Fuzzy Truths (Capitolio, Havanna, Cuba)

The great Zanelli bronze doors of Cuba's Capitolio bear the marks of censorship where faces in the massive bas-reliefs have been selectively scratched out. An attempt to rewrite history? A supposed "House of the People," the Capitolio has served a variety of purposes under different governmental ruling parties. The cathedral of sorts seems to have served multiple sides of steadfastly held "Truths." One of the selectively defaced people was the "tropical Mussolini," Presidente Machado, who fell in the early 1900s after his forces gunned down 22 protesters against his corrupt and authoritarian rule. It's unclear when the doors' "art" was disfigured. Were the people performing the violence acting in the name of peace and justice, or propoganda? Would the defacers be considered vandals or heroes in today's current (communist) climate? in the pre-revolution climate? Regardless, the impact of individuals with differing contexts and perspectives about a moment in history, raising their voices and arms to express their Truths Against Power, may be seen and felt generations later. They have opened the door to continuing dialogs.