A post by the Sancti Spíritus Military Region about distributing charcoal to combatants and civilian workers as part of "employee care" has provoked a wave of sarcastic comments and criticism on social media.
"Providing for personnel is among the top priorities in our units. Charcoal made by the combatants themselves," stated the Sancti Spíritus Military Region's profile, accompanied by photos showing workers lined up next to half-filled sacks.
The comments section quickly filled with sarcasm and frustration, highlighting both the absurdity of gifting half a sack of charcoal as a reward and the harsh reality that charcoal has become almost a luxury item in today's Cuba.
With power outages exceeding 30 hours, no distribution of liquefied gas or kerosene, and food spoiling due to a lack of refrigeration, charcoal sacks have reached exorbitant prices—costing thousands of pesos—as an alternative cooking fuel.
The post's bizarre and unintentionally humorous nature led many users to believe it was a joke or a hoax. "Nah, that must be fake," wrote Silenn López, while Alexis F. Espinosa asked, "Is this a meme or what?" Another user reacted, "Is this a joke, seriously?"
Mockery and Ironic Comments
Many users responded with ironic remarks about the clear symbol of backwardness. Comments like "We're going backward like crabs," "Entering the Paleolithic era anytime now," and "It's like watching Jurassic Park live" reflected the sentiment.
The ridicule continued with references to the embarrassing technological regression. Yunior Fundora Jiménez wrote, "I can't believe they're not embarrassed to post that online; next, they'll be handing out loincloths to chiefs to distribute among their tribes." Another user added, "After the charcoal comes the spear and two rocks."
Practicality vs. Reality
Some comments focused on the practical use of the so-called reward. "That charcoal is enough for two pots of coffee and three boiled eggs," commented Choki Barcas, while Vicente González added, "Well, they have charcoal now, just need something to cook."
Among the numerous reactions, some saw it as an indication of scarcity, even for the FAR workers historically favored by the regime. "Oh no! It's so pathetic and depressing, poor people," lamented one person. Another defined it as yet another attempt to placate workers with poor pay.
If not for the dire conditions in which most Cubans live under a regime with the FAR and the MININT as its repressive arms, posts like these might be appreciated as jokes to lighten the mood while browsing online. "Employee care"? Really?
Understanding the Irony and Backlash
Why did the charcoal distribution post receive backlash?
The post was criticized because it highlighted the absurdity of using charcoal as a reward, considering its status as a costly and necessary item due to current energy shortages in Cuba.
How did social media users react to the post?
Users responded with sarcasm, mockery, and criticism, pointing out the backwardness and irony in presenting charcoal distribution as "employee care."