Youth and social classes in Cuba Posted by ei on April 26, 2013 - 0:07 am Nelson P. Valdés The history of Cuba is written and interpreted on the basis of “generations”. The cognitive framework based on generations is completely opposite [implicitly] to the class perspective. In the generational approach it is assumed that persons of a similar age supposedly have the same “generational” ideology. And thus the “generational” is the common form of expression. We talk about Generation of the 68, Generation of the 95, Generation of the 33, Generation of the Centennial, Generation Y, Generation this and that. But, does the word “generation” capture real social realities? Does a young person in Alto Songo think like one of the same age in Havana neighborhood Siboney? Has a 23 year worker in Antillana de Acero [steel factory] the same “mentality” as a coastguard in Maria la Gorda? And does the son of a high ranking official think like the son of black single mother? And when are we going to yell that the King is naked? When are we going to admit that the phrases “Nueva Generación,” [New Generation] or “Juventud rebelde” [Rebel Youth] or “Joven Cuba” [Young Cuba] are related to a cultural/academic development that froze with the literature of the early 19th Century? In other words, that we are still accepting as true and real the views of Auguste Comte and all his copy-cats and followers, including Roberto Agramonte and Raúl Roa in the 20th Century and others since then. Imagine, Alfredo Guevara himself saying he had faith in youth and no mention was made of the working class! Even Che referred at times to this generational thing, although not so frequently. But it is interesting how he refers to youth: “In our society a great role is played by the youth and the Party.” And he adds, “ “Particularly important is the former, because it is the malleable clay from which the new man can be made free from old hereditary defects. It receives a treatment according to our ambitions. Its education is increasingly more complete, and we do not forget its integration to work from the onset. Our intern students do physical work in their vacations, or combined with their studies during the school term. Work is an award sometimes, or an instrument of education; it is never a punishment. A new generation is born.” By the way, even considering that social reality is determined by generations, this in itself is not an explanation; it would be a mere description. Even if generations were the main factor to interpret the history and society in the Island, we would need to explain what the origin of this phenomenon is. To merely assume that every reality or historical process is generational, expresses a number of ideological premises that do not constitute a real explanation of things. And one last remark: “the young” increasingly represent a minority sector on the Island.
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Juventudes y
clases sociales en Cuba
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