The Cuban actress Angelina Castro has launched a sharp critique against the political approach of the Cuban exile community in the United States. She argues that decades of financial backing and electoral support given to Cuban-American lawmakers have yielded no tangible results for the island or for Cubans residing in the U.S.
In a recent interview with CiberCuba, Castro expressed her disillusionment with the situation in Cuba, stating she has long stopped believing in what she describes as "fairy tales."
"I'm getting older, almost 50, and once you pass 40, you have to sit down and realize the foolishness you've believed all your life and how we've been used," she declared.
Decades of Efforts Yield No Results
Living in Miami and part of the so-called historic Cuban exile, Castro pointed out that the United States has been channeling funds to organizations fighting for Cuba for decades, "yet we haven't made any progress."
According to the actress, the closest moment to real improvement occurred during the diplomatic opening under President Obama, a move harshly criticized by exile sectors.
Obama's Diplomatic Opening and Internet Access
"The closest we came to improving the Cuban situation was with Obama, and he was criticized," she noted, adding that the island gained internet access thanks to that opening.
Castro advocated for dialogue as a strategy and criticized that both Obama and current Secretary of State Marco Rubio faced backlash merely for negotiating with the regime.
"If we keep doing the same thing, we won't see different results," she asserted.
Criticism of Politicians and Community Reflection
Her most pointed criticism was directed at Miami Republican Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar, whom she described as "more lost than I am in a church reading the Bible."
Castro questioned Salazar's statements claiming that President Donald Trump was unaware of the situation facing undocumented Cubans. "Lady, we're not fools, how long will you keep deceiving us?" she asked.
Castro argued that if Trump were truly ignorant of the Cuban situation, despite the numerous laws Salazar supposedly pushes in their favor, "then he shouldn't be the president of this country."
The actress urged the Cuban-American community to reconsider their electoral behavior.
She stated that voting for politicians who worsen the living conditions of Cubans in the U.S. in exchange for promises about the island's freedom is "foolishness" that the community has been repeating for years.
"We're being taken advantage of here in the United States because I genuinely care about Cuba. I want it to be free... but I can't vote for a senator or congressman who makes things worse here with the fairy tale dream that they'll improve things in Cuba. That's foolishness on our part, and we've been doing it for years," she concluded.
Angelina Castro's Critique of U.S. Political Strategy for Cuba
What is Angelina Castro's main criticism of the Cuban exile political strategy?
Angelina Castro criticizes the Cuban exile political strategy for decades of financial and electoral support that have not resulted in tangible improvements for Cuba or Cubans in the U.S.
How does Castro view the diplomatic efforts under President Obama?
Castro views President Obama's diplomatic efforts as the closest moment to real improvement in Cuba, noting that it led to internet access on the island.
What is Castro's opinion on voting for certain politicians?
Castro believes that voting for politicians who harm the conditions of Cubans in the U.S. in exchange for promises about Cuba's freedom is foolishness and calls for a change in electoral behavior.