Cuban comedian Ulises Toirac recently offered a sharp and insightful critique of the current state of patriotism in Cuba.
In a Facebook post, Toirac deconstructs the official narrative that still demands extreme sacrifice "for the homeland," arguing that this notion no longer inspires or motivates, especially among a populace that realizes they have no say in their own country.
His reflection emerges amidst speculations about international tensions and potential confrontations, directly confronting an unsettling truth for those in power: the Cuban people are not willing to sacrifice for a worn-out rhetoric that does not resonate with their daily realities or their actual place within the system.
The Diminished Role of Patriotism
Toirac emphasizes that the erosion is not merely economic or material. Beyond resource scarcity, empty hotels, or fragile infrastructures, the core issue is political: the idea of "patria" has eroded to the point of losing its power to unite.
The comedian elaborates that the model of confrontation historically used by the Cuban state assumed that, in the event of a U.S. occupation, the people would engage in a "war of attrition" with active participation.
However, that assumption no longer holds. A populace without a voice or choice, unable to steer its destiny, finds little worth defending in a homeland at the cost of their lives.
"When people have repeatedly seen they have no control in their country, when the Assembly applauds any decision harmful to the people, and when hopes for progress lie in emigration... the concept of 'patria' is so eroded it scarcely means anything to those expected to wage a war of attrition at the cost of their lives," Toirac stressed.
Rethinking National Identity
One of the most striking aspects of his reflection is the mention of the possibility of annexation.
What was once deemed an unacceptable, almost sacrilegious scenario, now fails to frighten many. Not out of ideological conviction, but sheer exhaustion: when neither the homeland nor the citizen make decisions, the concept loses its protective, symbolic, and moral function.
The actor clarifies, "I don't think it would be a solution," but he uses it as a societal gauge: if annexation is no longer unthinkable, it's because the very idea of nationhood has been worn down by a system that doesn't allow participation, choice, or correction.
An Outdated Narrative
Toirac bluntly questions: "It's not 1962, it's not the '60s or '70s... yet I keep hearing the same slogans."
While the world has evolved, the official narrative still clings to symbols, slogans, and calls for sacrifice that no longer resonate with a weary, impoverished population excluded from crucial decisions.
The conclusion is unmistakable: heroism cannot be demanded from those who aren't treated as citizens. The homeland cannot be invoked when it fails to protect, listen, or allow decision-making. A discourse of resistance cannot be maintained when the majority sees their only path to progress as lying outside the country.
Toirac does not speak of ideology, but of reality: without a voice or vote, there is no homeland worth defending.
FAQs on Patriotism and National Identity in Cuba
Why does Ulises Toirac believe patriotism in Cuba is eroded?
Toirac argues that the concept of patriotism in Cuba has lost its resonance because the people feel they have no say in their country's destiny, rendering the idea of sacrifice for the homeland meaningless.
What is the significance of the annexation discussion in Toirac's reflection?
Toirac uses the notion of annexation as a societal thermometer, indicating that if it is no longer unthinkable, it reflects how the national identity has been eroded by a system that excludes citizen participation.