The Cuban comedian and actor Ulises Toirac rejected on Monday being labeled a "traitor" for his criticisms of the situation in Cuba and defended that his questions regarding the Government do not, in his view, represent a renunciation of the principles he grew up with.
In , Toirac began by defining what he understands by betrayal: "Traitor is used for someone who, having taken up a cause, later abandons it in favor of another or simply renounces it."
From that definition, he argued that no one explicitly asked him for political loyalty, nor did he offer it, and he elaborated on a reflection regarding dissent, Marti’s thought, and the internal responsibilities in the crisis the country is facing.
Toirac first turned to Marxism itself to question what he considers an equation between unity and uniformity. He recalled the idea of the "unity and struggle of opposites" and pointed out that, in his view, in Cuba, only the first part of that concept has been privileged.
“Immediately after, they equated unit to uniformity —which, as far as I know, do not mean the same thing— and... 'if you don’t enter through this little door, you are an enemy!',” he wrote.
The comedian also defended his identification with the thoughts of José Martí, whom he described as “the greatest and most universal of all Cubans”, and stated that he continues to share his ideas about “freedom, democracy, respect, and sovereignty.”
It was then that he directly responded to those who accuse him of having betrayed the principles he was taught during his training.
If anyone has betrayed, it is not me, he stated.
Toirac also urged to focus on the everyday problems faced by the population and to review what he described as "gigantic mistakes made" over the decades.
He also questioned whether the U.S. sanctions are a sufficient explanation for the crisis. "Just accept that the 'blockade' is not an excuse, but rather a hurdle to overcome," he wrote, expressing a personal opinion as a comedian on an issue where the Cuban government places significant blame on Washington's sanctions.
His reflection ended up highlighting the social consequences that he claims to observe directly: «I am seeing people die of hunger and hardship».
The message continues a series of recent statements by Toirac regarding the situation in the country.
At the beginning of September, he held the Cuban Government accountable for decades of misguided decisions in energy matters and argued that the deterioration of the National Electric System could not be explained solely by U.S. policies.
Then he stated that even the installation of new thermoelectric plants would not solve the blackouts as long as the current economic model remains in place.
"In 15 years, the blackouts will continue," he warned.
On September 13, he revisited the living conditions in Cuba and stated that he refuses to get used to the precariousness, the prolonged blackouts, and the economic difficulties.
"I don't want to get used to living, to surviving, or to merely existing," she expressed.
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