Cuban comedian and actor Ulises Toirac took to social media to sarcastically respond to the philosophical metaphor used by Miguel Díaz-Canel to discuss Cuba's ongoing crisis. The leader's portrayal of a "utopia" has been transformed into a depiction of a nation stumbling aimlessly toward a "blackout dog."
In an interview with Russia Today (RT) last Monday, Díaz-Canel quoted a popular phrase attributed to Uruguayan writer Eduardo Galeano, originally from Argentine filmmaker Fernando Birri, to address whether Cuba can overcome its crisis: "Utopia is on the horizon... What is utopia for? To walk. I'd say hope is the same."
The response was met with widespread anger and sarcasm from Cubans who saw it as a philosophical sidestep instead of offering tangible solutions.
Comedic Critique of Political Metaphors
Toirac wasted no time in reacting. On his Facebook profile, the actor posted a parody of the leader's words: "With my distinctive gait, breaking through mountains and cities. If I keep eating crap, I won't reach the utopian house where a blackout dog awaits. Step forward and step back..."
This mockery turns the original metaphor on its head: the promised horizon becomes an unreachable "utopian house," and what awaits at the journey's end is not hope but a blackout.
The Harsh Reality of Power Failures
Adding to this irony is the dire context. As of July 2026, Cuba has experienced five total collapses of its National Electric System this year alone, with record generation deficits. On July 10, only 935 MW were available against a demand of 3,100 MW.
Regions like Matanzas have faced up to 87 consecutive hours without electricity, while Havana suffers outages lasting around 15 hours daily.
Public Outcry and Political Irony
The public's reaction to Díaz-Canel's words was sharp. CiberCuba reported the next day that Cubans erupted over the utopian metaphor, with remarks like "That's an evasion; there's no hope for anything in Cuba."
The full version of the phrase borrowed by Díaz-Canel from Galeano is even more telling: "I take two steps, it moves two steps away. I walk ten steps and the horizon shifts ten steps further. No matter how I walk, I will never reach it."
His use of this metaphor was perceived as an attempt to co-opt progressive rhetoric to excuse inaction.
Toirac's Continued Criticism
This isn't the first instance of Toirac directly criticizing Díaz-Canel. On July 18, the actor challenged Cuban leaders to give up their privileges and move to neighborhoods like Old Havana, without cars or special perks.
On July 12, he described life under blackouts as a "nightmare." Earlier, in February, he sarcastically responded to the leader's "hard times" speech, suggesting that in Cuba, it should include "more," given the "67 years" of hardship.
During the same interview where he spoke of utopia, Díaz-Canel pledged to implement 121 of over 170 proposed economic changes by the end of July, prioritizing retirees and vulnerable individuals, as reported by the official Granma.
For millions of Cubans enduring weeks without power, that promise feels, as Toirac wrote, like another "step forward and step back."
Cuban Crisis and Public Reaction Explained
What did Díaz-Canel say about the crisis in Cuba?
Díaz-Canel used a metaphor about utopia being on the horizon to suggest that hope keeps people moving forward, despite the crisis.
How did Ulises Toirac respond to Díaz-Canel's metaphor?
Ulises Toirac responded with a sarcastic parody on Facebook, mocking the metaphor by suggesting that the promised hope is actually an unreachable utopia leading to a blackout.
What is the current state of the Cuban power grid?
Cuba's power grid has suffered five total collapses this year, with severe generation deficits, leading to prolonged blackouts in various regions.