What’s Cuba Got?

What's Cuba Got?
July 7, 2013
Alfredo Fernández

HAVANA TIMES — I recall that, in 1998, I refused to sign up for what
Cubans popularly refer to as the "bombo", a lottery draw organized by
the US Interests Section (USINT) in Havana to grant 20,000 Cubans
permanent residence in the United States through a random selection process.

I also recall mocking those eminently cautious types who would go to the
post office located on the ground floor of Havana's FOCSA building to
drop their application for the draw at the mail facility closest to USINT.

I was 22 years old and, in my naivety, I thought that Fidel Castro could
not possibly remain in power for more than 10 years, at most. I could
therefore not picture myself turning 32 in anything other than a
prosperous Cuba where my civil rights were respected – I was convinced
of this, believe it or not.

For years, I have been hounded by the same question: What's Cuba got? I
have to admit I have worn myself down trying to figure out what's
happened to Cubans.

I can see how people from other countries might come to think that Cuba
is the alternative to the world's evils. But, that we Cubans should know
that the opposite is true and do nothing about it, that I simply cannot
understand.

An Italian who supports the Cuban revolution angrily told me how, owing
to the corrupt policies of his government, his parents received a
retirement pension of a mere 400 euros a month. At the same time he
thought it's fair, however, that my parents should receive one of less
than 10. In fact, none of my arguments in this connection seemed valid
to him.

The island of Cuba seems enveloped by a strange energy field that makes
foreigners see all abuses committed against Cubans as justified.

When Cuban independence hero Jose Marti was organizing a military
campaign against Spain, only Mexico showed him any support – all other
countries in the region, including the United States, turned their backs
on him.

Our lot today is not too different. To add insult to injury, at the
recently held congress of Cuba's Federation of University Students
(FEU), the country's "young" university students asked to be guided by
the Party, that is, by an octogenarian and corrupt bureaucracy.

"I have another Cuba, the Cuba of my dreams," said Cuban writer Reinaldo
Arenas, whose plight-filled life often placed him before a Cuba he could
not comprehend.

I confess that, in the four months since I left Cuba, I haven't felt I
miss anything on the island. On the contrary, I feel as though I've
awakened from a long, dark nightmare, put behind me an experience that,
save for the literature, art work and music that I came in contact with,
was horrific in every way.

The Federation of Cuban Journalists (UPEC) will soon hold its congress
(July 13-14). I don't have to be a fortune teller to know that nothing
will come of this meeting. The congress will close after its
participants have unanimously agreed to defend the revolution and the
Party from the onslaughts of the international press and the work of
domestic mercenaries, paid by imperialism to do so.

Something along these lines will be declared, mark my words.

Sometimes, when I ask myself what's Cuba got, I find no better answer
than something Reynaldo Arenas might have written: "Cuba is a persistent
dream whose dinosaurs become visible to you if you manage to wake up."

Source: "I've always wondered what is really Cuba?" -
http://www.havanatimes.org/?p=95976