: Las Mariposas (The Butterflies): Again I find myself reading one of my all time favorite books, In Time of The Butterflies" by Julia Alvarez. This is the story of the four M...

Las Mariposas (The Butterflies)

Again I find myself reading one of my all time favorite books, In Time of The Butterflies" by Julia Alvarez.

This is the story of the four Mirabal sisters during the dictatorship of Rafael Trujillo in the Dominican Republic (yes my homeland). The sister make a conscious decision to become part of the underground movement and overthrow the Trujillo regime, and the book presents the perspective of each sister, including that of Dede, the only surviving sister.

When I was a child (7yrs - 9yrs) I had the honor of meeting Dede during our customary school field trip to the Mirabal Sister's house; back then I was not interested in what she had to say, all I care along with my classmates was the "day-off" we got from the nuns at school, in retrospect, I wish I told her how proud I was of not only been a woman, but a Cibaeña woman at that (the region where they are from in D.R.) I want to thank her for her and her family sacrifice to our country. And also tell her how thankful I am for sharing the story of "Las Mariposas" as they became to be known during the underground movement to overthrow "El Jefe" whom had the killed on a side road buy sugar cane fields when returning from their monthly visits to their incarcerated husbands.

I do recommend you read/buy/devour this book, or rent "Code name: Butterflies" a documentary by Chilean filmmaker Cecilia Domeyko, which I believe is the only one (if not so the best one) that details the true events and lives of the Mirabal Sisters, including interviews with Dede Mirabal. Both will give a new light as to how you think of that beautiful island known for its beaches, music, and laughter.

If you want something a little more mainstream, go ahead and rent out Tropico De Sangre (with English subtitles) is more of a indie film, but non the least it captures the true story of the sister, in a more traditional film setting, it was co-produced by actress Michelle Rodriguez. Dede participated in the developing of the film as well.

The Butterflies death angered everyone, that the underground movement member who had not dared to act with violence before decided to move ahead and ambushed  El Jefe and assassinate him while his driver and him where en route to an outlying part of the city. 

Patria,  Maria Teresa, Minerva

Recent picture of Dede Mirabal 

The UN General Assembly designated November 25th  as the"International Day of Non-Violence Against Women". Did you know this day was chosen in commemoration of the the sisters because this is the anniversary of their assassination?