Cisneros

Opinions

Nov. 30, I received one of the saddest pieces of news a person can get—the passing of a friend.

I will always remember George Herbert Walker Bush with joy, but, above all, with great admiration. I found in him not only a friend, but a partner who shared my dreams and visions regarding the need to create initiatives to strengthen and expand development in the region. He also believed in offering an education that would turn each young person into an agent of change, as well as in promoting prosperous—and propitious—environments for individual and collective development.

He was a statesman who, from my perspective, was one of the best presidents in the history of the United States, one who should be forever remembered for his ongoing search to improve living conditions in the region—not to mention what he did to support awareness of Latin America’s contributions to global culture.

He was a model citizen and an irreplaceable friend who broke the mold. People like him are only born once, and he will be sorely missed.

 

Opinions

It fills me with happiness and pride to share with you that on April 21, at the VII International Conference on Transatlantic Studies held at Brown University, Cisneros: A Family History 1570-2015 was launched. It is a book inspired by my father and it crystallizes one of his biggest desires: to unearth the family history for posterity.

The text is a first edition originally created as a personal archive, but on October 15, we will be launching the publication at the Royal Academy of History in Madrid, Spain, in a format designed for a much wider audience.

While researching and journeying through the past to create Cisneros: A Family History 1570-2015, I have realized that our family DNA is made up of defining elements from modernity, such as predicting changes, innovating to bring them about and the resilience needed to live them and lead them. These are characteristics I see every day in my children and grandchildren and they remind me that this publishing venture which started as a tribute to my father’s memory is also a legacy for them and a project to continue enriching for years to come.

The book was written by José Ángel Rodríguez, with a prolog by Carmen Iglesias and an epilogue by Professor Julio Ortega. It is thanks to them it has been possible to compile our roots and give my family this beautiful gift.

I have also included an introduction I wrote in which I explain why this dream was important to me and why I would love to share it with you. I hope you enjoy it…