Cuban actor Frank Andrés Mora shared a heartfelt post on Facebook that encapsulates the deep-seated frustration and hopelessness felt by many on the island. "My heart is weary. I feel that after July 11, many people became disillusioned. But I'm not speaking for them. I'm speaking for myself," Mora begins.
The actor expresses feeling "a vast emptiness dominated by guilt. The guilt of not being able to speak freely due to fear of censorship. The guilt of watching people wander like zombies through Havana." He concludes with a powerful statement: "And the guilt of seeing myself as a sheep... out of fear."
Mora paints a vivid picture of the daily struggles faced by him and countless other Cubans. "Everything feels wrong. Exhausted... already used to so many blackouts, continuing to wade through the filth. To keep swimming in the muck. To thefts and assaults, to drugs, to a kid stabbing another with a pencil. To human misery justified by resistance," he writes, referencing state rhetoric.
He feels "defeated when I see my fellow countrymen in the provinces cooking with charcoal or wood. When power doesn't reach them." He continues, "It's not sadness... it's defeat. And I bow my head before Martí who strikes me every time I read him... 'A nation is formed by the rights and opinions of all its children, not just a class of them.' That phrase always hits me. And all of this hits me. I'm sorry... truly... I'm sorry..." Mora concludes with piercing honesty.
Mora's post has gone viral, drawing comments from many, including actor Luis Alberto García, who urged him to "stay strong." "Don't give up. Be strong. Don't shrink back. Don't play to the DESIGN," García wrote.
Television host Laritza Camacho also responded to Mora. "You cannot tire, Frank... those who do what you do, cannot 'tire'... If the path were smooth, everything would be easier... but the path is steep and, fortunately, we're heading uphill. Cuba needs to be rebuilt from the ground up... everything is wrong, my child... but you hold the power of words and actions... Do you know what that means?" she wrote.
This isn't the first time Mora has publicly criticized the regime. In May, he spoke out on social media about the dire situation Cubans face during power outages, which last more than 20 hours a day in some provinces.
In a video shared on Instagram, Mora harshly criticized the Cuban government, holding it accountable for the worsening energy crisis and growing poverty on the island. "I was in San Nicolás de Bari, and in Cienfuegos. Those people don't have a life. A sack of charcoal costs 1,700 pesos. What's a Cuban doing cooking with charcoal? You people are shameless. You're scoundrels," Mora declared, visibly frustrated with the government.
He also condemned official reports on the country's energy situation: "It takes a lot of nerve to report what you report on the News or in those briefings you give."
Understanding the Cuban Crisis Through Frank Andrés Mora's Perspective
What did Frank Andrés Mora express in his viral post?
Frank Andrés Mora expressed feelings of exhaustion, guilt, and defeat in his post, highlighting the struggles and frustrations faced by many Cubans under the current regime.
Why did Mora criticize the Cuban government?
Mora criticized the Cuban government for its role in the severe energy crisis and the increasing poverty, as well as for providing misleading official reports about the situation.
How have others responded to Mora's post?
Many, including actor Luis Alberto García and host Laritza Camacho, have shown support for Mora, urging him to remain strong and continue his advocacy through words and actions.