Latinoamerica 1959-2012

Some Reflections on the Cuban Revolution

In these pages, I will bring you my memories and testimonies. I am one among the millions of actors and witnesses of Cuban Revolution. My generation lived in the times of the Cuban Revolution. In Latin America that time was a time of noble ideals, dreams of social justice, extraordinary individual sacrifice, and heroism. That is also the time of thebiggest ideological and political frustration for my generation.

During the last fifty-two years, the Cuban Revolution has been at the center of many conferences, forums, seminars, courses, books, news, and opinions. Why? Fidel Castro and Cuban Revolution are in the center of the most passionate discussions and ideological-political confrontations. Why? In the Americas and particularly inLatin American countries, the Cuban Revolution is a very important part of their national histories. Why?

My immediate and short answer to these questions is that the Cuban revolution is one of the most important events of the last century for four reasons and for to be the first time: (a) a socialist revolution in the Americas at only ninety miles from Key West, Florida; (b) a socialistrevolution was carried through without the leadership of a Communist Party; (c) a socialist revolution has occurred in a relatively developed country; and, (d) capitalism was confronted with a major revolution realized in conditions of world peace, rather than in a context of world war. These four reasons are associated with political and economic fields, but I want to write about the effects of theCuban Revolution in the lives of Cubans and other Latin Americans. So, in this first part of my writing I will focus on some aspects of the Cuban Revolution. What was the impact of this revolution on the lives of millions of Latin Americans, and Cubans in particular?

I will use a metaphoric representation of the tragedy of the Cuban Revolution.
Antonio Machado, the great poet of Spain,wrote the following verse: “Este hombre no es de ayer ni es de mañana” // This man is neither of the past nor of the future.

People of my generation are people like the poet Antonio Machado’s man. These people have lost both their past and their future. People whose lives were touched by the Cuban Revolution lost their noble dreams, ideals, and also lost their hope in the possibility to build abetter socio-economic system. I have a metaphoric representation of this tragedy called the Cuban Revolution:

There is, in a corner of Havana, a very tired old man. His shoulders hold a half century of frustration, desperation, and desolation. He is the symbol of starvation and poverty. He is the symbol of the Cuban Revolution. He cannot see his reality. And he cannot have sweet dreams.His name could be Roberto, José or Pedro. He could be an artist, poet, engineer, lawyer, a simple farmer or worker, dentist, teacher, or computer expert. Someone robbed this man of his life, time, past, and future. His whole life passed from one revolutionary slogan to another (Patria o Muerte. ¡Venceremos! // Fatherland or Death. To victory always! Socialismo o Muerte // Socialism ordeath). The old man of Havana is the witness: Fidel Castro insists he will die rather than capitulate to any enemy. The old man lost his past, and he has only his old years remaining. He has only his handicapped present day. He sees the automobiles that only the leaders of the communist party are driving, but he has lost interest in them. After 53 years living under Fidel Castro’s regime, he doesnot wish to have an automobile. He sees airplanes departing to other countries, but he knows that he cannot have freedom for traveling to other countries. He smells delicious foods and Cuban cigars, and he understands that they are not for him. He learned that the hotels, bars, and fancy restaurants are only for tourists from other countries. He cannot express his feelings and opinions...