Some Uncertainties

Some Uncertainties / Fernando Damaso

Posted on August 31, 2013



Though it has no leading role in socialism as it is practiced in this

country, the self-described "new Cuban left" is trying to find its place

in the current economic, political and social debate, one in which no

one is participating. Perhaps it is inertia that leads it to simply

repeat certain well-worn arguments put forth by the government, which

are far removed from historical reality.



When referring to the Cuban Republic, the "new left" accepts as fact

that it was a neo-colonial and subjugated pseudo-state, constrained by

the Platt Amendment and subject to foreign interference. It assumes that

only a tiny minority lived well while the rest of the population

suffered in misery without education, health services or employment

opportunities. It also believes that discrimination against racial

minorities and women was rampant. The current authorities have been

incessant in their demonization of past eras, facts and historical

figures, while some have accepted these claims as absolute truths and go

on repeating them.



The reality is that the situation was not quite so gloomy. Cuba was one

of the most advanced countries in the world in terms of agricultural and

industrial production, health services, education, salary levels and

labor rights. Its gross domestic product was also one of the highest in

the region, making it an attractive destination for immigrants from

other countries. It had an established and thriving middle class, and

both its population and cities were continually growing, both from an

economic and urban standpoint as well as in terms of infrastructure.



In fact, most of what we still have of value we owe to the republican

era. To ignore this truth — even keeping in mind the political situation

as well as other shortcomings and problems that existed at the time, and

that still have not been resolved — is like listening to only half the

story.



When referring to the disastrous years of socialism, however, the new

Cuban left characterizes it as true, authoritarian, statist and

Stalinist. It focuses attention only on its distorted features, blaming

them for all its failures, as though it were not the system itself —

independent of its atrocities and its leaders — which has failed

wherever it has been tried.



When discussing the future, the "new left" rejects a return to the past,

presuming it might lead to something as ridiculous as a return to

pre-1959 capitalism. It accuses those who propose abandoning Raul

Castro's model of being responsible for a possible loss of independence

and sovereignty (language which daily falls further out of use in a

globalized world) or for subjugation by the neighbor to the north. It is

a perhaps unintentional reprise of an official rhetorical phrase: "You

are either with me or against me."



The only thing that Cuban socialism has distributed equally throughout

the population — which does not include of the tiny elite which hangs

onto wealth and power — is poverty. This is the equality that its

domestic and foreign supporters applaud. Cuban socialism has enjoyed

fifty-four years of missed opportunities, which makes it highly unlikely

that the population will be inclined to give it further opportunities

either in the present or in the future.



As the popular saying goes, the Castro model's "last fifteen minutes are

up." Therefore, new opportunities present themselves to other political,

economic and social initiatives which can and must include all citizens

who care about Cuba. They cannot, however, impose narrow concepts,

whether or not they are what we call socialists, democrats,

participatives, critics, conservatives, liberals, capitalists,

anarchists, rationalists, centrists, decentralists, pluralists,

reformers, etc.

It is only natural that this political opening would occur after years

of living under a single economic, political and social ideological

mindset. The wide variety of new ingredients should produce a dish

capable of satisfying the palates of most of our citizens. But this dish

cannot be prepared by one single chef. It has to take into account the

opinions and participation of those who will consume it, and must

include economic development, freedom and social justice.



The goal is to enter the current global jet stream and advance along

with it in ways to be determined by citizens exercising their full

democratic rights, with participation by everyone but without new and

ridiculous political, economic and social experiments or the kind of

one-party nationalism that has left us light years behind the world's

democracies.



29 August 2013



Source: "Some Uncertainties / Fernando Damaso | Translating Cuba" -

http://translatingcuba.com/some-uncertainties-fernando-damaso/