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The Cuban priest Alberto Reyes Pías, recognized for his deep and sharp criticisms of the Castro regime, dedicated a reflection to answer a question that many people inside and outside the Island have: "Why do Cubans endure so much?".
Reyes stated that over these 66 years, the Cuban people have endured a slow process of dismantling the role of civil society, which began with the fervent admiration for Fidel Castro. Taking advantage of this hypnotic devotion, he gradually dismantled the mechanisms for public participation.
The parish priest of Camagüey noted that the regime has led the population to believe that politics is a matter for those in power, and that the people have no involvement in the decisions that shape the country's construction.
He emphasized that when people have rebelled, the government's response has been violence and repression.
Below, CiberCuba shares the full text of the publication.
I have been thinking… (102)
I have been thinking about the reason for our endurance
Many people wonder, "Why do Cubans endure so much?" and "Why don't they take to the streets to demand their freedom?"
It's not that simple. Our present carries with it 66 years of a slow and systematic process of undermining the role of civil society.
What was Cuban society like before '59? It was a society that was aware of its right to intervene in the direction of the country.
For example, the University Student Federation of that time was capable of protesting against what it considered unjust and felt entitled to stand up for the rights of students. Unions were clear about their role in defending workers from abuses and injustices. Society had accepted that the right to free and direct voting to choose its leaders was fundamental, which is why, when Batista staged a coup, civil society rose against him. It was a society that viewed organizing opposition parties, declaring a strike, or peacefully demonstrating as inherent rights to protest against the excesses of power.
We cannot forget that what we now call the 'revolutionary process' began with this people's fanatical admiration for Fidel Castro, who managed to sell an image of a messianic liberator and hypnotized not only this nation but many beyond our borders.
And taking advantage of that hypnosis, he and his group gradually and systematically dismantled the mechanisms that give life to the social prominence of the people, those same mechanisms that Fidel used in his struggle and that he praised so much, even while he was undoing what was left.
Thus, everything was emptied of real meaning, leaving only hollow names at the service of control over society.
And what do we have today? The FEU is the one keeping the students in check, unions no longer defend the workers, elections are a theatrical farce where the people vote but do not choose, the opposition is prohibited by the Constitution, strikes are a punishable offense, and we already know how peaceful protests end.
Why have we come to accept all of this as if it were 'normal'? Because little by little they took away the spirit that makes a people rise up and take control of their history: they made us believe that 'politics,' that is, the intervention in the course of society, does not belong to the people but to those who govern. They led us to believe that the people have no role in the decisions that shape the construction of the country. They made us accustomed to not seeing ourselves as protagonists in political and social life.
And in the moments when we have tried to assert ourselves as the protagonists of our own story, the response has been violence, repression, or the militarization of the streets.
It is time for us to resume the journey, it is time for us to regain the awareness of our right to intervene in the present and future of our country, and if those who have excluded us from that right are unable to embrace the changes of the times, it will be our duty to raise our voice in every possible way, it will be up to us to discover, despite the costs, that achieving freedom is possible."
Frequently Asked Questions about Father Alberto Reyes' Critiques of the Cuban Regime
Why do Cubans endure for so long under the current regime?
The priest Alberto Reyes explains that the Cuban people have endured for so long due to a systematic process of dismantling the agency of civil society. Since the beginning of the Castro regime, the population's ability to engage in the country's politics has been dismantled, promoting the idea that politics only concerns those in power. This, along with the violent repression against those who attempt to protest, has kept the people in a state of submission.
What does Alberto Reyes suggest for the Cuban people to regain their protagonism?
Reyes suggests that the Cuban people must reclaim their awareness of their right to intervene in the present and future of the country. He urges citizens to raise their voices in every possible way, despite the risks, and to fight to regain the freedoms and rights that have been taken from them. He emphasizes the importance of not accepting manipulation and of acting with honesty and justice.
How does Alberto Reyes describe the impact of Fidel Castro's legacy on the Cuban people?
Alberto Reyes describes that the legacy of Fidel Castro has been negative, characterized by repression and manipulation, which has kept the Cuban people under tight control. Castro created an environment of false adulation and repression, and his influence persists in a regime that continues to ignore the real problems of the country, keeping the people in precarious conditions.
What is the current situation of human rights in Cuba, according to Alberto Reyes?
According to Alberto Reyes, human rights in Cuba are severely restricted, with a lack of fundamental freedoms such as freedom of expression, association, and assembly. He criticizes that the Cuban government uses repression and fear to control the population, and that the situation is characterized by manipulation and institutionalized lies, which hinder the free and fair development of society.
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