Cuban Poet's Viral Statement: "You Can't Miss a Prison Disguised as a Homeland"

The words of Cuban poet Alex Alex have taken social media by storm after he shared his thoughts on what it means to live far from Cuba and why he believes he cannot miss a country he views as a "prison disguised as a homeland." "Someone asked me if I miss Cuba... The truth is, I don't. How could I miss a system where people are hungry, where there's no food, water, or electricity? How could I miss a place where speaking out can cost you your freedom?" he wrote on his Facebook account. The post was rapidly shared thousands of times, sparking reactions both inside and outside the island.

In his post, the writer articulates a sentiment shared by many Cuban expatriates: the conflict between love for their homeland and rejection of the political system that rules it. "You don't miss the imposed silence, the daily fear, the injustice. You can't long for a land where thinking differently is punished, where truth is paid for with pain," he added.

The text concludes with a phrase widely quoted by users: "What I miss is not Cuba; what hurts is my son, my mother who has passed, my neighborhood friends—those pieces of love I left amidst the chaos. But the dictatorship, no. That is not missed; it is overcome. It's carried like a scar, not as nostalgia."

Following the viral spread of his message, the poet issued a second post addressing those who insulted or accused him of being a "traitor" and "sellout." "Many have written to insult me. But no, no one pays me. No empire funds me, and no enemy dictates to me. I speak because I am free, because my voice can no longer be silenced," he declared.

In his follow-up post, Alex Alex emphasized that his love for Cuba is directed toward its people and history, not the current system. "I don't miss Cuba. I miss my son, my neighborhood friends, the genuine laughter of those who grew up with me. But that Cuba that exists today, I don't miss it. Because you can't miss a prison disguised as a homeland," he stressed.

Criticism of the Cuban Government

The poet delivers a harsh critique of the Cuban government: "I don't miss a country where demanding your rights labels you a 'counter-revolutionary,' where truth is punished and power serves a privileged few while the people go hungry."

He also challenges the official narrative blaming the U.S. embargo for the crisis: "I don't miss a system that blames a blockade for what they themselves have destroyed, while those who shout about it travel, spend, celebrate, and eat what the people can't even look at."

He concludes his message stating, "I don't renounce my land. I am one hundred percent Cuban. I love my colors, my flag, my noble and hardworking people. I love the free Cuba, not the oppressed Cuba. That's why I shout what many keep silent. Because to love is not to lie. And those who love their country cannot applaud its misery."

The post has been shared thousands of times on social media, receiving messages of support from other Cubans both inside and outside the island who resonate with his words. In less than 24 hours, the text garnered over half a million reactions and hundreds of comments thanking him for his "courage" in expressing what many fear to say.