Cuban official Johana Tablada recently ignited a storm of reactions on social media following her Facebook post comparing Cuba's current situation to a "house."
Tablada, acting as a spokesperson for the regime, argued that if a "bully" were to cut off "water, electricity, gas, and your rights," while threatening to "break down your door" and "take what's ours," then it's only "logical" for "brothers and neighbors" to put aside their differences to demonstrate to these "oppressors" that they have no right to make decisions that should, in her view, belong to "our people."
In her post, she emphasized the importance of discussing with "brothers" how to "paint the house and the neighborhood," while also stressing the necessity of "knowing how to defend it" in order to "own and improve it."
"We all want to improve our house, but to have and improve it, we must know how to defend it," Tablada asserted.
The post drew critical responses from users who questioned the feasibility of "defending the house" without meeting basic needs.
One commenter asked what would be "the best way" to defend it, arguing that before any action, a person needs "shelter, food, and essentials for living."
Additional comments pointed out that while "no one will stop defending" the island, the government ought to "call upon the people" and listen to their critiques and ideas regarding the economic situation.
In a similar vein, a user highlighted the repression against young voices, citing the case of the El 4tico project, claiming its members were imprisoned and that "the people" should decide their path.
Other comments countered Tablada's approach from an internal perspective, indicating that "defending the house" would mean not turning it into a "prison," and that the shortages and lack of freedoms were the result of decisions made "over decades."
Among the reactions, some users expressed fatigue with what they termed "creative resistance" and compared the population's situation with that of leaders, whom they described as "fat, shiny" and flaunting high-value assets.
One such comment cited examples of relatives of official figures studying or vacationing abroad, as part of a broader critique of governmental rhetoric and perceived inequality.
Understanding the Social Media Backlash Against Johana Tablada
What did Johana Tablada's Facebook post compare Cuba to?
Johana Tablada's Facebook post compared Cuba's situation to a "house," suggesting that external threats justify unity among its people.
Why did Tablada's message receive criticism?
Critics questioned the practicality of defending the country without addressing basic needs and criticized the government's lack of engagement with public input on economic issues.
How did users perceive the government's role in the economic situation?
Users suggested that the government should consult with the populace and consider their feedback, rather than solely imposing its own solutions.