A Cuban TikToker known as @guzman8798, based in the United States, has stirred social media with his response to a comment questioning his stance on the sanctions against Cuba and their impact on families on the island. It all started with a video where Guzmán expressed regret that some Cubans abroad support measures like the remittance ban, stating, "Have you forgotten where you came from? What about your family who depends on you back there?"
In reaction to this, a user commented, "And you forget that the ones benefiting are the dictators while families suffer more," prompting Guzmán to respond emphatically in a new video: "No, ma'am, I haven't forgotten anything, but I believe that starving one's family is not the way to bring down a dictatorship that's been around for so long. There are 10,000 other ways; the issue is we've grown accustomed to words instead of actions."
The video has garnered over 1,600 likes and more than 500 comments, with many questioning the effectiveness of the sanctions on the Cuban regime and their impact on the people. Most users sided with Guzmán, sharing similar sentiments: "A respectable Cuban with family in Cuba will never agree to let their family starve"; "The people suffer while the big bellies continue living their sweet life"; "I'm not going to let my mother and children starve because of any law or dictatorship."
However, some users challenged his statements, asking for more clarity on his "10,000 ways" of struggle: "What are these ways? Enlighten us"; "We've been under this punishment for 65 years, what's different now?" Others also pointed out that the sanctions have shown no results for decades: "No one is as forgetful as the Cubans. Have you forgotten that before, we couldn't send anything, and the dictators remained the same?"
The debate also touched on those who support the restrictions. "Most of those who support these ideas either have no family in Cuba or don't care"; "It's easier to justify not helping your own with politics," were some highlighted comments.
Guzmán actively engaged in the comments, thanking supporters and noting, "The people always bear the consequences, not the dictatorship. There are no more mambises or Martí." The video has rekindled a sensitive topic for the Cuban diaspora, where the struggle for change on the island faces the dilemma of how to support relatives without fortifying the regime.
Exploring the Cuban Sanctions Debate
Why do some Cubans oppose the remittance ban?
Many Cubans oppose the remittance ban because it directly impacts their families who rely on this financial support. They argue that these measures hurt the Cuban people more than the regime.
What are the arguments in favor of sanctions against Cuba?
Proponents of sanctions argue that they are a tool to pressure the Cuban government into changing its policies and improving human rights conditions. They believe these measures can weaken the regime's hold on power.
What alternatives to sanctions do critics suggest?
Critics of sanctions often suggest increased diplomatic engagement, support for civil society, and the promotion of economic opportunities for ordinary Cubans as alternatives to punitive measures.