“This tropical refresher is a cocktail that typically contains cola, lime juice, rum, and a garnish of lime.” The most popular origin story of the Cuba Libre involves a Captain Russell at the American Bar in Havana. Captain Russell requested his usual: Bacardí Rum and Coca-Cola with a squeeze of lime. This order got the attention of others at the bar and earned its name with the captain’s toast, “Por Cuba Libre!”
The Cubans have another name for Rum Coke: “Cuba Mentira,” meaning “Cuba Lie” as Cuba is not free at least in the perception of the Cuban people. The Western press thinks otherwise.
The last few days have seen thousands of Cubans in Havana streets, raising their fists in protest of the government. There are several important dynamics about this, the least of which is that the last time Cubans protested was in 1994 when hundreds—not thousands—battled the government.
Alexandre Krauss, senior advisor at EU Parliament, tweeted. “Thousands are mobilizing across #Cuba demanding the end of the communist dictatorship while screaming ‘We are not afraid…We are not afraid.’” The government has cut the Internet to stop the world from seeing the images, as well as to break communication between the several cities that are in protest.
The Western press has been blind-sided by this event from Cuba. How could anyone protest “Castroism,” which has provided free health care and offers “free education from cradle to grave”?
Fortunately, there is Covid that can be blamed and used as an excuse for almost anything, from a politician’s infidelity to obesity (Fact: Covid didn’t make you eat chocolate cake all day). The Cuban protests are no exception as cases have been surging since mid-June and skyrocketed this July. Active cases and hospitalizations are up 500 percent in a month, and protestors are angry about the health care system having problems. But vaccination is at 15 percent, much better than many other countries.
Cuba is experiencing both food shortages and high food inflation. People are angry. But the Western press narrative is ridiculous. “People are helping spread awareness on the impact of Covid-19 in Cuba as cases hit an all-time high in the country,” says one US news outlet. Apparently, that is why protestors are waving US flags and shouting, “We are not afraid…we are not afraid.”
The New York Times writes: “Shouting ‘Freedom’ and other anti-government slogans, hundreds of Cubans took to the streets in cities around the country on Sunday to protest food and medicine shortages.”
Dear New York Times, “Freedom” is only an “anti-government slogan” if you live under a Communist dictatorship. P.S. Only 28 percent of Americans trust the US press. You are a big part of the reason why.
However, Cuba is not alone with its protests. “Hundreds of Palestinians have gathered in the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah to demonstrate against President Mahmoud Abbas, hoping to inject new momentum into a protest movement sparked by the death of an outspoken critic in the custody of security forces.”
“Thousands of protesters gathered in Peru’s capital Lima Tuesday to express frustration with the delay in announcing results of the presidential election which took place a month ago.” “Colombia-Demonstrations since April 28, leaving more than 60 dead, are calling for police reform and more social justice in the face of the consequences of the pandemic which has caused an increase in the poverty rate among the 50 million inhabitants of the country, from 37 percent to 42 percent.”
“Covid” may be the excuse for the trigger. But the cause is bad government, and there will be more to come. The chaos cycle continues. You might hate 2022.
E-mail me at mangun@gmail.com. Follow me on Twitter @mangunonmarkets. PSE stock-market information and technical analysis provided by AAA Southeast Equities Inc.