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The Cuban comedian Ulises Toirac once again shook social media with an extensive and unfiltered post, in which he expresses his frustration with polarization, dogmatism, and the state of the country.
In a text published on Facebook, Toirac confesses that "the online shouting" and the accusations from some who tell him "you're with the Indians and the cowboys" have him fed up, and from there he unfolds a reflection that intertwines personal experience, social criticism, and a stark diagnosis of Cuban reality.
From the outset, the comedian distances himself from extremes and easy labels. "Neither with the Indians nor with the cowboys," he states, and criticizes those who do not read or think before reacting.
"I stand with those who sometimes have to walk a couple of kilometers before catching a bus because they either get there quickly or buy a loaf of bread. I stand with those who don't have a generator to deal with the outages, I stand with those for whom the month ends the same day they get paid, I stand with those who skip breakfast and lunch just to have something to eat by the end of the day."
Regarding the issue of U.S. sanctions, Toirac is clear: "I don’t want a blockade (or measures, or embargo, or whatever you want to call it), because it only tightens the noose on those at the bottom."
From that point on, he dismantles the idea of an immediate massive uprising and lists reasons that, in his view, make it unlikely.
The first is the lack of leadership, which in his view has several causes, including the government's repression of anyone who dissents. "Here, since 1959, no one has been able to express a dissenting note because, as the philosopher Antolín el Pichón says: 'Whoever casts a shadow on me, goes'," he stated.
The actor also questions the opposition itself, accusing it of undermining any emerging figure that comes from its ranks. And he raises another uncomfortable question: "After ousting the disGovernment... what’s next on the menu? I'm talking about powers, not people."
Ulises also dismisses the idea of annexation to the United States, and regarding a military confrontation, he finds it unlikely. "A shot goes off here and hits a column, and the block comes crashing down," he says, adding that the political capital for a war "in the backyard" is precarious.
On the imagery of a peaceful Cuba, it raises another provocation: "Look at the number of 'military advisers' that have been sent around the world, the number of guerrillas that have been hosted and trained here, not counting those who have pending cases with the courts in their countries. (...) Who among all those who have been 'helped' has returned the 'favor'? Not three…".
In point four of his reflection, Toirac acknowledges that external sanctions have an impact, but he focuses primarily on the internal mistakes accumulated over decades.
"Here, a guajiro has been forced to plant beans knowing that what grows in his land is beets... Conclusion: neither beans nor beets. The bag is full of 'errors' (and three thousand-gallon tanks)," he detailed.
"Since they said they would 'turn the setback into victory' (...) to this day, they have rectified and corrected mistakes so many times that it is astonishing they continue to apply the same formula," he questioned.
The criticism extends to agriculture, energy policy, the private economy, foreign trade, and monetary measures, "each with a long history."
Finally, Toirac mocks those who continue to blame the United States for all the failures. "And there are people who don’t see it! 'The Empire, the Empire!... Ñiñiñiñi!' he pointed out.
In closing, the comedian points to the gap between those in power and the citizens: "The disconnect between the elite and the average person is becoming more and more evident."
Because, "in the midst of a polycrisis of such great dimensions as the current one, recourse is made to economic stagnation, political secrecy, and indiscriminate ideological bombardment."
The post ends with an image that has become Toirac's personal trademark, related to power outages and collective fatigue: "In short, blackout, how messed up you have me."
A closing that summarizes the tone of the text: caustic, hopeless, and deeply rooted in the everyday experience of living in Cuba today.
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