Cuban Priest Alberto Reyes Urges Citizens to Overcome Fear and Demand Their Rights

Cuban priest Alberto Reyes Pías recently shared a profound message on his Facebook profile, urging his fellow citizens to abandon living "in fear" and start building a free, democratic, and prosperous Cuba.

Amidst a period where many Cubans experience a blend of hope and anxiety following recent events in Venezuela, Reyes highlights that now is the time to "raise your heads" and confront the dictatorship that has held the nation under its grip for over six decades.

Reyes begins with an observation shared by many Cubans: the hope for a radical change to end the dictatorship, juxtaposed with the fear that paralyzes the populace. He emphasizes that although "Cuba is a disaster," many have grown accustomed to surviving amidst hardships—from the struggle for food and medicine to dealing with blackouts and daily repression—and have learned to navigate this oppressive system with resignation.

The Reality of Living Under Oppression

This scenario contrasts with the uncertain future many desire but also fear. The priest warns that Cubans have learned to "live submerged in the night" of oppression, becoming accustomed to constant insecurity and the lack of opportunities for their children. In his reflection, he criticizes the government for using lies and empty rhetoric to manipulate the people's hopes while reality continuously deteriorates.

"Are we not already tired of living in misery, in need, in the absence of opportunities? Are we not tired of being manipulated and having our minds stuffed with lies and empty speeches? Are we not tired of speaking with fear, acting with fear, living with fear?" he questions.

Creative Hope: A Call to Action

Despite this, Reyes' response to fear is a direct call to action: "This is not a time to be trapped by fears; this is not a time for passivity and silence," he wrote. For him, now is the moment for what he calls "creative hope," a concept that invites claiming fundamental rights and exercising the right to a society free from fear and repression.

Reyes emphasizes that change requires courage and determination, not passivity. He uses a powerful image to convey his message: the transition to a new Cuba, although painful like childbirth, is necessary. "Life has to be pushed; we must endure the pains of childbirth and bring forth the new creation," he states, referring to the new society many Cubans yearn for.

Additionally, the priest encourages his compatriots to speak their minds without being silenced by fear and to pray for a convergence of forces necessary to achieve freedom, justice, and truth.

In his words, there is no room for resignation: "Let us not allow insecurity to lead us to believe that evil will have the last word," he assured, emphasizing that no darkness can perpetuate without being overcome by light.

Reyes' message joins other reflections by the priest that have resonated on social media and independent outlets, where he has denounced the oppression of the Castro regime and urged his compatriots to take action to build a different, fair, and democratic Cuba.

This call for awareness and courage arrives at a time when many Cubans have expressed their disapproval of the prevailing political system and their desire for profound and lasting change.