In a forceful rebuttal to Jomo Thomas’s commentary “Ungratefulness is worse than witchcraft,” political commentator C. ben. David presents a starkly contrasting perspective on Cuba’s political reality since the 1959 revolution. The author characterizes Fidel Castro’s rise to power as an “illegal rebellion” that replaced a democratic government with a “fascist Marxist regime,” establishing what he describes as a “communist reign of terror” that continues to oppress the Cuban people.
The analysis highlights the estimated exodus of one million Cubans—approximately ten percent of the island’s population—who have fled their homeland due to economic devastation and political repression. Those remaining face severe hardships including chronic food shortages, rationing systems, poverty-level incomes, arbitrary property confiscation, banned political opposition, inadequate healthcare, and pervasive state surveillance.
Contrary to common narratives, the author argues these conditions cannot be attributed to the American trade embargo, noting Cuba maintains trade and diplomatic relations with numerous nations including Russia and China, both of which have provided substantial aid during economic crises. The piece asserts that Cuba’s economic struggles are largely self-imposed through systemic mismanagement.
The commentary sharply criticizes Cuban leadership for enjoying “sumptuous but idle luxury” while the population suffers, describing Cuba among Caribbean “shit hole countries” due to leadership that prioritizes “rapacious and power-hungry goals” over public welfare. The author endorses Donald Trump’s approach to Cuba, interpreting it as a genuine effort to “restore the freedom and dignity of the mass of the Cuban people”—a sentiment reportedly shared by many exiles and their descendants.
Additionally, the piece questions the ethics of Cuba’s international medical missions, noting physicians are paid “rock bottom wages” with most earnings repatriated to the Cuban government, creating what the author characterizes as a system that “further exploit[s] their very own people.”