The Clan in Power / Rosa María Rodríguez Torrado

The Clan in Power / Rosa María Rodríguez Torrado
Rosa María Rodríguez Torrado, Translator: Unstated

From: "www.intereconomia.com"

Delfi is an almost obsolete computer programming language, and in
reverse almost a man's name I don't care to mention, although in this
writing I allude to one who still governs or influences the destiny of
Cuba and who reappears in public on occasion talking about the end of
the world. This would-be Messiah of the olive-green mentality, who
became a "peaceful guerrilla" in pursuit of a Nobel Prize, took the
world to the brink of World War III. Among his political priorities have
been his own image, remaining at the head of Cuba and of the model he
founded and built, the export of his ideological pretext — including
logistical support to friends and guerrillas — to come to power, or to
perpetuate himself in it, the constant criticism of the rich countries,
particularly the United States. He has worn out Cuba socially,
politically and economically, and he still meddles in the problems of
others offering them his theories in exchange for support, even if it is
just propaganda and patronage. Venezuela is the economic exception that
replaced the former Soviet empire in this line.

But I refuse to attribute all national problems to him, because he is a
symbol, an icon: the caudillo of a team of people who have conspired
with him to keep him, for decades, in the seat where they have
habitually committed the dishonor of violating the rights of a whole
nation. So they insist on the illogic of the single-party system and
maintain the closed circle of the clan, where there is no room for
questions, only obedience.

To this working group he always gives privileges and perks in exchange
for the worship of his person and he made them stewards of the current
problems of Cuba and those to come. This practice is still maintained
because in him is the survival of the failed, but stubbornly defended
political model and the continuation of the well-being of his "friends
in the cause" and family members.

I know that Delfi enjoys this widespread cult of personality that has
captured headlines and he still appears in the international press with
his name and surname — keeping in mind that the dauphin and current
president is his brother — but it's not enough. The Castro clan and the
"Castro dynasty" continues castrating the fundamental rights of Cubans,
postponing our legitimate aspirations and needs for political pluralism,
and deifying the image of the dictator with appearances, historical
images of the guerrillas, constant references to his person in the
national media, and presentations to foreign audiences along with the
local elite.

It's not that I would like to "play with the monkey and the chain,"* the
facts are the evidence that he is still there, with his group of
accommodating sculptors of the myth, preventing the current Head of
State from having too much prominence, or ruining it all with openings
or reforms, this political monotheism and cult of his personality for
which he and his stalwarts have worked for more than fifty years.

Many think it is best to ignore him, but in doing so, I feel I'm missing
a fundamental part of our history, restricting my freedom of speech, and
going along with those who harass us, and that is not intellectually honest.

*Translator's note: From a popular Cuban saying: "Play with the chain
but not the monkey."

May 16 2012

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