Cuba’s history has been deeply marked by political violence and a painful divide that resulted in the nation’s largest exodus. For over six decades, the conflict between the revolutionary government and its opponents has fractured families, communities, and the national identity itself. Understanding the depth of this wound is not a concession to any political position — it is a prerequisite for any honest conversation about Cuba’s future.
We believe that recognizing this historical rancor is the first step toward a necessary process of national healing. Reconciliation cannot begin until the pain is acknowledged — the pain of those who were imprisoned, exiled, or silenced; the pain of those who sacrificed for a revolution that did not deliver on its promises; and the pain of all those caught in between, who simply wanted to live their lives and found themselves on the wrong side of history through no fault of their own.
Reconciliation is both our process and our goal; it does not imply condoning or forgetting past wrongdoings, nor is it motivated by vengeance. Reconciliation is not amnesia. It does not ask victims to pretend that nothing happened or to surrender their right to truth and justice. What it does ask is that we choose, collectively and deliberately, to orient ourselves toward the future rather than remain prisoners of the past. That is a profound moral choice — and it is one that Cubans are increasingly ready to make.
Instead, reconciliation shifts the focus from retribution to restorative justice. This means creating processes through which wrongs can be acknowledged, responsibilities assigned, and, where possible, harms repaired. It means building institutions that can hold the truth of Cuba’s history without weaponizing it. And it means creating space for the difficult, sometimes painful conversations that genuine healing requires.
Our vision for reconciliation is rooted in the future, not the past. It is a path based on generosity and the recognition of our collective pain, seeking to build common ground even where substantial differences exist. Inspired by successful transitions in South Africa, Chile, Spain, and elsewhere, we know that reconciliation is not only possible — it is the only foundation on which a genuinely inclusive and stable Cuba can be built.
We are convinced that non-violent change, guided by national reconciliation, is the only way to ensure an inclusive, just, and prosperous future for all Cubans. Violence — whether political, economic, or social — has never built a lasting democracy. Only through the patient, courageous work of reconciliation can Cuba move from a nation divided by its past to a nation united by its future.