The Musketeers of the Culture

The Musketeers of the Culture / Fernando Damaso
Posted on July 16, 2015

Fernando Damaso, 14 July 2015 — For some time now, certain "musketeers"
of the culture, somewhat advanced in years–headed by a D'Artagnan of
hirsute mane, addicted to Chinese pomade manufactured in Vietnam–have
assumed the ruling party's defense of the national identity and the
history of the country.

The members of this group, taking advantage of all the space generously
provided to them by the media, have started a campaign against the
so-called "weekly packet" (a bundle of movies, episodes of series and
soap operas, musicals, and other foreign weekly programs recorded on
DVD), which private sellers purvey to Cubans as a way to escape the
insufferable boredom of the national TV channels that are loaded with
political diatribes). They propose to substitute it with a "greater
packet" (a similar item, but containing Cuban programs). In addition,
they bow before the official version of history, and the rejection of
foreign symbols used by many young people.

To defend the national identity, the country's history and patriotic
symbols would be commendable, if it weren't for the gross manipulation,
crude political indoctrination, and chauvinism in their actions.

It is notable that these battle-hardened "musketeers" do not care about
the loss of legitimate Cuban traditions, nor about the improper and
disrespectful use of the national flag, absurdly displayed throughout
the entire year inside shops, farmers' markets, beer gardens and other
state-run establishments–as well as on streets and buildings.

Many of these flags, subject to neglect and the inclemencies of the
weather, end up as literal rags, with nobody to take them down and
incinerate them, as should be done, according to established custom.
Neither do they say anything about the paper flags that are utilized
profusely during political events and which later, along with other
garbage, are spread all over the streets and sidewalks, and are trampled
without the least respect accorded to them by the passersby.

Something similar occurs with the national anthem, used frivolously and
without the least reverence in any type of activity, in the face of
indifference from the audience–and with the national shield, practically
forgotten and absent.

This misuse of patriotic symbols throughout too many years has made it
so that many of our citizens, regardless of age, have lost respect for them.

The task of these "musketeers" is not any easy one, especially when we
find them participating in certain activities far removed from the
values and ethics that they preach for others. To persuade, one must
first set an example.

Translated by: Alicia Barraqué Ellison

Source: The Musketeers of the Culture / Fernando Damaso | Translating
Cuba -
http://translatingcuba.com/the-musketeers-of-the-culture-fernando-damaso/