Cuban actor, playwright, and activist Yunior García Aguilera has delivered one of his fiercest criticisms yet against the Cuban regime, using a recent Facebook post to voice his concerns.
In his statement, García not only challenged the official narrative that portrays the government as a perpetual victim but also highlighted it as a historical and current threat, particularly to the Cuban people.
"The Cuban regime denies everything, much like in a song by Joaquín Sabina," he commented.
García argued that the power in Havana presents itself globally as a defenseless victim—"a poor, innocent Little Red Riding Hood"—while glossing over key historical episodes that contradict this image.
He referenced the 1962 Missile Crisis as one such example. "Cuba is the only Latin American country where a foreign power installed nuclear weapons. In other words, we were a real threat to the entire planet," he emphasized.
He also recalled a letter from Fidel Castro to Nikita Khrushchev, urging a nuclear first strike by the Soviet Union if the United States were to attack.
"Old Nikita replied that such an action would mean Cuba's immediate disappearance. Yet the response from Havana was even more alarming: they were willing to sacrifice themselves," García noted, questioning how such a monumental decision could be made without consulting the Cuban populace.
"The number one enemy of Gillette never asked any Cuban if they were okay with frying in the name of Saint Marx," he added with a touch of irony, critiquing the authoritarianism and ideological fanaticism.
The Internal Impact of Castrism
For García, that moment was an early indication of "how far the regime's destructive logic could go when it came to maintaining its fanaticism."
In his view, this was not merely a Cold War episode but a sign of the disregard for the country's life and future when these conflicted with political rhetoric.
Now residing in Spain, the activist maintains that this behavior by the regime persists. He mentioned Cuba's military and political activities in Africa and Latin America, its support for guerrilla movements as part of a strategy that prioritized ideological confrontation over national development.
"Is castrism a threat to the United States? Well... First and foremost, it is a threat to Cubans themselves," he declared emphatically.
With that statement, Yunior García turned the spotlight on the internal impact of the system: decades of repression, persecution of dissent, imprisonment, exile, and forced silence for those who question authority.
In his reflection, he attributes the ongoing conflict with the United States to "the fragile ego of a megalomaniac," accusing the regime of maintaining an obsession that has shaped the nation's destiny.
"Since their fanatics can't set the planet ablaze, they at least aim to sink the Island into the sea. It's a less Hollywood-style ending, but the movie ran out of budget," he concluded.
García's words resonate in a context where governmental criticism continues to be met with arrests, surveillance, and legal proceedings.
His stance reinforces the argument that the highest cost of political confrontation and authoritarianism is not borne by foreign powers but by Cuban citizens, who remain trapped in a prolonged crisis where freedom of expression is still penalized.
Understanding the Threat of Castrism to Cubans
Why does Yunior García consider castrism a threat to Cubans?
Yunior García views castrism as a threat to Cubans due to its historical and ongoing repression, ideological fanaticism, and prioritization of political rhetoric over the well-being and future of the Cuban people.
What historical event does García use to illustrate Cuba's threat to the world?
García references the 1962 Missile Crisis, during which Cuba allowed a foreign power to install nuclear weapons on its soil, posing a significant threat to global security.
How does García describe the Cuban regime's response to external threats?
García describes the regime's response as alarming and willing to sacrifice the Cuban population without consent, highlighting an authoritarian and fanatical approach.