I suppose that the objective of a tribute or award for a fertile and prolific career in any field or sector of society is to reward and value the honoree.
I suppose that the expected effect on the part of the person being entertained is joy, gratitude, emotion or pride for having given so much, for having motivated and inspired others, for representing something valuable.
However, sometimes, the lives of those who gave everything pass and then the “postmortem” laurels, the “In Memoriam” events, and the naming of centers and institutions in the field arrive.
Even worse is witnessing ceremonies and recognitions with a regrettable time lag. Many times, far from being a reason for rejoicing, it hurts to see how distinguished figures of this country receive an award when they have already lost all mental capacity.
I wonder then, should we wait until that moment to recognize something that has been evident for years? Is there also bureaucracy in making such simple decisions? What is taken into account when proposing and deciding on such entertainment?
How many professionals could we not name in Pinar del Río, from sectors such as Culture, Health, Press, Sports, Science… deserving of the Pinareño Shield, to name just one example.
Giving an award for life’s work does not mean, in my opinion, honoring old age or the fact of being on the verge of death, although it may be crude for some.
I know closely many of those who have given, from a very young age, everything for their profession, they have transformed, they have built, they have grown, they have made others grow, and they have sacrificed for the place where they work and what it represents.
I know those whose worth is more than proven and who have worked tirelessly, but apparently, due to old age or seniority, their time for awards or recognition has not yet come.
Do you have to prove more, retire, suffer from an illness or be last on the list?
Perhaps many of those are not even interested in receiving such an honor. Maybe they don’t even consider themselves worthy because they’ve never lived for it. Perhaps your humility is greater.
And in reality, those who dedicate their life to the profession they love, those who work by vocation, never expect anything in return.
But as the saying goes “To Caesar what belongs to Caesar”, and although I am not generalizing, it seems inappropriate to wait for someone to die or lose their mental abilities to recognize a career full of contributions and contributions.
Life these days moves at an accelerated pace, but overlooking the good works and milestones of those who have more than proven their worth, just to wait for the right moment, can leave an even worse mark. Sometimes, it may be too late.
