The officialist journalist and friend of the not-first lady of Cuba, Lis Cuesta Peraza, stated that the latest songs by Silvio Rodríguez are "obsolete, musically and poetically."
This was expressed by the confidant of the wife of the Cuban ruler, Miguel Díaz-Canel, the journalist and LGBTQ+ activist, Francisco Rodríguez Cruz, better known on social media as Paquito de Cuba.
His statement appeared published in a comment on a social media post by the former counterintelligence agent and retired journalist, Manuel David Orrio del Rosario, one of the informants of the Cuban regime who revealed the activities of independent journalists and opposition members arrested and convicted during the so-called Black Spring.
The "agent Miguel", who shares photos of naked women and other similar complaints on his Facebook, posted a quote from the singer-songwriter in 2022 on Friday, in which he expressed his doubts about the direction the so-called "Cuban revolution" was taking.
"I find it a very serious contradiction that political organizations insist on being so obsolete, so out of touch with the rebellious, iconoclastic spirit that characterizes the youth of all times. (...) I am concerned that the revolution (or whatever uses its name) ends up being counterrevolutionary and that what opposes it seems or ends up being revolutionary," said the troubadour in response to the dismissal of the director of the university magazine Alma Mater.
The incident, which took place at the end of April 2022, sparked criticism in both the official and independent press sectors on the island. Silvio, a renowned supporter of the Cuban regime, denounced what happened in a comment on a post on his blog, Second Date.
What I find worrying is that, instead of opening up, the leadership continues to show signs of closed-mindedness. I even find it extremely serious, at this point," the singer-songwriter also said in his comment, but the phrase did not appear published on the Facebook of the former agent Orrio del Rosario.
In the crosshairs of dogmatic sectors of the Cuban totalitarian regime, the intention of "agent Miguel" in partially resuming Silvio's phrase is unknown. Unusually critical in recent times, the author of "The Fool" has expressed his disillusionment with the so-called "revolutionary process" and has echoed the unparalleled crisis that the country is going through.
With strong statements for his usual narrative of the Cuban reality, Silvio may be being used by sectors of the regime (such as officials of the Counterintelligence) to send a message to the occupants of the Palace. Or perhaps, the intention of Orrio del Rosario was nothing more than to focus on the "soft" behavior of the singer-songwriter, and on his ease in criticizing when the regime is at a low point.
In any case, the comment by Silvio posted on the Facebook wall of "Agent Miguel" was replied to by Rodríguez Cruz, who expressed that "the songs on his latest album are equally outdated, musically and poetically."
“Said of a poet who can give poetry lessons to Silvio,” one of the many who responded to Paquito de Cuba ironically said, reproaching him for his submission to power and his limited talent for musical criticism.
"It's clear that Raulito Torres is your thing"; "Paco plays with the chain but not with the monkey. And even more now that he doesn't have to take the bus to go to work"; "Someone who has nothing to teach Silvio, nothing. Shameful!"; "You are the real opportunist," several internet users told Rodríguez Cruz.
Here the only thing that is outdated is a gay defending the system that at one point sent them to forced labor, closed ranks on their organizations, and repudiated them within society. I don't believe there is anyone more homophobic than a communist, who the first thing they do is call anyone they want to offend 'fag,' as if that were the worst offense in the world," another user added.
"I love how you 'revolutionaries' throw each other under the bus for convenience," noted the independent journalist José Luis Tan Estrada in the comments.
An anecdote of Emile Zola when he defended Dreyfus. In court, a French officer told him barbarities. Zola replied, "We will see who History remembers, whether me or you," responded "Agent Miguel" to Rodriguez Cruz, with squid ink.
A fervent defender of the Cuban totalitarian regime, blogger, and journalist for Trabajadores, Rodríguez Cruz describes himself on his social media as "Journalist and gay activist, father and communist militant, conflictive and happy." On multiple occasions, he has been seen socializing with Díaz-Canel and his wife, who consider him, or at least refer to him as, a "friend."
“Introducing another #DictatorOfMyHeart: my Paqui. #YouBotherMyHumor #CubaForPeace,” Cuesta tweeted in July 2022, accompanying his post with a photograph of the officialist journalist.
Rodríguez Cruz's words leave in the air the question of whether they sprouted spontaneously or if he was the messenger of a message from the "higher-ups" to the troubadour to soften his critical voice in these "difficult times."
"Not even an eternal apologist of the dictatorship like Silvio Rodríguez is safe from the vitriolic attack of a talentless guataca like @Paquitodecuba. It seems that @liscuestacuba has not liked the recent critical comments of the troubadour, and sent his dog to bark," concluded the user from X identified as Liborio.
What do you think?
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