Raul's Reign and Revolution

The citizens of Cuba have just entered the digital communication age, and are now poised to go crazy like the rest of the world texting messages using technological developments for social communications; including its attendant impersonal nature and secretive content that retards interpersonal interaction.

Since taking over from his brother Fidel last February, Cuban President Raul Castro's inaugural speech touched on easing some of the policies and restrictions imposed by his predecessor. Two weeks ago, a ban on a wide range of consumer electrical appliances was lifted, and more recently, he has allowed unrestricted use and ownership of cellular phones for Cubans. The service connection however, is to be paid in foreign currency which would limit use to wealthier Cubans.

Raul's daughter, Mariela Castro, who heads the government funded Centre for Sex Education, is attempting to get the Cuban National Assembly to adopt the most liberal gay and transsexual rights law in Latin America. The law recognizes same sex unions, inheritance rights, free sex change operations, and gender switching in their ID cards with or without a sex change operation. While supported by her father, the general attitude among Cubans regarding gays is that of an illness that needs to be cured. Much of Cuba is still homophobic but there is a recognition of the right of an individual to live their own lives. The label that Cubans born after 1959 associate with homosexuality is "ideological deviants", introduced by Fidel during the revolution. Gays and transsexuals have suffered much injustice because of this prevailing notion.

These reforms may remove some of the bitterness in the lives of Cubans, especially in cell phone use, but its cost will still be affordable only to a select few. The gay rights law may revolutionize Cuba's sexual politics but will do little else in addressing the country's economic problems. Cuba's economy is in shambles, a contribution from the US embargo. Its agriculture is a mess. Cubans are paid 400 pesos a month wages, equivalent to US $16, which is inadequate to maintain a decent living standard. Its dual currency (Peso for the Cubans and the Convertible to US Dollar Currency for tourists and foreigners) is an anomaly that must be overhauled. Their wages have to be converted to the tourist currency to be able to purchase goods that are 20 times more expensive.

There are at least 60% of the Cuban population who receive hard currencies through remittances from relatives in the US, or those who work in foreign factories. While cell phone use has been opened, internet use and travel restrictions remain strictly enforced. The changes that affect the daily lives of Cubans may be opening floodgates to a series of freedoms that may be demanded by its citizens. The power of instant communication via cell phones in mobilization for rallies, issue dissemination, breaking developments, news and/or intelligence gathering has been demonstrated several times throughout the world. It is faster and cheaper compared to the old printed manifestos.

Raul Castro must have devised some control for this or else he would be in too much over his head.The one thing that will remain constant and unchanged is the one party state system which will have the power to control everything else. As it is now, the reforms are only skin deep. Until an open Cuba, structured politically as a republican state with democratically elected officials and representatives of the people is in place, these reforms are mere decorations that cannot put more food on the table. These are decisions meant to elicit popularity, but it does nothing to feed its long starving citizens who hunger for freedom, justice, food, a better life, and a better Cuba. A country they can love, build, and be proud of.

Haaarrrwwwwk...Twoooooph...Ting!