SER CUBANO Y ALGO MAS

       

Por pura casualidad me toco ser cubano; Olofi quiso que mi anatomía llegara al mundo en esa diminuta y convulsa isla bañada por mar turquesa e intenso sol. En realidad podía haberme dejado caer de la “guagua” en cualquier otro sitio; luego de vivir en cinco países comprendo que la nacionalidad es un hecho totalmente fortuito y en muchos casos hasta irracional e inexplicable; una gran parte del “patriotismo” radica en la imposibilidad del ser humano de reconocer su mala suerte y tras los alaridos de viva tal o viva más cual nación se oculta el grotesco fantasma del fracaso.

Quizás no ser un patriota empedernido, inveterado o fundamentalista me coloca en la privilegiada posición de poder analizar con cerebro frío y corazón sosegado las virtudes y defectos que caracterizan a ese grupo de seres humanos que antes o después fueron como yo lanzados fuera de la guagua en la mayor isla del Caribe.

Siempre en Cuba hubo malos y buenos; gente educada y gente grosera; personas refinadas y personas vulgares; y debo decir sin falsos orgullos que nuestra cuota de individuos respetuosos y educados, sin importar la posición económica y social que ocupasen, era mucho más elevada que en la mayoría de las naciones similares a la nuestra; que la literatura, la música y la comunicación en general entre nosotros siempre fue más dinámica y rica que en otros países y todo ese mejunje de zalamería, coqueteo, sensualidad y un irónico y refinado sentido del humor resistentes incluso a las peores coyunturas es lo que para mí constituye la CUBANIA.

Pero en el ámbito social; nuestro inmaduro e indisciplinado pueblo, a pesar de los repetidos e inequívocos avisos que la historia ponía ante sus ojos, optó por auto infligirse una larga y monótona noche; un paramo espiritual repleto de mentiras y dobleces. Una eternidad de minutos y segundos que no entraré a evaluar en este comentario pero que posibilitó la derrota de la cubania y la irrupción y perpetuidad de un cancer virulento y letal que en un santiamén hizo metástasis en la debilitada humanidad de la torpe nación. Llego, me temo que para siempre, el CUBANEO.

Exageramos nuestra informalidad al punto de la indisciplina generalizada; inflamos nuestro vernacular al límite de la vulgaridad y de la pornografia sicologica; dejamos que nuestra pasión se convirtiera en histeria; nuestra prudencia en paranoia y nuestro humorismo en relajo. Pisoteamos iconos y desdeñamos liturgias; encarcelamos mensajeros y como autómatas repetimos hasta la náusea el unico escaso, pobre, descolorido y manido mensaje emanado de un edifico staliniano convertido en oráculo. Pasamos de ser uno de los pueblos más espontáneos y abiertos a un amasijo de hipócritas que lanzaban falsedades envueltas en la halitosis colectiva que caracteriza al totalitarismo antropológico.

Por eso me agrada recordar el arrullo de mi madre en aquella temprana y solitaria infancia del mismo modo que detesto recordar mi robotizada juventud; amo a la Avellaneda con la misma intensidad que odio a los comisarios de la rima. Evoco el danzón con una nostalgia proporcional a la repugnancia que me provoca el regueton. Me niego a conjugar el verbo “resolver” en cualquiera de sus tiempos y modos. Rechazo asociar el concepto all inclusive con cualquier centro turístico de la isla. No puede existir todo incluido donde falta lo esencial.

Y así; saltando sobre charcos fangosos y atravesando pedregales inhóspitos compito contra el inexorable tiempo tratando de realizar tantos sueños antes de que me llegue el crepúsculo, orgulloso de mi cubania pero más aún de ser un individuo.

WHERE WE STAND

      

The president’s speech was a bit long and a bit dull; I liked it; but it left me with an odd desire to hear a more elaborate prose. I would have definitely enumerated what he and his followers consider to be successes despite the all out war declared by the left, but I would have also named the outstanding challenges ahead; the imperfections and how the other side could make things easier with a little less militance. Let me be clear; those who hate him will always call him names even if he reads the Bible out loud, but sometimes you score points by lowering your guard.

He used the same hyperbolic and exaggerated spinning of statistics all politicians use; however, whether one likes him or not the numbers are self evident and while the whole thing could burst tomorrow it is impossible to deny that 2017 has been one of the best years ever for our economy. Corporate America voted for Barrack Obama but it didn’t trust the previous president; they sat on their coffers and did nothing. They purse their lips when they see Donald Trump, but they seem at least for now, willing to gradually let some cash out of their vaults.

In the substance, however, Mr Trump appeared firm and resilient; a touch too braggadocious if you will, but in sync with most of the promises he made during his campaign. To me the best part of the speech from the oratorical point of view was when he affirmed that Americans are dreamers too. And for the life of me I can’t surmise how the hell his speech writers did not apply an in crescendo rhetoric from there that led to something like: “DACA individuals dream ONLY because they arrived in the land of dreams and opportunity and we all must, together, dream of a way to help them achieve their goals” yes, extremely opportunistic and manipulative but after calling us all dreamers I believe he missed a golden opportunity to semantically milk that line further and put the Democrats on the defensive.

Probably what I see as a weakness is his strength: who knows?; after all he won being a street fighter candidate who used plain and simple words; but again, the speech underscores the divide in America; the two opposing visions for our nation and the need to move forward, which leads me to the Democratic response: a sterling silver spoon fed liberal who calls on us to welcome all those in need; I understand your golden crib renders you unable to realize what living pay check to pay check means Mr Kennedy III; but since you used a few words of Spanish in your rally (it was hardly a speech) let me enlighten you with the wisdom of my Hispanic heritage: “no hay cama pa’ tanta gente”. We have the right and the duty to choose who gets in and when and we have the right and the duty of cherry picking not on the basis of color but on the basis of how much the candidates can contribute to the success of America and how much they love our values. That’s what all countries do and those were the guidelines observed when your late grandfather was AG and your slain grand uncle was president.

