Under the heading "A Cuban Citizen's Call for Change," a letter from a father residing in western Cuba reached the editorial team at CiberCuba. In it, he decided to "raise his voice" against the injustices and hardships suffered by the people in a nation that is "falling apart" after more than six decades of unfulfilled promises by its leaders.
The sender, who requested anonymity fearing retribution, and his family have endured the overwhelming aftermath of Hurricane Rafael over the past week: a total power outage that has persisted for seven days, a lack of water (which many areas were experiencing even before the cyclone hit the western region), and a scarcity of basic necessities, particularly food.
The Daily Struggles of Cuban Life
His complaint reveals the bitter and untenable reality faced daily by millions of Cubans living on the island, amidst the worst crisis that has struck Cuba in its history as a nation. Below, we present the full letter sent by "a Cuban citizen" to our platform:
To CiberCuba: I am reaching out to this outlet to voice the ongoing oppression we Cubans are subjected to. I trust that my message will reach thousands of readers through this platform and hope it encourages others like me to break the chains of silence. Though I must remain anonymous, my feelings echo those of millions being slowly exterminated in this hellish country.
Hurricane Rafael once again exposed all the shortages and difficulties that have plagued the people of Cuba for decades. After seven days without electricity and several more without water, the situation became unbearable. This time, there were no distractions to divert the masses' attention. The catastrophe deeply wounded those who watch as the calendar pages turn, and the problems grow to inhumane levels.
Unfulfilled Promises and a Nation in Decline
The promises of improvement have become mere whispers, unable to shake the foundations of the disaster. Decades of promises find no place in a resigned populace yearning for a better future, but the fear of system reprisals paralyzes them, imprinting an internal threat that could imprison them behind bars.
Cuba is collapsing into a bleak present. It is painful to see children crying from the hardships, as scorching heat and mosquitoes relentlessly torment them. Childhood in Cuba fades amid scarcity and sleepless nights, within an inferno that took hold nearly 70 years ago and clings to power at all costs, even if it means the annihilation of its people.
The lack of water is another punishment endured, due to the inaction of those supposedly responsible for ensuring everyone's basic needs. In reality, the leaders live in their own bubbles, far removed from the catastrophe engulfing the entire nation.
"It's just what we have to live with," I heard a woman say. That is precisely where our greatest weakness lies. Why must we accept having our principles trampled and our future cut short? Why must we exist as automatons without our own will?
When we realize that the power to dismantle all these evils lies in our hands, we can take a step in the right direction. For now, abuse and misery continue to fill every moment of our lives.
Once again, my thanks to CiberCuba for helping to spread this message of freedom.