IDENTIDADES 1 ENGLISH IDENTIDADES 5 ENGLISH | Page 82

ticipation of civil society and common citizens for democratic ideas and freedom to
govern our country.

We are increasingly closer to the moment
when civil society will displace the kind of
nation-state we currently have. For this to
happen, it is also necessary for the political
opposition to unite, put the nation’s interests before their own, and craft common
strategies that will result in profound and
real change.

Many are the opposing organizat ions that
are convinced of the need to have unity of
action to be able to craft common strategies
for achieving change. This explains why
certain projects have emerged and they are
becoming increasingly adept from amongst
the citizenry, e.g., the Cuban Patriotic Union, the Nuevo País Platform, and Constitutional Consensus. They are effective at
having citizens behave like the true agents
for change, by giving the opportunity for
their opinions to be counted and have real
value for political and social actions.

What we have here is an opportunity to
continue coming to a consensus with regard
to facing the challenge: this is an opportunity that citizens themselves are creating.

What is certain is that when this yearning
for the respect of citizens’ most basic rights
develops in Cuba, an island that is completely politically and economically devastated, we will have to create new institutions, rules, and laws. It is increasingly and
abundantly clear that the number of citizens
who are calling for a free and democratic
Cuba is rising.

82