The Cuban influencer Flor Danay Hernández Ochoa, known on social media as Flor de Cuba, is generating significant controversy after launching a harsh critique in a video against university students on the island. She strongly criticized them for betting on education in a country where "studies are worthless" and "knowledge does not convert into dollars."
The video is from four months ago, but Flor de Cuba found it "timely" to share it again this Wednesday, when young people are fighting from Cuban universities for ETECSA to revoke its recent measures, which limit recharges in national currency and thereby restrict internet access for millions of people in the country.
This content creator is well known for promoting shipping to Cuba and has often faced criticism from the exile community for alleged ties to the regime.
The Cuban has been accused by Alexander Otaola of being a supposed agent of State Security, being involved in pimping, money laundering, and having hidden political interests since she arrived in the United States. These allegations have even led her to take legal action against the well-known Cuban communicator.
Flor de Cuba in their recent video expresses disdain towards those who, despite the limitations on the island, strive for academic achievement as a means of personal and social development. They tell them that they have been deceived by the government and invite them to stop fighting for change in the country.
"You are a university student because the government convinced your mother and your grandparents to create workers and cheap labor to pay them 10 dollars a month and make them believe that this was being someone in life," it says in the audiovisual.
He clarified that this video was published in response to criticism about his low educational level, but he asserts that it is the Cuban university students, both graduates and those about to graduate, who "should feel ashamed for having bought into the idea of studying for four or five years only to end up working selling pizza at a bus stop."
At no point does she direct her criticism at the government's management. She boasts that she achieved economic success without completing her pre-university education and promotes in her speech the abandonment of the academic path in favor of seeking immediate income in Cuba.
He advises Cuban university students to stop working so hard every day and instead suggests: "Start making money, embark on ventures, resell, learn English, invest in your mind... but stop giving the best years of your life and your mind to a country that doesn't appreciate it."
Her words have been interpreted as a direct attack on university students and a demand that they generate profits for their families, because according to her: “When you die, the piece of paper that is your degree will stay here, and you won’t take with you the experiences you didn’t live, by working for a system that pays you 2,500 pesos a month.”
These strong statements come at a sensitive time for the university sector. Recently, students and professors have publicly protested against the new ETECSA fees, which exclude a significant portion of the academic sector from access to the internet, an essential tool for development.
Young people maintain their demands to ETECSA despite the fact that they do not have support from the university administrations since educational institutions align with the interests of the regime. Nevertheless, students insist on the need for a fair rate and the recognition of access to connectivity as a right for all of Cuban society.
In a context where many young people could see their careers cut short or face government retaliation for speaking out, the words of Flor de Cuba come across as particularly insensitive, offensive, and disconnected from reality.
Beyond the differences of opinion regarding the paths to personal success, it is concerning that highly visible public figures issue messages that trivialize education, discourage critical thinking, and promote individual shortcuts to the detriment of collective development and, most importantly, the professional growth of individuals.
The speech of Flor not only trivializes the sacrifices of thousands of Cuban families who are committed to the education of their children amidst an unprecedented crisis, but it also renders invisible the risks that many young people face in Cuba for exercising their right to express their opinions, to organize, and to demand social justice from the universities.
Frequently asked questions about the controversy surrounding Flor de Cuba and its critical stance on education in Cuba
Why does Flor de Cuba criticize Cuban university students?
Flor de Cuba criticizes Cuban university students for believing that studying in Cuba is not economically beneficial, as graduates end up taking poorly paid jobs. Furthermore, it promotes the idea of seeking immediate income and entrepreneurship instead of pursuing an academic path.
What is Flor de Cuba's stance on education and personal success?
Flor de Cuba defends a mercantilist stance in which immediate economic success is prioritized over formal education. It believes that studying in Cuba does not translate into economic benefits and advises young people to engage in entrepreneurship and learn practical skills that will generate money right away.
How have university students responded to the statements from Flor de Cuba?
Flor de Cuba's statements have been seen as insensitive and offensive, especially in a context where students and teachers are protesting against ETECSA's restrictions that limit internet access. Many young people advocate for education as a tool for transformation and criticize Flor's discourse for trivializing the sacrifices of Cuban families.
What impact does the discourse of Flor de Cuba have on Cuban society?
The speech from Flor de Cuba can deter critical thinking and the value of education, promoting individual shortcuts at the expense of collective development. Its message may lead young people to prioritize quick economic success over professional and personal growth through education.
Filed under: