On Monday, Grandmaster Lázaro Bruzón shared a video on Facebook, contemplating why some Cubans struggle to "accept change." He attributes this to decades of indoctrination that have intertwined ideology with the personal identities of millions.
Reflecting on a Totalitarian System
Bruzón, who has resided in Missouri since 2018, describes Cuba as a nation where a totalitarian system permeated every aspect of life. From childhood, Cubans were exposed to a singular narrative through street billboards, television, radio, schools, history books, and even cartoons, promoting the Revolution as beneficial, socialism as the only viable path, and capitalism—along with the United States—as the source of all evils.
"When subjected to such intense indoctrination for so many years, it becomes challenging for many to accept that they have been wrong," Bruzón explains.
The Personal Struggle of Accepting Deception
According to Bruzón, the hurdle is not merely ideological but profoundly personal. Acknowledging the deception involves reevaluating childhood heroes, rejecting beloved books, shows, and memories that are integral to one's identity.
"Renouncing so many things that define your identity leads many to resist and maintain self-deception, as it is less painful than accepting that the entire Cuban nation has been subjected to extreme manipulation," he asserts.
Bruzón's Personal Journey
Bruzón explicitly includes himself in this process. Before emigrating, he was a member of the Young Communist League and served as a delegate in the Assembly of People's Power in Las Tunas, even tattooing Che Guevara as a reflection of his youthful indoctrination. "I must honestly admit that I was one of many who followed a doctrine in many respects flawed and wholly responsible for Cuba’s woes," he confesses in the video.
He advocates for individual courage to heal collectively: "To heal and achieve a prosperous, just nation for all Cubans, each must accept their share of responsibility."
Challenging the Regime's Indoctrination
The video was released shortly after Bruzón published a text titled "Cuba: The Price of Awakening," where he delved deeper into this internal conflict. He described the process of questioning learned beliefs as "dismantling, piece by piece, a mental construction built over decades," warning that accepting the truth involves reassessing political errors and personal memories, figures, and beliefs that form one's identity.
This reflection is part of a sustained trajectory of critical statements. Last May, Bruzón claimed that Cuba's indoctrination "leads to fanaticism, hinders critical thinking, and often logic," recounting how his first visit to the U.S. in 2013 was clouded by fear and prejudice due to decades of propaganda.
On June 13, he challenged the regime’s cyber fighters with the phrase "checkmate, surrender," and last Friday, he described Díaz-Canel as embodying "evil, failure, burden" after his speeches at the XXII Congress of the Cuban Workers' Central Union.
Recent documentation supports Bruzón's denunciations of indoctrination: in April, reports emerged that preschool children in Havana were forced to chant slogans like "Fidel," "socialism," and "militiaman," and in September 2025, it was revealed that first-grade math books included images of Fidel Castro in basic exercises.
"We must simply defend the truth, admit our mistakes, and aspire to a better Cuba, free from all this doctrine and dogmatism that has brought us to where we are," concludes Bruzón in the video.
Understanding Lázaro Bruzón's Perspective
What is Lázaro Bruzón's main argument about the difficulty of accepting change in Cuba?
Bruzón argues that decades of strong indoctrination have intertwined ideology with personal identity, making it difficult for many Cubans to accept change.
How does Lázaro Bruzón describe his personal experience with indoctrination in Cuba?
He admits to being a part of the indoctrination process, having been a member of the Young Communist League and a delegate in the Assembly of People's Power, and even tattooing Che Guevara as a reflection of his youthful beliefs.
What recent evidence supports Bruzón's claims about indoctrination in Cuba?
Recent reports indicate that preschool children in Havana were made to chant political slogans, and first-grade math books included images of Fidel Castro, illustrating ongoing indoctrination practices.