The Evil That’s Killing Us
By Ammi
HAVANA TIMES – The psychological alliance between a hostage and their captor, known as the Stockholm Syndrome, is visible in most Cuban people. Strangely enough, many people in need and being abused, harbor positive emotions for the dictatorship.
This sentiment begins with praise for the Cuban Revolution (which is so sickening that it’s hard to swallow). They reach a point of showing complete solidarity and understanding with the government.
It’s sad to see how many rural people live in badly-damaged homes. Sometimes because of past hurricanes, or in others because it was the only place they managed to get. Even with these roofs hanging over their heads, they praise Communism’s achievements.
Their eyes light up when they talk about Fidel (who stripped them of their land its produce). When they talk about Ernesto Che Guevara, they forget the names of all the people who died at his hands.
How many Cubans do we not see daily out on the street all over the country, running around to try and get a hold of food to put on the table? They spend long hours in a never-ending line under the rain, hot sun, exhausted. However, they can’t or don’t want to raise their voices and arms against the yoke that enslaves them.
How many Cubans do we NOT see on social media every day? Denouncing medical negligence, the country’s terrible housing crisis, the shortages we have to deal with. And we aren’t blind, we see the problems, they’re right there in front of us, they are real.
But there is always that person, captured by a love towards their kidnapper, that will unfortunately only see these as: “small mistakes for over 60 years.”
If Marco, we had been subjected all our lives to the propaganda of the Castro regime which I endeavored to describe, we too would appear to have had our brains washed. Alcatraz did not practice psychological manipulation (brain washing) which is the very purpose of the Propaganda Department of the Communist Party of Cuba. The life of which you speak in mentioning Amazon, is a whole world away from that which Ammi knows.
Virtually everything you say is correct, but Ammi knows only that which she personally has experienced – but yet, evidently realizes that Fidel Castro’s “socialismo” is a lie, and yearns for freedom. May she and her children eventually know it within Cuba.
Incidentally, we can make transfers into Cuban banks from abroad, but it is instantly converted into CUCs which have no international value.
It looks like Ammi has her brain washed. Where is the freedom when you can’t go from one province to another in Cuba. And I’m not talking about the pandemic situation, but in many cases roads are terrible and there is no buses. What kind of freedom is that when you can’t buy anything on Amazon or eBay because they simply don’t ship anything to Cuba. And even if I did on my own, the parcel wouldn’t reach its destination anyway. The bank where Cuban people keep their savings is controlled by the government, and we can’t make any transfers from aboard as it is not recognized around the world. In other words, Cuba is like a big Alcatraz.
Ammi writes of the consequences of Castro propaganda. Although the Castro regime has faced major economic problems for most of its prolonged grip, there has always been and still is, finance for propaganda. Those Cubans now under the age of 65, have been subjected to it throughout their living memory, with censorship running parallel. Within the propaganda there is a clever insertion of nationalism and Cuban symbols creating an impression that being a good Cuban necessitates supporting the regime as if it is synonymous with loyalty to ones country.
The Propaganda Department of the Communist Party of Cuba is a reality – it never ceases in its endeavors. From creche at age one, through the school years, through university, at home through controlled radio and television, with only the pathetic “newspapers” published by the Party, the propaganda never ceases, there is no alternative and there is no relieve.
The whole world has read of the struggles of the revolution and the hardships experienced by the revolutionaries, the leadership and supposed knowledge of every aspect of life held by Fidel Castro and perhaps only rivalled by Wikipedia. there was ALWAYS a photographer at hand. Film strangely, was ALWAYS available!
Raul Castro was well trained and educated in propaganda, misinformation and developing cult of the personality, by the KGB and guided by Nicolai S. Leonov (one time boss of Vladamir Putin), and it was he who as the schemer behind the throne, ensured that all was recorded for posterity.
What chance was there for the average Cuban to know of any alternative to the Castro dictate?