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The first secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) in the Plaza de la Revolución municipality, Roilán Rodríguez Barbán, received the recognition “Libertador Tobacco” from Yusuam Palacios Ortega, president of the José Martí Cultural Society in Havana, during an event held on August 6th.
Rodríguez Barbán shared the news on his social media, where he expressed that the recognition took him by surprise and thanked Palacios with the Martian phrase: “All the glory of the world fits in a grain of corn.”
It is not a meme. The "Tabaco Libertador" distinction is awarded by the José Martí Cultural Society to individuals and institutions that, according to their statutes, "significantly contribute to the fulfillment of the organization's objectives."
The event quickly went viral on digital platforms, primarily on the profile known as La Tijera, where users labeled it as a further episode of the propaganda cult promoted by the government.
Many mocked the relevance of the award and the symbolism of tobacco in contrast to the hardships faced by the Cuban population.
"In the midst of the widespread deterioration of Havana and all of Cuba, the Castro dictatorship continues to reward its loyal officials with empty social recognition. The most recent example is the 'Liberator Tobacco', awarded by the José Martí Cultural Society," wrote the site La Tijera.
Another internet user, for their part, acknowledged: "Total disconnection, because in the everyday slang of the common Cuban a tabaco is something difficult, an unfavorable situation, and giving this name to an award is ridiculous, as it already carries the mockery and cheeky humor of the Cuban."
If we are talking about ridiculous situations, in April the regime once again demonstrated its complete disconnection from the reality of the country by celebrating, with pomp and epic speeches, the presentation of the replica of the Machete of Generalissimo Máximo Gómez, a symbol that once represented the struggle for independence, but today is a grotesque medal of loyalty to power.
This year's honorees included Humberto López, a pro-government spokesperson known for his television campaigns discrediting activists and independent journalists, Annie Garcés, the young singer famous for her phrase "the 62 thousand millennia" in defense of Castroism, and Yusuam Palacios himself.
The contrast could not be more brutal: while some receive a machete in a ceremony with flowers, uniforms, and flags, hundreds of Cubans find themselves behind bars for exercising their right to freely express themselves.
Frequently Asked Questions about the "Tabaco Libertador" Recognition in Cuba
What is the "Tabaco Libertador" recognition in Cuba?
The "Tobacco Liberator" recognition is awarded by the José Martí Cultural Society in Cuba to individuals and institutions that, according to its statutes, significantly contribute to the fulfillment of the organization's objectives. However, this type of award has been subject to criticism and mockery from the public, who see it as part of a propaganda strategy of the Cuban regime.
Why has the recognition "Liberator Tobacco" generated criticism in Cuba?
The recognition has been heavily criticized because it is seen as a symbol of the propagandistic cult promoted by the government amid the economic and social crisis that the country is experiencing. Many citizens view these types of awards as disconnected from the reality faced by the Cuban people, who are suffering from shortages of food, medicine, and basic services.
Who is Roilán Rodríguez Barbán and why did he receive the "Tabaco Libertador"?
Roilán Rodríguez Barbán is the first secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba in the Plaza de la Revolución municipality. He received the "Liberator Tobacco" for his supposed significant contribution to the goals of the José Martí Cultural Society, although this type of award is viewed more as a recognition of loyalty to the regime than as a reflection of real achievements for the benefit of the people.
What is the symbolism of tobacco in the recognition "Tabaco Libertador"?
Tobacco is an emblematic product of Cuba, but in this context, the use of tobacco as a symbol in recognition has been subject to irony and criticism. In Cuban popular slang, "a tobacco" can refer to a difficult or prosperous situation, which makes the award seem ridiculous and disconnected from the real needs of the population.
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