Pedro Campos

A recent article that appeared in the Juventud Rebelde newspaper was entitled “They Are Human Beings,” referring to the insults and criticism of stellar athlete Dayron Robles for failing to win a hoped-for Olympic gold medal.

Once again the Obama administration has included Cuba on its list of countries that sponsor international terrorism, while at the same time collaborating with the Castro government on this issue.

I feel discouraged with the latest Cuban government actions and speeches. They are not taking into account the interests of the people, and they’re committing many errors.

Once again I’ve heard the voices of representatives of a trend of pragmatic economism who insist that “what’s important is that the economy functions, not the form of ownership or production used to achieve that.”

On the first page, there appeared a large headline that read: “Florida Experiencing Tuberculosis Epidemic”. On page two appears the news item reporting on an outbreak of cholera in Cuba with 158 infected and 3 deaths.

For those who have dedicated themselves to fighting against the “imperialist enemy and its agents,” real or fictional, they must defend tooth and nail all that has made the “perfect revolution” — understood as the work of a state — no matter the practical results, the “side effects” or that it has driven us to the edge of the abyss.

The ends and means are out of sync. The “Guidelines” rely principally on increased production through technocratic measures. Yet they forgot what’s most important: Without the incentive to work, there will be no increase in production.

The recent editorial in Cubadebate — which actually defames and hinders Cuban debate — joins with those who would eliminate the socialist alternative. What is hurting socialism isn’t the Internet, but its absence. Technology doesn’t have surnames. It is neither capitalist nor socialist. In any case it is the work of intellectual and manual workers, and it serves those who use it best to serve their interests.

If we don’t agree with everything expressed in the “Demanda Ciudadana por otra Cuba”* (Citizen’s Demand for Another Cuba), signed by over 100 people from civil society, opponents of the government of various tendencies, and Cubans in general (outside and inside the country) there is agreement on what is the essential request of the document.

I will refer to one concrete philosophical element present in ideologies: the relationship between the means and ends, a matter of prime importance for understanding and undertaking political tasks and those of any other nature.