Of Errors, Terrors and Horrors / Rosa María Rodríguez Torrado

http://translatingcuba.com/?p=12510

Of Errors, Terrors and Horrors / Rosa María Rodríguez Torrado
Rosa María Rodríguez Torrado, Translator: Erico

"It is not about trying to forget everything that has happened, but to
reread it newer understanding, precisely from experiences suffered, that
only love can build, while hate produces destruction and ruin."

- Pope John Paul II

I still remember the indignity and sadness generated by the terrorist
attack against a Cuban airplane in Barbados in 1976 and how I went, of
my own accord, to pay tribute to the 73 victims in the Plaza de la
Revolucion. I am sure that many went spontaneously to demonstrate
solidarity with the fallen, as I did, feeling saddened by this
barbarism. The Cubans in the archipelago felt a great sense of
brotherhood after terror pointed and fired at us, wounding us profoundly
and demonstrating that hate, impotence and malignancy also result from
bombs.

There are wounds that never heal, and losing a loved one to a criminal
act is something that impedes the psychological recovery of family
members and those close to them. But if this loss is a sad, cruel and
irreparable action on one hand, it is much worse when the person who
committed the act goes unpunished. It is then compounded by the Cuban
authorities who constantly bring this up, not just to commemorate the
event, but with propagandist political objectives. Moreover, because
they intend to clarify their goals and explain to their followers why
political inflexibility is needed, they repeatedly talk about the threat
that emanates from the north, bringing a catechism of terror, sculpted
in murderous plaster. They lie openly and repeatedly from the state
leadership, conveniently casting disparaging generalizations about all
of Cuba's exiles, because this is the convenient narrative about an
enemy who has "besieged the plaza", guaranteeing a long, rigid and
inflexible presence in power.

Manipulation of historical information — common practice among our
national leaders — foments anger that divides, degrades, influences and
exhausts people. No one should exacerbate hatred in order to justify
coercion and repression. Rereading with new ideas, putting constructive
strategies into practice that contribute to understanding, and healthy
coexistence is the path toward common good. Repeatedly reopening old
wounds with belligerent manipulative intent, is a cruelty to society. In
order for governments to be considered responsible, they should learn to
end these practices; the Cuban government is no exception. Our relations
with the Spanish government would not be the same if we had not forgiven
and refocused on a more edifying vision, and instead brought up
Valeriano Weyler's role in 1897 during the Cuban War of Independence.
What would have become of the European Union with Germany — one of the
region's economic engines — if Israel and the world had not forgiven
them for the Holocaust?

It seems inconsistent and unjust that our national leaders campaign to
defend the rights of people all over the world, while ignoring the
rights of their own compatriots. I urge then the eradication of any
government that establishes and practices civic terrorism, without
considering the rights of its own citizens. When the good of the people
is not considered, but is rigidly ordered from the seat of government,
the interests of both the people and the government become
disassociated, leading to totalitarianism. There should be no room in
modern society for terrorism — neither from governments that sow fear or
those that violate the fundamental rights of its citizens — nor should
there be any justification for any sort of crime. I raise my voice to
demand a democratic coexistence that respects differences and in which
the state guarantees the people's rights, peace and pluralism.

Translated by: Erico

October 31 2011