A young Cuban identified as Arian González posted a video on Facebook in which he clearly expresses the desire of an entire generation: to not emigrate, but to stay and live with dignity in a transformed Cuba.
In the video, González turns the concept of the famous American dream on its head to demand something that the regime has denied for decades. "We want a Cuban dream," he says at the beginning of the clip, with a simplicity that encapsulates decades of accumulated frustration.
His message is direct and without euphemisms: "One, where education is not just propaganda, but opportunity. Where health is not disguised neglect, but real dignity. Where effort is indeed rewarded."
González's words precisely point to two of the pillars that the Cuban regime boasts about most in front of the world and that are now in ruins.
The health system has collapsed: infant mortality tripled between 2018 and 2025, only 30% of the essential medicines are available, and more than 30,000 doctors have emigrated in the last three years. Education, which is formally free, is denounced by activists, students, and families as a tool for ideological indoctrination rather than genuine education.
Another young person in the recording demands a country where "preparing or taking initiative is worthwhile and not a crime," in a direct critique of a system that stigmatizes and criminalizes private enterprise.
Its conclusion is powerful: "Let living well not be a privilege, but a possibility for all. A country where living, growing, and dreaming does not hurt."
"We envision a future where every step we take is a bridge to dignity. A country where education, health, and hard work are the foundation for a better tomorrow," states the message written in the post.
The video is set against a backdrop of growing youth digital activism on the Island.
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