In a thought-provoking Facebook post titled "Until the Last Man and the Last Peso?", Cuban intellectual and activist Alina Bárbara López Hernández delves into the dire situation of Cuba, ensnared between two forces she believes neglect the well-being of the Cuban people.
"This island and its people are ensnared between an inept government indifferent to its citizens and an American politician who disregards international law," writes López Hernández. Her comments arise amidst Donald Trump's threats to deploy the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier to Cuban shores and to "take over Cuba almost immediately" after operations in Iran.
López Hernández openly expresses her displeasure with the US president's remarks: "It bothers me to hear Trump say he will take Cuba and do as he pleases because to me, and many fellow Cubans, Cuba is much more than just its flawed government."
The Cuban Regime's Reaction
Her most extended criticism is directed at the Cuban regime itself. López Hernández describes the government's responses as "lamentable and erratic," citing several examples: Díaz-Canel's assertion that the Yankees are "irritated" by Cuba's determination to resist; Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla's warning that Cuba would be "a death trap if American imperialism dared to attack"; a mockery of the nuclear aircraft carrier by a vice president of the Union of Cuban Journalists; and the Civil Defense's televised family guide on preparing for a potential war scenario in Cuba.
"These reactions are either reckless or irresponsible, perhaps both," she concludes.
Proposing a Constructive Solution
López Hernández cautions that the confrontational strategy inherited from Fidel Castro, "though never wise, is now suicidal," given the country's current state: "We are a nation in ruins, filled with hungry, impoverished people long before Trump and his aircraft carriers."
In contrast to the regime's bellicose rhetoric, she suggests a pragmatic and intelligent solution: the government should announce a general amnesty law for all political prisoners.
"Don't hand Trump the key; undermine his threats. Demonstrate a smart gesture that simultaneously meets the aspirations of citizens who demand change," she writes.
López Hernández argues that this decision would be an act of justice, a response to popular demands, and a measure aligned with points raised by Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
She also notes that last Monday marked a year since the death of Zoila Chávez, a political prisoner who died in Manto Negro prison in Pinar del Río while pleading to see her imprisoned son, highlighting the urgency for such amnesty.
Persistent Activism and a Call for Change
Since March 2023, the intellectual has been staging peaceful protests every 18th of the month at Matanzas' Freedom Park, demanding amnesty and a constitutional assembly. She was detained in April while attempting her monthly protest. López Hernández poses a poignant question to the regime that encapsulates her central argument: "Or do you intend to lead this starving people into a destructive war to negotiate your exit from power without yielding anything, to claim fidelity to an ideal until the end, knowing full well that this ideal has been grossly betrayed by yourselves?"
The essay concludes with a quote from José Martí: "Politics should not be the art of maneuvers, scraps, and deals, nor is a person worthy of their country's trust if they care more about appearing favorable to their adversaries—for their own safety and glory as a skillful person—than about attempting and achieving all the improvements they believe beneficial to their people."
Understanding Cuba's Current Crisis
What is the main argument of Alina Bárbara López's essay?
López argues that Cuba is caught between an ineffective government and a US politician dismissing international law, both neglecting the Cuban people's needs.
What solution does López Hernández propose for Cuba's current situation?
She suggests the Cuban government should announce a general amnesty for all political prisoners to undermine threats from the US and meet the demands of citizens seeking change.
How does López Hernández view the Cuban regime's responses to international threats?
She criticizes them as "lamentable and erratic," arguing that they are either reckless or irresponsible.