Cubans Respond to Gerardo Hernández: "The U.S. May Not Be Paradise, But Cuba Is Hell"

Gerardo Hernández, a former spy and current coordinator of the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution (CDR), has once again stirred the anger of Cubans by comparing poverty in the United States to the dire conditions on the island. His statement — "The haters portray the U.S. as a paradise on earth" — unleashed a wave of responses that starkly contrast with the official narrative.

While the regime focuses on highlighting social issues in the United States, hundreds of Cubans took to CiberCuba's comments section to remind that although there is poverty in the U.S., there are also opportunities, freedom, and basic services that are mere luxuries in Cuba. "Nothing in life is perfect, but if you are willing to work hard, the United States is the closest thing to paradise," wrote Luis Sánchez. Clara María Valdés Fernández responded sarcastically, "Exactly, and thanks to you, Cuba is hell."

José Aday shared his experience of arriving in the U.S. at 44, without language skills or a trade, and noted that he no longer lives in poverty. "That shows there are paths to success. In Cuba, even 35 years of work won't secure the basics," Berta Díaz Ortega pointed out from the island.

The Reality Behind Remittances

Others highlighted that the very country Gerardo criticizes sustains the Cuban economy through remittances, MLC (freely convertible currency) stores, and dollarized telecommunications. "Without the U.S., you wouldn't survive," summarized Barbaro Cuesta León.

The stark contrast between both countries is evident in numerous testimonies. "Even the poorest can find shelter and food if they wish; that's the difference," remarked Damaris Quiñones Gerpe. "From the moment you arrive, you're treated like a person," added Antonio Ochoa Guevara, while J. Martin Acosta noted, "In the U.S., you can protest without getting beaten."

The Cuban Nightmare

Ariel Sague encapsulated the sentiment of many: "The American dream is better than the Cuban nightmare." For those residing on the island, Gerardo's remarks were offensive. "You portray Cuba as a medical powerhouse, yet there aren't even aspirin available," commented Osmel Domínguez.

Odalys Fraga García humorously noted, "If Dante were reborn, he'd write 'Inferno' with more circles, because that's what Cuba is." Reynolis Almenares was blunt: "Any country is paradise compared to Cuba."

In another comment, Luis León recalled an old anecdote: "While imprisoned in the U.S., Gerardo complained about eating chicken for six days... imagine that, better than a free Cuban." The messages echoed a common theme: freedom and dignity. "There is no future in Cuba; here (U.S.), you work, and you achieve what you set out for," wrote Yara Rodríguez Mederos.

Life and Opportunities in America

"My paradise in Miami is better than the one I was promised for 42 years," confessed Aneisy Hernández Ortega, while Alvaro Hernández noted that after two years in the U.S., he finally has "freedom, medicine, and food, three things that are scarce in Cuba."

Carmencita González summarized it best: "In the United States, after two years of work, a 60-year-old couple can have an apartment and a car. In Cuba, even after 35 years, you can't buy a motorbike."

Gerardo Hernández's attempt to divert attention to American poverty backfired: Cubans reminded him that the true hell is on the island. In a country where blackouts, hunger, and lack of freedoms are daily occurrences, any comparison to the U.S. sounds more like a provocation than a critique.