The Cuban priest Alberto Reyes launched a harsh criticism this Saturday against the official commemoration of July 26, stating that the date, presented as a revolutionary symbol, actually represents "the expression of the purest cynicism."
In an extensive text published on his Facebook profile, the priest reflected on how, over time, history "repositions everything" and reveals the truth behind triumphalist speeches.
For Reyes, the attack on the Moncada barracks in 1953 was nothing more than "a large-scale theatrical performance" that served to elevate Fidel Castro, at the expense of the sacrifice of “honest young individuals, but naively idealistic,” sent to a planned suicide.
"This is cynicism," wrote the priest in a clear and direct message aimed at one of the banners of the so-called Cuban Revolution.
"To take advantage of the idealistic souls of the youth, to plan an impossible endeavor with them, to launch them into a heroic death that could simultaneously exalt the leader and ensure his survival, and then, to shamelessly lie, creating a story that no one has ever truly believed," Reyes masterfully summarized.
The priest, one of the most critical voices within the Cuban Catholic Church, also questioned the official narrative that has glorified this date for decades as an act of collective heroism, when in reality – he stated – it has marked the beginning of a long history of repression, misery, and manipulation.
"Throughout those same years," he wrote, "the deterioration of the material and the human, repression and lack of freedom, the unstoppable emigration, and disillusionment spread over this town like an unstoppable stain of oil," he emphasized.
In the opinion of the Cuban priest, the most concerning aspect is that this manipulative logic has been sustained for decades, to the point of turning the date into an annual cycle of grandiloquent speeches “that attempt to defend the indefensible and seek to make this people fall in love with a deceased ideal.”
Slogans such as "resist and overcome," "do more with less," or "trust in the bright future of socialism" — adds Reyes — have been repeated ad nauseam to justify the constant sacrifice of entire generations, just as it happened with those young people "hypnotized by an impossible ideal" who were thrown into failure in 1953.
Reyes concluded his reflection with a bitter yet realistic view of the country's present: a people who, like in 1953, are weary, but who are no longer naive, even though they continue to be treated as if they were.
“We are afraid, we find it difficult to organize ourselves, but our eyes have been opened,” he concluded his reflection.
Frequently asked questions about the Cuban priest Alberto Reyes' criticisms of the Cuban regime
Why does Father Alberto Reyes criticize the commemoration of July 26 in Cuba?
Priest Alberto Reyes regards the commemoration of July 26 as "the expression of the purest cynicism." According to him, the date is used to glorify an act that was, in fact, a "planned suicide" to elevate Fidel Castro, sacrificing idealistic youth. He also criticizes that this date marked the beginning of a long history of repression and misery in Cuba.
What has Alberto Reyes pointed out about the promises of the Cuban regime?
Alberto Reyes criticizes that the Cuban regime relies on empty promises and false hopes. He asserts that since the days of Sierra Maestra, the government has kept the people subdued with promises of improvements that are never fulfilled, using "control through hope" to prevent citizens from taking control of their destiny.
How does Alberto Reyes describe the current situation in Cuba?
Alberto Reyes compares the current situation in Cuba to a concentration camp. He denounces the lack of freedoms, political repression, and the precariousness of citizens' lives. Additionally, he points out that the most terrible aspect is the absence of hope and the feeling that the system is unmovable.
What message does Alberto Reyes convey about the change in Cuba?
Alberto Reyes claims that change in Cuba will not come from passive attitudes. He calls on the Cuban people to take action, to stop being spectators, and to make decisions to achieve social change. He emphasizes that freedom and justice will not be attained without the effort and will of the citizens.
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