They say that there is no worse blind person than the one who does not want to see, and this perfectly applies to the official journalist Pedro Jorge Velázquez, known as "El Necio." So fervent in his convictions, he seems to have chosen voluntary blindness as his primary weapon, refusing to acknowledge, or simply unwilling to see, that Sandro Castro is neither an isolated case nor an anomaly within the "revolutionary" power structure. On the contrary, he is the perfect example of how the leaders of the revolution, along with their families, have lived from the very beginning: enjoying the luxuries they condemn while criticizing the lifestyle they themselves practice.
The true values of double standards and disdain for the people, exemplified by Fidel Castro, are more alive today than ever in his family and the regime's leaders.
Since the days when the mansions of the bourgeoisie were seized by the "leaders of the people," like Che, the revolutionary ideal for "El Necio," who moved into an expropriated mansion in Tarará in 1959, to the recent parties and vacations aboard yachts and private jets, the regime's leaders have shown themselves to be masters of the double standard. While "El Necio" builds his shack with the sweat of his brow, the Castros and their associates live a life beyond the reach of the vast majority of Cubans.
One thing is clear: those who criticize Sandro are not critiquing capitalism, nor are they bothered by the presence of the bourgeoisie and wealthy in Miami. What bothers them is that those who brought misery to the people of Cuba, in order to create the "revolution of the humble and for the humble," now live like the wealthy they stripped of their businesses and property, while "the poor" today live worse than ever.
The case of Sandro Castro is perhaps the most striking, with his Mercedes and his EFE bar, but the others lead equally comfortable lives, akin to the wealthy. Mariela Castro, daughter of Raúl and niece of Fidel, is well-known for her lavish parties and lifestyle. She rents a mansion in Miramar, just like her daughter Vilma (Casa Vida Luxury Holidays), who also owns a small business in Havana. Antonio Castro, son of Fidel, enjoys luxurious vacations in the Greek islands. Manuel Marrero's children travel on private jets, and Díaz-Canel's stepson indulges in shopping and romance in Madrid, embodying a true Hollywood style. Not to mention our "first lady" Lis Cuesta and her gourmet tourism festivals. These are just a few examples of the lifestyle led by the regime's leaders and their families.
What "El Necio" refers to as "vain bourgeoisie" is, in fact, the norm within the circles of Cuban power. This is not a case of "rotten apples." The regime’s elite has shown time and again that their rhetoric is merely for the masses, while they indulge in everything they criticize. Sandro Castro, with his surname, is the most visible among a long list of beneficiaries of the regime, but he is certainly not the only one. The underlying values of double standards and contempt for the people, which Fidel Castro embodied, live on today more than ever in his family and among the regime's leaders.
"The Fool" should wake up, because his blindness only benefits those who secretly despise him. While he glorifies a system that turns its back on him, its leaders live like kings. As they mock his loyalty, they take advantage of his blind faith and offer him crumbs wrapped in a false revolution discourse.
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Opinion Article: The statements and opinions expressed in this article are solely the responsibility of the author and do not necessarily represent the viewpoint of CiberCuba.