Debate of Positions

Debate of Positions / Fernando Damaso
Posted on July 26, 2013


It's no secret that in our society, and even within the government
itself, different positions are debated about how to confront and
resolve our economic, political and social crisis. The honeymoon era,
based on a supposed monolithic unity of all the components of the
nation, which ultimately was never for real, has been left behind and is
just a bad memory, displaced by the winds of change of different
intensity and direction.

In recent days, some characters of known inflexible affiliation, fearful
of losing their precarious positions and privileges, even with the small
and slow changes introduced mainly in the economy, have targeted the
so-called new rich, principally the successful self-employed, preaching
to unleash a witch hunt, something we have always had plenty of: for
example Bird-on-a-Wire*, The Battle Against the Pots**, etc.

The demons being exorcised now are quinceañeras (huge parties for girls'
15th birthdays), dressing in the latest fashions, listening to
contemporary music, eating ham shank, drinking Coca-Cola and preferring
Disney cartoons. Also included are some owners of vehicles dedicated to
passengers and cargo which, according to these characters, has nothing
to do with the culture. It seems incredible, but it is real. The absurd
proposals to change the situation do not bear repeating…

Nevertheless, times have changed and people have as well, though perhaps
not as much as we would have liked, but if, before, prosperity was
punished by word and deed, now, at least in words it is not the case
and, indeed, it is emerging strongly, hence the spear launched against it.

For myself, I don't care about the new rich, provided they have obtained
and obtain their wealth with their talent, initiative, hard work and
determination. Both those who have become rich from the spoils of
ancient wealth for their riches, arguing the necessity of converting it
into the property of the whole people, which they did, transforming it
into state property where some, acting within the state, obtained and
derived their wealth, positions and privileges, adding to them at the
expense of the misery of the citizens.

Nor have I ever believed in a false equality, which really only equaled
poverty for the majority of the population, while a privileged elite has
remained and continues "on top the ball," as a popular song says, far
above ordinary Cubans.

Translator's notes:
*Bird-on-a-Wire was a police operation in February 1982 against
speculators who were cornering rural markets and charging exorbitant
prices for the goods.
**The Battle Against the Pots: The "pots" (wealthy people) were accused
of diverting state resources to meet their own needs (for example, using
a state-owned crane to lift a water tank onto an individual's house).

23 July 2013

Source: "Debate of Positions / Fernando Damaso | Translating Cuba" -
http://translatingcuba.com/debate-of-positions-fernando-damaso/