Tania Díaz Castro
HAVANA, February (www.cubanet.org) - Without realizing it, the Brazilian
Jesuit priest, Frei Betto, the promoter of liberation Theology and friend of
Fidel Castro, has hit the nail on the head regarding the economic situation the
Cuban people are undergoing, which is much more serious than Argentinas.
According to Betto, in an article published in the official Juventud Rebelde
newspaper, there is a need to look for an alternative to the present economic
model. Thus, it is understood, also in Cuba. Well see why.
After a brief analysis of the world economy, among other things, the
Brasilian priest mentioned that in our planet, with 6.1 billion people, only a
third of them enjoy "dignified living conditions," while the rest live
in poverty or in misery because they dont have a monthly income equivalent
to 60 or 30 dollars, respectively.
But in his text, the Jesuit doesnt mention the crisis in Cuba (where
workers receive an average monthly salary well below the equivalent of 30
dollars) that has gone on for decades. Not even Betto dares to compare the
situation in the island with that of the poorest countries in Africa.
The Communist failure of Fidel Castro becomes evident in this article by
Betto, even if he doesnt say so clearly. After almost 50 years of a
socialist economy, totally controlled by the State, we dont have the same
living standard of Latin America, with the exception of Haiti.
The liberation theologist also neglects another fundamental aspect: the
right of every citizen of freely expressing his political ideas. In Cuba and
this can be confirmed by all visitors, even if they lodge in luxury hotels or in
the governments diplomatic houses what recently happened in Venezuela
could ot happen: those opposed to Chavez had all the guarantees to express their
ideas in the streets, in the local press, on radio and television. Nor could
what happened in Buenos Aires happen in Cuba: rebellious demonstrations in the
public thoroughfares and in the stores.
Cubans, especially ordinary Cubans, have been the victims of a
sophisticated, repressive machine for more than four decades. The rights of the
majority dont count. Their freedom is restricted for the benefit of the
central economic planning of a failed, unworkable State, whose representatives
dont share the penury of ordinary Cubans.
Versión
original en español
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