“The struggle of our people for independence did not start that day, that day resumed the heroic struggle started in 1868 by Cespedes and carried forward by that exceptional man whose centenary was being celebrated that year, the man that was the mastermind of the attack on the Moncada: José Martí.”
Quotes
“In only one thing are we still like those of 1953. We have the same faith in the future of the fatherland, the same faith in the qualities of our people, the same confidence in victory, the same happiness at being able to dream of all that which will become true tomorrow in addition to those dreams of yesterday which have already been fulfilled.”
“Rectification means looking for something new; 26 July 1953 was rectification. We struggled to erase old things, to open new paths, to make a revolution, to create a new life; that is rectification today. Rectification has a meaning, a truly broad meaning. I am happy and very encouraged by what I am seeing. I am pleased with the results I am seeing, despite the fact that I know we can still do much more. We have much more ahead.”
“To those who at one time believed that spilt blood was useless, that Moncada led to adversity and not to victory, that the Granma was useless, or that the war in the mountains was useless, we say today it is proven that the sacrifice was never useless. Those who believe that one day all this effort, all this heroism, and all this blood will be useless should know that today more than ever before and with greater confidence than ever before we can say the sacrifice has been absolutely fruitful and absolutely useful. Those who believe that - the empire and its servile mercenaries -, are mistaken if they believe that one day the blood of the good was shed in vain. Our revolution, our people, and our party can never be underestimated!”
“If we had followed the plans of others, we would not be meeting here today. There would not have been a 26 July. There would not have been a socialist revolution in this hemisphere. There still would not have been a socialist revolution in this hemisphere. According to conventional theory, this revolution could not have come about. That was the theory. Let this be understood very well: That was the theory. That is what the books said. That is what the manuals said.”
“This is the same country, and this is the same people of Cespedes and of Marti. This is the country, the same country, the same people of Agramonte and Maximo Gomez. This is the same country and people of the Bronze Titan, Antonio Maceo. This is the same country and same people of Yara and of Bayamo, of the protest from Baragua. This is the same country and same people of Moncada, the Bay of Pigs and Internationalism, we all now have a greater revolutionary awareness than ever before in our history. This people and this country will know how to be consistent with their glorious history!”
"Forty-five years have passed since the assault on the Moncada. Our country had been struggling for its independence and its rights for more than a century. Maceo, Gómez and other fighters struggled from 1868 until 1898. They suffered the humiliation of not being able to hoist their flag in this heroic city, of not even being able to enter it after 30 years of a self-sacrificing, admirable and heroic struggle. But the day came when those flags were hoisted and their ideas triumphed, ideas which were ever-changing and which never stopped evolving into something better. Every new idea can be a step towards the pinnacle of human progress.”
"Our generation has fulfilled its duty after having struggled without respite for 45 years, from that July 26, 1953 onwards, maintaining a steadfast position of principles, with the same ideas that inspired us that day."
"(…..) What are they this July 26? They are an indestructible path linking the thought, the heroism and the will to struggle of that imperishable bulwark with whose independence Martí wanted to prevent, and did prevent, the powerful and expansionist neighbour to the North from spreading through the Antilles and falling with that additional force on our American lands."
"José Martí, the Apostle of Independence, a genius of the ideas, and of the noblest ideas that can ever be conceived; the National Hero of our homeland, whose ideas inspired the Centennial Generation and today inspire and will continue to inspire all of our people more and more."
"The Moncada Program was fulfilled, and over-fulfilled. For some time now, we have been pursuing even greater and previously unimaginable dreams. Today, great battles are being waged in the area of ideas, while confronting problems associated with the world situation, perhaps the most critical ever to face humanity.”