2008 Woodie Awards
For Cubans, Raúl's reforms are bittersweet
Miranda Helbling
Issue date: 4/9/08 Section: Opinion
Under the new leadership of Raúl Castro, it appears that reforms in Cuba are underway. Cuban citizens can now own cell phones, and stay in hotels that only tourists could once stay in. The economy is expected to become more open. But are these reforms really allowing more freedom for Cuban citizens? To me, it seems unlikely.
Differences exist between Fidel and Raúl, of course. Fidel, the charismatic leader, always seemed to be front and center, proclaiming "¡Patria o muerte!" (Fatherland or death!) after each of his speeches. But Raúl was always in the background, helping his brother make decisions. He controls the military, security and Communist Party, and therefore, has a lot of power. But it is not really that he has so much power that is a concern, but rather, how he will use it.
Until recently, the only people allowed to use cell phones were Cuban government officials, Cubans working for foreign companies, and foreigners. It's great that regular citizens are now allowed to own them as well…except that the average citizen, who earns a monthly state salary of $15 per month, can't afford a cell phone. A cell phone line in Cuba currently costs $120 to activate. And as of now, minutes are billed in convertible pesos, which cost 24 times the amount of the regular Cuban peso. Also, there is always the government in the background, who could be listening in on cell phone conversations.
As for the hotels-well, perhaps this is the start to the end of the tourism apartheid. However, that could only be true if Cubans could afford to stay in hotels, which can cost anywhere from $60 to more than $200 per night.
These changes are called reforms, but reforms for whom? Certainly the ordinary Cuban citizen cannot take hold of these reforms, even if he or she wished to. Until a dramatic change in the Cuban government occurs, they will remain just out of grasp. The island has been called "The most beautiful prison on Earth," and-more or less-it's the truth. The island has amazing flora and fauna, breathtaking beaches, but little freedom. Imagine, making the decision to travel on a homemade raft the 90 treacherous miles from Cuba to Florida. This decision can result in one of the following: dying on the way there, getting intercepted on the way there and being returned to Cuba, or making it there (the least likely). Now, imagine deciding to stay, to be an exile in your own country. It's a lose-lose situation.
Supposedly Raúl wants to gradually open Cuba's economy, and is considering adopting the "Chinese Model." This will allow citizens to make a living, but they will still be under strict political rule, and not have personal access to many amenities. Reform is good, but reform needs to be made in all areas, not just the ones Raúl wants to make it in. Until that happens, the only true freedom Cubans will have is the freedom of mind, a difficult freedom to obtain in a land where the lack of freedom is everywhere.
Differences exist between Fidel and Raúl, of course. Fidel, the charismatic leader, always seemed to be front and center, proclaiming "¡Patria o muerte!" (Fatherland or death!) after each of his speeches. But Raúl was always in the background, helping his brother make decisions. He controls the military, security and Communist Party, and therefore, has a lot of power. But it is not really that he has so much power that is a concern, but rather, how he will use it.
Until recently, the only people allowed to use cell phones were Cuban government officials, Cubans working for foreign companies, and foreigners. It's great that regular citizens are now allowed to own them as well…except that the average citizen, who earns a monthly state salary of $15 per month, can't afford a cell phone. A cell phone line in Cuba currently costs $120 to activate. And as of now, minutes are billed in convertible pesos, which cost 24 times the amount of the regular Cuban peso. Also, there is always the government in the background, who could be listening in on cell phone conversations.
As for the hotels-well, perhaps this is the start to the end of the tourism apartheid. However, that could only be true if Cubans could afford to stay in hotels, which can cost anywhere from $60 to more than $200 per night.
These changes are called reforms, but reforms for whom? Certainly the ordinary Cuban citizen cannot take hold of these reforms, even if he or she wished to. Until a dramatic change in the Cuban government occurs, they will remain just out of grasp. The island has been called "The most beautiful prison on Earth," and-more or less-it's the truth. The island has amazing flora and fauna, breathtaking beaches, but little freedom. Imagine, making the decision to travel on a homemade raft the 90 treacherous miles from Cuba to Florida. This decision can result in one of the following: dying on the way there, getting intercepted on the way there and being returned to Cuba, or making it there (the least likely). Now, imagine deciding to stay, to be an exile in your own country. It's a lose-lose situation.
Supposedly Raúl wants to gradually open Cuba's economy, and is considering adopting the "Chinese Model." This will allow citizens to make a living, but they will still be under strict political rule, and not have personal access to many amenities. Reform is good, but reform needs to be made in all areas, not just the ones Raúl wants to make it in. Until that happens, the only true freedom Cubans will have is the freedom of mind, a difficult freedom to obtain in a land where the lack of freedom is everywhere.
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