Lieter Ledesma, a Cuban actor now living in Miami, expressed via Facebook his hope that the transition in Cuba will be "as least traumatic as possible" for those suffering under the regime's control.
"Cuba has been held hostage by a military elite for nearly 70 years," Ledesma wrote. "The saddest part is that there's a population being held captive, and this means that many of us who managed to escape worry about their well-being. This divides opinions among exiles, because you can't ask someone to forget about their child or not to visit their father."
At 44, Ledesma, who was well-known in Cuba for his roles in popular dramas for both children and adults, described himself as a free, peaceful man, a Christian, and a conservative.
"I don't usually speak in slogans from either side, I don't like them," he remarked, stating his commitment to "the side of Cuba as a nation, to the people who are its citizens, to all Cubans who desire a better country, whether they live on the Island or abroad."
He criticized those who, whether on the Island or outside, burden the people and profit from their pain and dire economic state.
Ledesma called for the release of political opponents suffering in the regime's prisons and expressed his hope that living in Cuba would no longer be a punishment by itself.
"Long live a free Cuba!!! Free for everyone!! Truly free!!! (…). May we all witness and enjoy the much-desired change. Down with dictatorships... ALL of them," he concluded.
Ledesma's post was met with various expressions of support on the social media platform.
Among them, a comment likely from the Island appreciated his words "without offending those of us here, without encouraging us to worsen our situation, sharing the same wish we all have for a change but with the greatest peace possible. 'Those inside and outside' appreciate your support."
Another follower residing in the U.S. disagreed with the actor's perspective: "I don't like your way of thinking regarding the dictatorship. Your approach on the 'La familia Cuba' program never convinces me; you're similar to Ulises Toirac's stance. Again, I'm a follower of yours and Ulises, but I don't think like you. I believe you are good people."
A resident in Naples urged him to take a more radical stance. "Do you know what your problem is? You have to define yourself. I remember your reaction when the Cuban baseball team came to play here; it doesn't match what you're saying today."
"We agree there's a dictatorship. We all want to see a thriving Cuba, free of shortages, clean of anything tarnishing it, but don't play word games, because it's unpleasant to go with the flow," she said, adding, "Be careful. It's tough living in Miami and navigating your world. Try to maintain your stance consistently."
Inevitably, there were detractors, some with fake or restricted profiles, inviting him to openly criticize U.S. policy against the Cuban government.
"Tell Trump to lift the embargo," "You left out words about Trump's tariff threats to anyone shipping oil to Cuba. What happened with that?" or "I'm very confused by your good faith and wish for your liberators to crush us. What a nice way to be a man of faith!" were some of the criticisms he received.
Cuba's Transition and Political Dynamics
What is Lieter Ledesma's hope for Cuba's future?
Lieter Ledesma hopes that the transition in Cuba will be as smooth and least traumatic as possible for those suffering under its current regime.
How does Ledesma describe his personal beliefs?
Ledesma describes himself as a free, peaceful man, a Christian, and a conservative, who doesn't align with slogans from any political side.
What criticism did Ledesma face regarding his views?
Ledesma faced criticism both from those who disagree with his moderate views and from others who believe he should be more radical in his stance against the Cuban regime.