Communist Militancy Expresses Its Disenchantment On The Web

Communist Militancy Expresses Its Disenchantment On The Web / 14ymedio

14ymedio, Havana, 19 April 2016 — The 7th Congress of the Communist
Party of Cuba has confirmed the suspicions of the opposition. Despite
the changes in the socio-political context of the island, the Party is
not open to the possibility a multi-party political system, nor will
there be new "forms of privatization" or "shock therapies" for the
economy, as announced by President Raul Castro. But the disappointment
transcends the ranks of the opposition and comes from their own
membership. Some militants have opened friendly fire against the Party
leadership and used their space on the web to express their opposition
to the stagnation of the elites.

"The documents that will be put to the consideration and approval of the
VII Congress of the Communist Party of Cuba (…) will not be discussed
with the membership at the grassroots," reflected Francisco Rodriguez
Cruz, known as "Paquito el de Cuba" and author of the blog of the same
name. Rodriguez Cruz published an article before the Party Congress
titled, "1,000 People Decide the Fate of the Nation?" "As a communist
militant I think that is not enough," he wrote.

Paquito el de Cuba considers appropriate mechanisms such as regional
meetings with leaders of various sectors of society, evaluation
assemblies and municipal elections, but considers them insufficient.

"Undoubtedly, these are valid ways. But pale (…) now that these
decisions are already signed. I repeat in public, I believe I have the
right (…) The changes underway and to come for Cuban society need much
more discussion," he claimed.

Yohan Gonzalez, from the official blog "From My Island," begins a post
titled "The Militant Who Wanted To Be," by explaining how it was his
dream as a young person to belong to the PCC. "I believe that only
through membership could I be a good revolutionary and good Cuban," he
recalls. Gonzalez, who confesses he is a socialist and not a communist,
returned his membership card to the Union of Young Communists (UJC) and
abandoned his aspiration, because he says he would have liked to be a
half-militant – "a person committed but realistic, disciplined but
critical" – like Paquito el de Cuba, to whom he refers directly.

"The Congress (…) opens having failed to push the popular debate of its
documents. I'm sure there are half-militants among the delegates,
helpful people, with a capacity to represent. But the future of the
country can not be in the hands of a few," he says.

González regrets the lack of transparency and that Cubans can not access
the documents the delegates have, that they don't address social issues
such as emigration, LGBTI rights or racism, and that there are no
younger people among the Party elite. "I did not convert myself into
this militant, but I have no regrets. Today I am more revolutionary than
I wanted to be and more Cuban. I am an equal of that half-militant who
will go along with everything that passes in the Congress but in the end
will still have the sensation they he could have done much more," he
concludes.

"The time when the fate of Cuba it could be decided by a handful of men
is over." Thus begins the text entitled "The National Plan" by Harold
Cardenas Lema, blogger on La Joven Cuba (Young Cuba).

The author gives a good overview of the collective intelligence of the
Cuban people, who he considers the best educated in the region, to
reproach the not taking into account of this human capital.

"Our country has a thousand and one problems to resolve, some products
of the blockade and others very much our own," he says, before offering
a review of the reasons why the citizenry has given "a blank check to
the country's leadership." Cardenas shows that the bad governments prior
to 1959 and the popularity of the Revolution led to a faith in the
leadership of the PCC that has no foundation.

"It happens that this consensus was formed more than half a century ago,
with a generation that knew capitalism, who experienced the Agrarian
Reform Law, the Literacy Campaign. My generation knows only the Special
Period, the vicissitudes and the breakdown of values. Can the same
consensus work with us? I think not," he says.

Nevertheless, the blogger proposes an exercise of understanding with the
elites with those who think they have a plan. However, his belief that
politicians live in a bubble that separates them from reality leads him
to doubt the current capacity of the Party to solve Cubans' problems.

"By now we should have learned to be inclusive and not exclusive when
the time comes for collective construction. (…) This nation can
temporarily engage in politics with the people or against the people,
but permanently without the people is not possible," he says.

Source: Communist Militancy Expresses Its Disenchantment On The Web /
14ymedio – Translating Cuba -
http://translatingcuba.com/communist-militancy-expresses-its-disenchantment-on-the-web-14ymedio/