Cuba, the Hurricane and the Palm Tree

By Iroel Sánchez on September 30, 2022, from Havana

We have all been affected by the impact of Hurricane Ian. The logical irritation of those who have been without electric service for several days is understandable: the loss of food or the crying of a child who cannot sleep due to the heat does not generate calm but rather desperation. But I see people taking advantage of the electrical hardships were suffering from in Cuba to call for violence… from afar.

They are the same people who have taken the already violent blockade to a violent extreme. They would be happy to have a dead body to turn it into a flag and call for the military intervention they want so much. The majority of Cubans do not pay attention to them but there may be some who give them a shout with the slogan they want to hear and send them the video so that they can monetize their dirty profiles. However, I have not seen a single act of violence from the authorities who have gone against those who have publicly expressed their irritation in these difficult circumstances, something that would be a treasure with which the enemies of Cuba can justify their hatred.

It is the hour of serenity, of arguing, explaining and communicating, timely and patiently, also of knowing how to differentiate between the protest that arises from the lack of information in such a difficult situation, from those who lend themselves as pawns of poison. We have organizations, delegates and popular councils to, outside the press and the digital world, get timely information to every citizen, where that fails, we fail, they are exemplary people who suffer hardships like everyone else but they need to be provided with data and arguments to do that irreplaceable job. Like them, the good Cubans are more, many more and they will prevail, like the palm of Carlos Enriquez and Sindo Garay before the wind of the hard storm. They will prevail even from this difficult hour. They are those who prefer to work for the common good, those that we see working together to provide light, water and hygiene for all.

Source: La Pupil Insomne, translation Resumen Latinoamericano – US