Speeches
On July 1991, when the first Summit was held in Guadalajara, I could not even imagine the further development of such event. I was a strange bird there, an intruder whose admission to that hall had the taste of forgiveness. Cuba had always been left out of every meeting in this continent. Some looked at me with curiosity and even pity. Possibly, hardly anyone believed that Cuba could withstand the collapse of the socialist camp, which derived in the double blockade that would abruptly fall on our country.
You know that our country, like any country where there is justice, distributes its wealth among all the people; in a just country there is no selfishness. But, they take advantage of people who are very poor to make them accept the worst jobs. And these poor people receive no social benefits, no health care, no education; the only thing they get is exploitation, and they are forced to work for the rich.
I do not know if this is an exception or a combination, since there is this rally here today although the Federation of Cuban Women Congress is not over yet, and this year I have not attended the Congress at all even although I am usually present at congresses every day and every hour. Anyway, today I have something to say.
During this round table I have been in constant communication with Juan Miguel and his family and we have agreed, just today because we find this is the right moment, to release the following information:
Juan Miguel González, Elián's father, is ready to immediately travel to the United states to assume custody of his son, as the child's father with full rights recognized by the INS and Judge Moore, accompanied by indispensable people according to the criteria of medical doctors, psychiatrists and psychologists. Together, the would forthwith undertake the child's recuperation and his…
On March 22, 24 hours after Federal Court Judge Michael Moore announced his historic and fair verdict, we expressed to the U.S. authorities our concern and that of Elián González’s father and other close relatives on the risk of psychological and even physical harm that could be intentionally inflicted on the child, given the violent nature and the usual impunity and disdain for the law showed by the mob surrounding the family that was holding Elián captive, once they realized that their cause had legally, morally and politically failed.
Never before did mankind have such formidable scientific and technologic potential, such extraordinary capacity to produce riches and well-being but never before were disparity and inequity so profound in the world.
Technological wonders that have been shrinking the planet in terms of communications and distances co-exist today with the increasingly wider gap separating wealth and poverty, development and underdevelopment.
We are fighting for the most sacred rights of the poor countries; but we are also fighting for the salvation of a First World incapable of preserving the existence of the human species, of governing itself in the midst of contradictions and self-serving interests and much less of governing the world whose leadership must be democratically shared. It could almost be mathematically demonstrated that we are fighting to preserve life on Earth.
Revolution means to have a sense of history; it is changing everything that must be changed; it is full equality and freedom; it is being treated and treating others like human beings; it is achieving emancipation by ourselves and through our own efforts; it is challenging powerful dominant forces from within and without the social and national milieu; it is defending the values in which we believe at the cost of any sacrifice; it is modesty, selflessness, altruism, solidarity and heroism; it is fighting with courage, intelligence and realism; it is never lying or violating ethical principles…
To save Elián’s life, Juan Miguel was prepared to give up his own, and to risk the lives of his wife and other son. Yet, he was never willing to betray his Homeland to buy the return of the son he loved so deeply. His conduct has brought him glory and the eternal admiration of his people. This is why we are decorating him with the order that bears the name of Carlos Manuel de Céspedes. When faced with the choice of saving his son but betraying his homeland, Céspedes heroically chose, without hesitation, the death of his son, and thus earned the honorable title of Father of the Homeland.
New and efficient ways to expose our people and the world to our truth have been developed. Art and oratory, culture and the revolutionary message have merged almost inseparably in our historical process. The knowledge, general culture and political consciousness of the Cuban people are growing swiftly. Long speeches to people rallied in uncomfortable places under a hot sun will no longer be necessary to delve into complex issues and explain events which are being debated and analyzed almost on a daily basis on television, the radio and the newspapers.
That is why, Mr. Bush, if you finally become the leader of what no longer is and can no longer be called a republic but rather an empire, then, in the spirit of an honest adversary, I suggest that you leave aside the euphoria and fever of your Convention, and reconsider your position in order to avoid the risk of becoming the tenth American president to come and go watching with sterile and unnecessary bitterness a Revolution that will not bow down or surrender and that can never be destroyed.
There is chaos in our world, both within the countries’ borders and beyond. Blind laws are offered like divine norms that would bring peace, order, well being and the security our planet so badly needs. That is what they would have us believe.