Wednesday, January 14, 2015

A New "Political Imaginary"

Tania Bruguera - Political and performance artist in Cuba

A New "Political Imaginary"
Posted: 01/13/2015 11:21 am EST

Reestablishing diplomatic relations between Cuba and the United States
will be a positive event for Cuban families, for peaceful coexistence in
a globalized world and, most of all, for the individual and collective
freedom of each Cuban.

In the open letter I sent to President Obama, President Castro and Pope
Francis on December 17, I congratulated them on this historic moment,
which Cubans have spent half a century waiting for. Hate and embargos
accomplish nothing; only through dialogue and acceptance of mutual
differences can we all grow and thrive.

This letter also led to the creation of #YoTambienExijo ("I Also
Demand"), a nonpartisan, volunteer public platform. Through the key
phrase of this missive, "Yo Exijo" ("I Demand"), Cubans are asking for
the fulfillment of their civil, political, economic and cultural rights.
Why? Because it's impossible to talk about the future of Cuba without
taking Cubans' rights and opinions into account. It's not healthy for a
society to think only of possible economic improvement. It's not healthy
for us to think that Cubans' only future is to be consumers.

It is urgent that Cubans -- not only the government but civil society --
strengthens itself and discusses in diverse environments what concept of
a country and future it wants for itself. It is urgent that each Cuban
be able to speak for themselves outside of the official institutions
established during more than half a century of Cold War. And it is
urgent that this discussion brings forth new structures, institutions,
laws and rights that guarantee Cubans happiness, quality of life,
sovereignty and well-being in the coming years. It is important that
Cubans be citizens.

As a Cuban, I demand we be informed of what the plans of the Cuban
government are with our lives. I demand that, as part of this new step,
a process of political transparency be established, in which we all have
a place to participate and the right to a different opinion without
being punished for it.

I proposed an artistic performance in the Plaza de la Revolución in
Havana on December 30 as an example of political art. Political art is
uncomfortable, legally uncomfortable, civically uncomfortable,
emotionally uncomfortable. It affects us. Political art is the
processing of uncomfortable knowledge.

I've heard many times in Cuba that this isn't the right time to
criticize, to use a metaphor or to create a piece of art. Often, I
censored myself as an artist as a result of these words that magically
place the blame on a doubt or opinion. Today, I know that the right time
for an artist is ALWAYS, but most of all when ways of evaluating society
and humanity are suspended. The "right time" can't be a government
directive, because the result would be propaganda, not art. The artist
would be in the service of the government, not society.

I know that now is the right time for the discussion to leave
presidential offices and to include all of society, as the most
important political decisions on Cuban daily life under these new
conditions have yet to be made.

Changes in Cuba cannot be real if the decision comes from above, is
simply told to us, and we are obligated to accept it without questions.
Changes in Cuba cannot be real if a different opinion is given only when
the government allows it. Changes in Cuba cannot be real if Cubans are
afraid of certain words, such as Human Rights. Changes in Cuba cannot be
real if Cubans are afraid that having an opinion will cost them a job.
Changes in Cuba cannot be real if the Cuban government is only
interested in its citizens' money, not their ideas.

The December 17 announcement has been very positive, because it created
a new "political imaginary" (the theory espoused by Hannah Arendt and
Cornelius Castoriadis). Now, we have to fight for this imaginary not to
be limited by old behaviors and new censors -- because Cuba cannot open
itself up to the world without first opening itself up to Cubans.

Source: A New "Political Imaginary" | Tania Bruguera -
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tania-bruguera/a-new-political-imaginary_b_6463272.html?1421166134

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