Aesthetically; Mr Kennedy’s drooling mouth kept the viewers guessing whether he had been asleep during Trump’s speech, or had left an unfinished greasy burger in some plate close by. It was a turn off and I only hope it receives as much coverage as Marco Rubio's improvised "water break". Kennedy III’s diatribe was a precooked barrage of demonizing of the opponent and with his background, looming saliva trickle, and smearing attitude reminded me more of an angry kid whose lunch has been stolen than of a consummate politician trying to make an honest point.

After both speeches had been delivered I remained convinced that we are in for a bumpy ride and that where we stand right now is not a very safe juncture.

THE REAL FACE OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT.

I predicted this would happen not because I’m smart but because it was obvious; a man ruled society allowing itself to be dissected and judged publicly? Hell no!!!; for some reason the sexual harassment issue became news and the left hawks span it a little against the incumbent; used it as a battle flag to make Hollywood look beautiful and that was it. Ms. Winfrey boosted her already world renowned brand; rich ladies wore black trying to hide their close relationship with the perpetrators and the hell with the victims; no naming them; no putting them in front of a microphone; no exposure; the aiding and abetting once again hijacked a cause from its real owners and the craziness got so out of hand that now we have calls to stop the damned thing; Ms. Bardot and Ms. Deneuve burst with understandable indignation but they went too far back.

The truth is that the culture of male domination must end; the suppression of talent to advance sexual favoritism must end. Yes there are hundreds, maybe thousands of women who use their bodies and sexual prowess to become famous, but if the environment did not favor such state of affairs they wouldn’t be successful. Despite the numerous calls to sanity and common sense the problem does exist and it should be tackled; but it should be addressed by enabling the victims and not the accomplices, by not allowing this unfortunate situation to become a political platform or a brand booster for anyone. The strategy of the status quo is clear (it was always clear to me): exacerbate a problem to such an extent that people quickly tire of it and it’s business as usual.

Ms. Streep had her moment; Ms Winfrey had her moment; they remain the undisputed champions of women’s right, but the ugly duckling from Pensacola who could not even sell her body and yet was talented will never make it and is still washing dishes in some unknown diner in the middle of nowhere; what will this anonymous woman gain after all this? Who knows her name? Will they give her another chance to prove how well she remembers her lines and how good an actress she can be? No; her talent will go unnoticed, lost in this sea of madness where a scalpel can catapult you to fame even if you can’t speak your own language and lack the basic skills to be an entertainer.

The day after Oprah performed her charade at the Golden Bubbles I reacted with outrage; I could see clearly through the fog; manipulation and taking advantage of the victims. My condemnation was unequivocal. A friend of mine argued that the fact that the occasion had been used was better than no mention at all. I strongly disagreed; then Seals spoke out and the Hollywood dictatorship was quick to silence him. The truth is that we the people can no longer feel comfortable with half measures; half truths and backhanded strategies; we must no longer stop at almost or quasi; we must go all the way and the sordid system of values under which Oprah; Streep and so many others have lived and made millions must be done away with. I’m sorry but on this one I don’t agree with Bardot and Deneuve; to claim that women have sex with producers and directors to become famous is an alarmingly simplistic approach; the problem is much more complex than that and the sex part is probably the simplest.

The system is broke and time’s up, not for those who have fared well in it, but for the victims. Those ladies wearing black are part of the problem and by no stretch of imagination can they pretend to be the solution.

GLOBES AND NO GLOVES OFF

Some people claim that Hollywood doesn’t get it; I disagree with that assessment; I’m sure they get it all right; they are just masters in deviating attention from the real issues and blaming someone else for their shortcomings and inherent weaknesses

Two or three times every year this crowd celebrates itself; they all dress their best attires and pat one another in the shoulder; they make millions poisoning our children and youths with tales of violence, revenge and sexism; they continue to cater to the narrative of a world that doesn’t exist even though when the time is right they are all too ready to remember their alleged humble origins.

Oprah’s speech at the Golden Globes was no exception; she chose the distant memory of Sidney Poitier’s award, the example of Rosa Parks and put it in a blender together with cases of sexual harassment and suppression of women’s right. The audience was ecstatic; Meryl Streep looked transfixed and triumphant; never mind the accusations of complicity aimed directly at her. It was the most hypocritical farce I have ever seen. Even worse than the charade politicians perform everyday throughout the world. Please find below a statement by one of Weinstein's accusers actress Kadian Noble: "British actress Kadian Noble said Tuesday she was head-over-heels impressed when she first met Weinstein at an event in London because he was hanging out with model Campbell and had megastar Oprah “swinging off his arm.”

In a perfect emulation of Fidel Castro Hollywood turned a serious reversal into a sounding victory; no acknowledgement of guilt, complicity; no self criticism. They acted (and act they did) as if they had been abroad for years and had come back to find that a few rotten apples had misbehaved. Disgusting!!!

Showbiz like any other environment is a closed community where everyone knows what everyone does. All these hypocrites had to know what Weinstein and so many others did. They looked the other way for decades and now give us this pathetic display of stupor and surprise. But this gang of self centered egomaniacs are not only complacent with the Weinsteins of the world, they contribute to the assiduous and tenacious deterioration of our culture with their violent unrealistic productions.

Oprah and her friends missed a “golden” opportunity of take their gloves off and look directly at reality’s ugly face. It is probably time to show these entertainers who pays for their performance and who they should, above all, serve.