Lame Thinking or Ideological Lobotomy / Miriam Celaya

Lame Thinking or Ideological Lobotomy / Miriam Celaya
Miriam Celaya, Translator: Norma Whiting

Evidently, the dispute between left and right in political affairs is
becoming too narrow to make any progress in resolving global conflicts
today. More than narrow, it is absolutely simplistic. If the statement
is applicable to worldwide levels, we are millions of years behind,
judging by a contradiction that borders on the absurd: the inability of
the so-called left to propose or participate in the politics of a
totalitarian government that has declared itself a "leftist", i.e., that
defines itself from the overall direction of the nation by a single
"communist" party.

And here we are. Any manifestation of thought which does not conform to
the leftist persuasion is immediately disowned, ignored, silenced or
even imprisoned, though it may not be exactly a "rightist" ideology.
But, if the left doesn't unconditionally subject itself to the will of
the elite, then it doesn't have a voice either.

It must be noted that one single thought does not exist inside the
opposition, and that there are many variables within the Island's left
as well, from groups that are wholly subjected to the official thinking,
mere parrots of government directives, to the more advanced sectors,
suggesting bold proposals, not only in terms of economic reforms, but
also with regard to the inclusive social and political transformations
that should accompany changes in Cuba.

Between the two ends of the same rope — and we are talking about just
the left and only about the left — there isn't a very wide range of
intermediate voices. The latter belong to those who want change, but not
too many; they advocate journalism with an opinion, but still
"socialist" and "revolutionary" journalism — let's remember again that
fascist dictate "Within the revolution, everything …" parting the seas
of cultural and intellectual Cuban life since 1961, gagging all freedom
of thought — that constantly appeal to "what Fidel said" or "what
President Raúl stated" as legitimizing and sufficient sources that
replace, all by themselves, the need for arguments. These are the ones
who do not believe the need for any opening; a few cracks are enough,
preferably protected by mesh to prevent any evils that always accompany
freedom from slipping through.

But there are no nuances for the lords of power. People are either from
the left or from the right, and this principle transcends all social
life in the country. After this macro-classification, the rest is a
breeze. Thus, those on the left supposedly have as their common
denominator their adherence to the verses of Das Kapital, the Bible
written by Karl Marx, the practice of hate towards imperialism, and the
recognition of the undisputed guide of the Communist Party to rule the
country, while dissidents, the opposition in general, and independent
journalism in all its variables are part of an alleged block "of the
right", the betraying mercenaries working for the U.S. government so
they get juicy funding from the US Treasury Department, not to mention
advice from the CIA, though no one can figure out how it's possible
that, with such credentials, these individuals are not all in prison.

Seen from such a common view, it would seem that Cuban political thought
is marked by ideological lobotomy: either you are on the left — and
fully assume the roles dictated — or you are of the right, with all the
consequences that entails. If you won't define yourself in this
primitive way, you simply "AREN'T".

That's why my friend, a foreign political scientist with whom I
correspond fairly often, has told me that when he visits Cuba and meets
with representatives of the official academics, he gets the impression
of facing "lame thought." So, while the world seeks new political
solutions to meet the challenges of modern times; while globalization
moves on, leaving behind old concepts of finding regional remedies
against universal ills, and the technology of information and
communication lend human thought and development an urgent pace, the
Cuban political scene weakens at the same pace as the system and the
whole country.

If we continue at this pace, we are eternally doomed to be a miniscule
hamlet lost in the whirlwind of changes revolving around us, but not
touching us. More than a wreck, Cuba threatens to become the ghost ship
of postmodernism: without port, destination, leadership or crew.

Translated by Norma Whiting

May 7 2012

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