Cuban baritone Ulises Aquino Guerra took to Facebook this Wednesday to share a thought-provoking post titled "The Stone Age," "The Bow and Arrow," where he delivers a scathing critique of the Cuban regime and the dire situation on the island.
In his post, Aquino bluntly states that envisioning Cuba's survival under its current conditions is not just unrealistic—it's outrageous.
The artist specifically addresses those hoping for a policy shift from Washington without initiating change themselves: "Acting as suggested, waiting for the United States to alter its stance, is not just a utopian dream, but a complete absurdity."
He further targets the nation’s leadership: "It would be beneficial for the country's high-ranking officials to educate themselves. They need to thoroughly understand the repercussions their current stances have on the Cuban people."
As recommended reading, the cultural promoter suggests works by Italo-Argentine philosopher José Ingenieros: "The Mediocre Man" and "The Created Interests," noting these titles were banned for many years in Cuba.
Aquino uses a series of paradoxes to underscore the collapse: "Dictatorships can't survive without dictators, nor can culture without cultured individuals. Creativity can't exist without creators, and there can be no electricity without fuel."
He dismisses the notion that time might favor the status quo: "Believing that time is a variable in these circumstances isn't just madness—it's a magnified delusion."
Regarding the official narrative of defending Cuba, Aquino is unequivocal: "By insisting on defending the irrational and indefensible, we will never have Cuba back. It's not Cuba they're defending, and Cuba is not the main reason for their stubbornness."
His closing remarks encapsulate the entire reflection: "Cuba no longer exists. What remains is a land with that name, victimized by ignorance, bravado, and imposition. It has chosen to sink into its own destruction, into ruin, rather than accept reality as it was and is."
This post joins a series of recent social media interventions by the baritone. On August 16, he criticized the regime's economic policies in a piece titled "You Cost Too Much," and two days later, he defended private workers in response to comments made by Che Guevara’s daughter.
In July, Aquino addressed an open letter to Energy and Mines Minister Vicente de la O Levy, questioning the expenditure on hotels amidst the collapse of the power system.
As the founder of the community project Opera of the Street in 2006, Aquino concluded his post with a sentiment that captures his feelings about the nation's state: "I feel immense pride for what we once were, deep shame for what we have become, and profound sadness for what lies ahead."
Insights into Ulises Aquino's Criticisms of Cuba's Current State
What main issues does Ulises Aquino address in his Facebook post?
Aquino critiques the Cuban regime and its policies, highlighting the unrealistic expectations of change from the U.S. without internal shifts, and the ignorance of the nation's leadership regarding the consequences of their actions.
What literary works does Aquino recommend for understanding the situation in Cuba?
He recommends "The Mediocre Man" and "The Created Interests" by Italo-Argentine philosopher José Ingenieros to grasp the deeper implications of Cuba's current plight.
How does Aquino view the role of time regarding Cuba's future?
Aquino believes that viewing time as a favorable variable for the status quo is not just misguided but a severe form of delusion.