The priest Alberto Reyes, a strong critic of the Castro regime, commented on his social media about how the influence of dictator Fidel Castro has continued after his death, making the lives of Cubans miserable.
Reyes reflected on Fidel's figure and how his enormous need for prominence led him to surround himself with loyal followers rather than collaborators. By failing to listen to them or engage in dialogue, he became blind to false flattery and was relentless towards anyone who tried to awaken him to the real world.
The parish priest of the Camagüey diocese accused Fidel's successors of pretending that nothing is happening, of lying, and of continually demanding more and more from a people they see suffering and struggling to survive while the country collapses.
Next, CiberCuba shares the full text of the publication.
"I've been thinking... (XCV) by Alberto Reyes Pías"
I have been reflecting on the essential liberation of the liberator.
Moses is one of the great figures of the Bible. One might think that his greatness lies in his role as the liberator of the Hebrew people from slavery in Egypt, but his true greatness is found in his unwavering faithfulness to God's plan. It was from that faithfulness that he was able to open himself to his own liberation: first, from his fears and insecurities; and second, by remaining a servant, preventing himself from seeing himself as the owner of his people, which would have turned him into their dictator.
A person who has not gone through a process of inner liberation cannot take on the role of a liberator, because their own shackles will turn others into hostages.
A psychologist friend of mine taught me the metaphor of the dog with its paw caught. The metaphor tells the story of a passerby who, upon approaching a dog, noticed how it growled aggressively. However, as he got closer, the passerby saw that the dog had its paw trapped in a trap. Its growls were an expression of its pain.
We all have a part of ourselves caught in a struggle, and sometimes, even more than one. We all carry wounds, insecurities, inner fractures; we each hold a measure of pain within us. However, the issue does not lie there, but rather in ignoring it, in denying it, in convincing ourselves that we don't need to heal anything, and thus believing we are in perfect condition to act as liberators for others.
And so, oblivious to our own demons, blind to our own wounds, we will only see in ourselves messengers of the light, and we will treat others as inferior beings, made to obey, to submit, to serve that so-called 'light.'
The more I reflect on Fidel Castro's life, the more sorrow I feel for him. Fidel was a deeply wounded man, with an enormous need for attention and prominence, which led him to turn inward, surrounding himself not with collaborators but with loyalists. Unable to listen or engage in dialogue, he became blind to the evident disasters, the gradual rejections, and the false flattery. He became relentless towards anyone who tried to awaken him to the real world.
However, what worries me the most is that his spell has outlasted him, and those who have now inherited the title of 'liberators' seem incapable of grasping reality. Controlling a people so tightly that they find it difficult to rebel is one thing; witnessing them suffer, endure, and survive as everything crumbles around them while pretending nothing is happening, shamelessly lying, making promises that have never come true and never will, and demanding more and more from a struggling population is quite another.
They are called liberators, yet they have not managed to free themselves. The shackles of their fears, failures, and frustrations rob them of the wisdom needed to liberate this people. That is why we must pray to God for all of them, so that they may awaken and find the courage to do what is right.
"And that's why we need to find ways to free ourselves from the chains, lest the 'liberators' think we are comfortable with them."
Frequently asked questions about Father Alberto Reyes's criticisms of the Cuban regime.
Why is Father Alberto Reyes critical of the Cuban regime?
Alberto Reyes criticizes the Cuban regime for the lack of freedoms and fundamental rights that the government imposes on its people. He points out repression, manipulation, and misery as consequences of a system that maintains control through fear and deception, preventing Cubans from living in an environment of freedom and prosperity.
What does Alberto Reyes propose to change the situation in Cuba?
Alberto Reyes advocates for a definitive change that relies not only on time but also on citizen action. He suggests fostering an atmosphere of honesty, expressing the truth, and refraining from participating in acts that support the regime. Furthermore, he champions justice and freedom as cornerstones for a better future in Cuba.
What is Alberto Reyes's position on Fidel Castro's legacy?
Reyes views Fidel Castro's legacy as negative, asserting that his need for prominence and control created an environment of false adulation and repression. He criticizes the ongoing influence of Castro, which continues to affect the reality in Cuba by perpetuating a regime unable to acknowledge and address the country's problems.
How does Alberto Reyes describe the current situation in Cuba?
Alberto Reyes describes the situation in Cuba as dire, with serious economic and social issues such as shortages of food and medicine. He emphasizes the despair of the people, who live under a regime that has lost the support of the populace and responds with repression to any signs of change.
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