Díaz Canel: “Culture reinforces the feeling for Homeland”

 HAVANA, Cuba, Nov 3 (ACN) “Culture stimulates and strengthens the feeling for Homeland; it’s vital and indispensable food for people’s spirituality, and it brings freedom”, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez said in his speech at the 10th Congress of the Union of Cuban Writers and Artists (UNEAC).

The President pointed out that Cuba is waging a twofold war: an economic one, targeted on creating great shortages and breaking people’s will, and a cultural one through intoxicating media campaigns designed in big laboratories and aimed directly at undermining popular unity.

“In the face of these threats, culture plays a key role both as a driver of ideas and values and as the nation’s shield and sword”, he remarked.

Díaz-Canel also pointed out that Cuba has only one cultural policy for the state and non-state sectors alike, and must be promoted, protected and opened to those who make real art, which is a window to the world of the most authentic expressions and not an ornament to entertain.

Likewise, the Head of State said that exercising and encouraging critical thinking is crucial to understand the times the world is going through and the cause that Cuba champions, because culture and education are the only antidote to the manipulation and idiotization of uncritical audiences.

The Congress sent Army General Raúl Castro Ruz, leader of the Revolution, a small sculpture made by the Cuban artist José Villa Soberón in recognition of his contribution to and defense of the national identity.

Minister of Culture Alpidio Alonso Grau closed the Congress and invited UNEAC members to grapple as one with the challenges currently facing artistic and literary creation.