Opinion

In his most recent public speech on Sunday, President Raul Castro urged youth to make use of debate and to accept differences of opinion as a means to advance the construction of socialism.

Is it possible to disagree with certain decisions and policies outlined by the Cuban leaders while continuing to be on the side of the Revolution? Do you think the leaders in fact fear disagreement? Up to what point could differences of opinion advance or reverse the Cuban effort to build socialism?

Participate in the discussion

We know the enemy’s tactics. In their plans, polarization should lead the situation of the country to a worsened political and economic disaster at the hands of the authoritarian conservatives, contrary to the need for all forms of democratization and socialization.

Cuban-Americana singer Gloria Estefan headed a march this past Friday in Miami in support of the Cuban dissident group known as the Ladies in White. Likewise, actor Andy Garcia headed a protest on Sunday in Los Angeles with the same objective.

Havana Times invites its readers to reflect on this issue:

What has compelled these artists to lead demonstrations against the Cuban government?

Are they defending the interests of Cubans who live on the island?

Will these marches contribute to better relations between Cuba and the United States?

Participate in the debate.

After 50 years of a socialist government and highly personalized leadership, lots of people on and off the island are wondering what’s next for Cuba when Fidel Castro and his brother Raul are gone. If you browse through the Juventud Rebelde newspaper website, you can find several articles referring to recently held meetings of top Communist Party officials with the Young Communist League (UJC). In most of those meetings an often used phrase was heard: “The future of the Revolution is guaranteed.”

What’s your opinion?

Beyond the facts, those who are accustomed to following the course of events from within begin to sense the presence of a pattern that has been repeated over and over during the history of Cuba in the last decades: the vicious and seemingly inevitable circle of relaxing – tightening and/or crisis – hardening.

A few years ago the minister of Culture, Abel Prieto, told me in a conversation that technological development would very soon make it impossible to block satellite signals, and added that the failure to prepare people to receive information from other sources would be suicidal.

It occurred today, March 18, at about 11 in the morning. I was near Obispo and Compostela Streets, in Old Havana, when by chance I heard the uproar and decided to get closer, as did several other onlookers. Coming down the street was a group of some 20 women dressed in civilian clothing and chanting slogans.