One More Insult

One More Insult / Fernando Damaso
Posted on April 18, 2015

Fernando Damaso, 15 April 2015 — The culture minister's presentation of
Cuban flags to twenty Cuban artists and intellectuals, members of the
"governmental Jurassic park," in recognition of their shameful behavior
during the Summit of the Americas civil society forum — actions
criticized and condemned the world over — is deplorable.

It is true that our national standard, debased through improper and
cheap use, has been losing over time, among many ordinary Cubans, the
respect it always deserved, especially during the most complex moments
of our history.

Since wearing the flag as apparel (not unusual in some countries) is
prohibited in Cuba, how ironic to be using it now as a mop cloth.

The unacceptable and swaggering behavior of these artists and
intellectuals deserves not recognition, but a reprimand, for how poorly
they have represented all Cubans.

True representatives of intolerance, dogmatism and the most caveman-like
authoritarianism, they have amply demonstrated that, if this is our only
civil society, we are better off without it.

As no one has before, they have demonstrated that "within the
Revolution, everything…." is possible.*

Translator's Notes:
*A reference to Fidel's so-called Speech to the Intellectuals in 1961,
in which he proclaimed, "Within the Revolution, everything. Outside the
Revolution, nothing."

Translated by: Alicia Barraqué Ellison

Source: One More Insult / Fernando Damaso | Translating Cuba -
http://translatingcuba.com/one-more-insult-fernando-damaso/