One Less Thread in the Social Tapestry

One Less Thread in the Social Tapestry / 14ymedio, Yoani Sanchez
Posted on June 13, 2014

Yoani Sánchez, Havana, 12 June 2014 — In a country where there are so
few spaces for debate, the loss of any one of them is a tragedy. The
departure of Roberto Veiga and Lenier Gonzalez from the magazine Lay
Space leaves us with even fewer opportunities for debate. Their work was
characterized by its willingness to address controversial and difficult
topics in the pages of a publication which, in recent years, became an
obligatory reference. With a respectful spirit, a true concern for the
nation, and the ability to present arguments, these editors opened a
reflective space that we, their readers, fear will be missed from now on.

Differences in ideas should not lead us to personal confrontation. A
lesson that should be learned by more than one person who takes
ideological contradictions as a pretext to channel their lowest
passions. So, despite my points of difference with many of the ideas of
Veiga and Gonzalez, and especially with their category of "loyal
opposition," I have always respected their work and considered it to be
of great value. The public existence of their voices improved the
quality of discussions within the Island, encouraging different points
of view – which is always a good thing – and brought together political
tendencies that seem to run along contrary paths. I regret that they
never accepted invitations to also participate in non-official debates
within the country. I hope, now they have been "liberated" from their
jobs, that we will be able to exchange ideas outside the protection of
the Cátedra Félix Varela.

Cuba loses and I can't imagine who wins with this dismissal. The next
archbishop of Havana? Is the church so fickle? One day they snatched the
magazine Vitral from us, to turn it into a shadow of the multicolored
light it once was. Now, it seems, the same will happen with Lay Space. I
am not convinced by the declarations of its current director who assures
us that the work of the journal will continue. I believe deeply in the
stamp each human being imprints on a work, and in the case of this
publication it's clear that Veiga and Gonzalez were its principal
sources of inspiration.

The ragged tapestry of our civil society just suffered the tearing of
another thread.

Source: One Less Thread in the Social Tapestry / 14ymedio, Yoani Sanchez
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