Once again, Miguel Díaz-Canel took the stage to recycle worn-out slogans, myths, and tales. This time, the Cuban leader chose to confront the United States... with a fish story.
During a ceremony honoring the 32 Cuban soldiers who died in Venezuela, the president dusted off an old anecdote attributed to Fidel Castro about a barracuda that supposedly attacked him underwater, and which, according to the story, he bravely faced.
The scene, bordering more on caricature than epic, was presented by Díaz-Canel as a strategic lesson for "facing the empire": not to flee, but to charge at it as the Commander did with the fish. "The empire, which is barracuda, piranha, shark, and pest," he declared.
The issue is that the tale seems more like a schoolyard fable than a serious military doctrine.
In his speech, the leader mixed hawks, piranhas, sharks, and archipelago ghosts in a rhetorical cocktail aimed at reviving an eternal confrontation with the United States, even though real Cuba is more concerned with blackouts, hunger, and repression than with imaginary fish.
Díaz-Canel also claimed credit for "the youth" making the story viral on social media, as if that validated the narrative's content.
However, rather than youthful enthusiasm, the anecdote has sparked mockery, memes, and a deep-seated fatigue over a speech that attempts to replace reality with hollow symbols.
The attempt to link the deaths of the soldiers in Venezuela with a heroic feat and Fidel's barracuda tale not only feels contrived but grotesque.
While many families mourn, the authorities resort to maritime metaphors to uphold an epic narrative that no longer convinces anyone, either inside or outside the Island.
The scene seems to confirm that Castroism, lacking new ideas or results, can only retell old stories, even if no one believes them anymore.
Opposition Reaction: Ferrer Debunks the "Barracuda Epic"
Opposition leader José Daniel Ferrer did not let the spectacle pass. In a video shared on social media, he openly mocked both Fidel Castro and Díaz-Canel, calling them cowards and mythmakers.
Ferrer reminded viewers that Castro himself always avoided direct combat in real danger moments, such as the assault on Moncada or Alegría de Pío, where—according to witnesses—he hid and fled from gunfire.
For the opposition figure, it's ridiculous to now paint him as an aquatic hero facing fierce fish.
The leader of the UNPACU went further, ridiculing Díaz-Canel for repeating this story as if it were revolutionary doctrine.
He stated that the leader not only recycles old tales but also creates new propagandistic "foolishness" daily to appear firm when, in reality, he seems anxious, weak, and out of control.
In his sarcastic tone, Ferrer asserted that the personality cult the regime tries to revive no longer works. The population is tired of heroic tales while living amid shortages, repression, and despair.
For Ferrer, the barracuda anecdote is not just an occurrence: it is evidence of a power that no longer knows how to justify itself and resorts to childish symbols to cover a profound legitimacy crisis.
The Cuban leader once again turned to past symbols to prop up a speech disconnected from current reality, prompting mockery and criticism.
Frequently Asked Questions about Díaz-Canel's Barracuda Anecdote
What anecdote did Díaz-Canel use to confront the U.S.?
Díaz-Canel used an anecdote about a barracuda that allegedly attacked Fidel Castro underwater, which he supposedly confronted with bravery, as a metaphor for confronting the United States.
How did the public react to Díaz-Canel’s story?
The public reaction was mostly of mockery and fatigue, with the story inspiring memes and criticism rather than admiration or validation.
What was José Daniel Ferrer's response to the anecdote?
José Daniel Ferrer openly mocked both Fidel Castro and Díaz-Canel, accusing them of being cowards and mythmakers, and criticized Díaz-Canel for trying to pass the tale as revolutionary doctrine.