{"id":3786,"date":"2019-04-24T16:19:57","date_gmt":"2019-04-24T16:19:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/baileyonlineclassroom.com\/theamericasblog\/?p=3786"},"modified":"2019-04-24T16:19:57","modified_gmt":"2019-04-24T16:19:57","slug":"cubas-government-mocked-by-stampede-of-ostrich-memes-by-pascal-fletcher","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/baileyonlineclassroom.com\/theamericasblog\/2019\/04\/24\/cubas-government-mocked-by-stampede-of-ostrich-memes-by-pascal-fletcher\/","title":{"rendered":"Cuba’s government mocked by stampede of ostrich memes By Pascal Fletcher"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

An animal exotic to most Cubans has become an online obsession – but not for the reasons one of the island’s revolutionary heroes was hoping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It all started when Comandante<\/em> Guillermo Garc\u00eda Fr\u00edas, 91, a former comrade-in-arms of the late leader Fidel Castro, recommended the ostrich as a nutritious supplement to the Cuban diet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In fact, he said on state television, it could produce “more than a cow”, raising more than a few eyebrows across the communist-ruled country and leading to ridicule on social media.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He made the suggestion as director of Cuba’s National Flora and Fauna company, which raises ostriches and experiments with other farming ideas in an attempt to resolve one of the Cuban socialist economy’s most enduring headaches: shortages of basic food, such as meat, milk and eggs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The white-haired comandante<\/em>, who appeared in his olive-green military uniform, also suggested that Cubans consider adding two local species to their menu – the crocodile and the jut\u00eda<\/em> (hutia), an edible rodent also known as the “banana rat”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Memes reflect mirth – and anger<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

On both sides of the Florida Strait, social media networks – more and more accessible in Cuba as it increases its previously limited connection to the internet – exploded with mirthful memes against Mr Garc\u00eda Fr\u00edas’ suggestions.ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Songs, tunes and even poetry parodying the nonagenarian official’s diet recommendations have spread like wildfire and are being gleefully exchanged, with family greetings, between Miami and Havana.Skip Facebook post by Abreu<\/a>Report<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

End of Facebook post by Abreu<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These were tinged nevertheless with satire and anger, directed against what many Cubans feel is the chronic inability of their rulers to run a viable economy and put food on the table in a fertile tropical island whose soil and climate once made it the world’s top sugar producer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Memes replacing Mr Garc\u00eda Fr\u00edas’ visage with that of an ostrich, or including the ostrich, and the crocodile and the jut\u00eda<\/em>, in some of Cuba’s best known revolutionary propaganda slogans and images, have flourished across social media.Skip Facebook post by Los Pichy Boys<\/a>Report<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

End of Facebook post by Los Pichy Boys<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, the well-known government slogan “In every neighbourhood, revolution” – taken from a popular pro-government song – has been converted into “In every neighbourhood, an ostrich”.Skip Facebook post by Lester<\/a>Report<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

End of Facebook post by Lester<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last week, Cuban dissident website CubaNet, citing a search carried out on Google Trends, reported that the word “ostrich” was the country’s most popular search term during April.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Presentational<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Life in Cuba<\/h2>\n\n\n\n