Cuban Priest Alberto Reyes Urges International Left: "Acknowledge the Failure of the Cuban Model"

In a candid message aimed at the international left, Cuban priest Alberto Reyes shared a reflective piece on his Facebook profile, declaring the failure of Cuba's political system and urging an end to the defense of what he describes as a non-existent reality.

Reyes begins his message with a phrase in Italian, "Me la sento di dirtelo," which translates to "I feel compelled to tell you." He uses this as a springboard to address his concerns to what he defines as "the left."

He clarifies his message is directed at "the entire left living outside of Cuba, my homeland," and questions the romanticized image that has been constructed over decades regarding the Cuban system.

"Dreams and ideals are beautiful, and for a long time, my island has been the dream and ideal for the left, both in Europe and Latin America, of something that never existed: a successful socialism, a joyful and prosperous Marxist-Leninist country," wrote Reyes.

According to the priest, this vision is a result of carefully crafted propaganda. "This is what meticulous propaganda prompted you to see, and this is what you have stubbornly chosen to see," he asserted.

In a pivotal passage, Reyes was direct: "The Cuban model has been a failure, and I urge the left to finally accept it." He emphasized that while this political project is cheered on from abroad, "my people suffer, my people endure, my people are dying."

Reyes paints a stark picture of daily life in Cuba, likening it to "nations at war," where "everything becomes a grueling odyssey: food, medicine, transportation, education, work conditions..." He also highlighted the fear of free expression and the vulnerability under "a judicial system that condemns all dissent."

He stressed that it wouldn't be honest to portray Cuba as a successful model. "I wish I could say otherwise, I wish I could shout: 'Come, we've found the formula for happiness, we've created a paradise on earth, we've found a way to banish injustice and misery from this world!' But inviting you to live a mirage would be a mockery, beautiful and hopeful as all mirages are, yet empty and false."

Reyes asked for respect for the Cubans living under this system: "Please, stop mocking my people, stop mechanically defending a reality that doesn't exist."

One of the most impactful statements summarizes his plea: "Respect yourselves and acknowledge that Cuba is not what you wanted it to be, and that 67 years is more than enough time to prove that it never will be."

Reyes mentioned that those who believe in Marxism-Leninism have every right to defend their ideas, but he asked them not to "applaud the failure of socialism in my land with speeches of feigned pride." He concluded: "And if you don't want to clearly state that we have failed, at least keep silent, learn to remain quiet, as that too can be a dignified choice."

The message concluded with a quote from Oscar Wilde: "We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars."

The post sparked numerous reactions on social media, mostly supportive, with many thanking the priest for voicing what they feel and for advocating respect for the Cuban people. However, there were also critical responses defending socialism and questioning his stance.

This isn't the first time Reyes has shared such reflections. In recent weeks, he has called for "overcoming fear and continuing to claim our rights," asserted that "change is already among us," warned that "a dictatorship doesn't love its children, it uses them for its purposes," and stated that "this people stopped identifying with the 'Revolution' long ago," in writings that emphasize dignity, freedom, and the responsibility to face the future without fear.

This time, his message was unequivocally directed at the left, which, from outside Cuba, continues to champion the system established on the island. His request was clear: recognize the failure and stop upholding an image that, according to him, doesn't match the reality experienced by Cubans.