Thursday, July 16, 2015

Cult of Personality in Cuban Parliament

Cult of Personality in Cuban Parliament
14ymedio, Yoani Sanchez
Posted on July 15, 2015

Generation Y, Yoani Sanchez, 15 July 2015 — The cult of personality has
a thousand ways of showing itself. From the face that stares out from
every schoolroom wall, to the flattery with which the government
journalists refer to certain officials. It would seem, however, that the
times of greatest excess in the veneration of a figure had been left
behind, to the extent that the memory of Fidel Castro has languished
since his forced retirement. However, the pernicious practice continues
here, with its exaggeration and ridiculousness.

On Tuesday, the entire National Assembly of People's Power dedicated
itself to the presentation of the book Raul Castro: A Man in Revolution,
written by the Russian Nikolai Leonov. A special session of the
Parliament had as its sole purpose to attend the launch of this volume,
published by Capital San Luis, and with more than 80 biographical
photos, some of them previously unpublished.

Out of modesty, or because he had to lead the 11th Plenum of the Cuban
Communist Party Central Committee, Raul Castro did not attend the
presentation, but this does not detract from the gesture's devotional
character. This was compounded by the use of parliamentarians for
purposes not included in their functions. How much did it cost for those
deputies who had travel to the Palace of Conventions? With so many
problems facing the country, which affect millions of people, how could
a day of "the official organ of State power" be squandered to sing the
praises of a single man?

Situations like yesterday are proof that the pernicious cult of
personality remains intact among us, fostered by those who idolize a few
and those who swell with vanity at the flattery.

Source: Cult of Personality in Cuban Parliament / 14ymedio, Yoani
Sanchez | Translating Cuba -
http://translatingcuba.com/cult-of-personality-in-cuban-parliament-14ymedio-yoani-sanchez/

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