It is no secret to anyone that, lately, certain behaviors have begun to colonize our public spaces with a painful naturalness. I am referring to those manifestations that, far from building up, erode civic coexistence: damage to parks and urban furniture, fights in public places, disturbances of the peace, disrespect for queues, speeding and noise excesses, and so many other actions that, although they may seem small, gradually eat away at society.
This is not a minor problem. Social indiscipline, as has been well debated, does not arise by chance; it is almost always associated with a lack of demand, the relaxation of controls, and, in many cases, a tolerance that becomes complicity. What today is a minor infraction, tomorrow can be the prelude to a crime. And when public order cracks, everyone's peace of mind suffers.
Therefore, the recently concluded Fifth National Exercise for the Prevention and Confrontation of crime, corruption, and social indiscipline cannot remain a mere official statement. It must strike deep. It must translate into concrete actions in every block, every neighborhood, and every community. Confronting social indiscipline is a daily task, and it is not just about criticizing what is done poorly, but about encouraging good practices through culture, education, and example.
The question is uncomfortable but necessary: what is each one of us doing to ensure that public space is a place of encounter and not of conflict? Because authority cannot be everywhere, nor can control be omniputent. The true strength of a society lies not in its laws, but in the conscience of its citizens. And that conscience is forged at home, in school, at the workplace, and in everyday conversation.
Those of us who have grown up in this land know that Cubans are supportive, joyful, and hospitable. But we also know that when discipline falters, when respect for others fades, all that potential is tarnished. Let us not allow bad conduct to stain the name of a majority that wants to live in peace.
The call is clear: it is not about being anyone's prosecutor, but about being everyone's guardian. About raising our voices when we see an injustice, about calling attention when someone damages what belongs to everyone, about demanding that the law be upheld, but also about preaching by example. Because confronting social indiscipline is not a campaign; it is a daily commitment, a systematic and rigorous task that involves us all.
Citizen peace is not a gift handed down from above; it is a conquest built from the bottom up, from the neighborhood, from the street corner, from the perspective of those who understand that order is the first step toward freedom. Let us stand strong, then, with courage, with bravery, and, above all, united. Because a Cuba in order is a stronger Cuba. And that is a battle we cannot afford to lose.
(Taken from Radio Cadena Agramonte)
