Fidel Castro opinion piece in English, via Google Translate

(Editor's Note: What follows is Fidel Castro's opinion piece, published in Granma. The translation from Spanish into English is via Google Translate and has not been cleaned up or edited.)

The kings of Spain brought the conquerors and owners, whose fingerprints were on the circular bundles of land assigned to the prospectors in the sands of rivers, abusive and shameful form of exploitation whose traces can be seen from the air many parts of the country.

Tourism today largely consists of showing delight landscapes and savor the food delicacies of our seas, and always to be shared with the private capital of large foreign corporations, whose profits if they do not reach the billions of dollars per capita are not worthy of some attention.

Since I was forced to broach the subject, I should add, especially for young people, that few people realize the importance of such a condition in this unique moment in human history. I will not say that time has been lost, but do not hesitate to say that we are not sufficiently informed, neither you nor we, knowledge and consciences we should have to face the realities that challenge us. The first thing to consider is that our lives are a historical split second, you have to also share with the vital needs of all human beings. One feature of this is the tendency to the overvaluation of their role, which contrasts with the other hand the extraordinary number of people who embody the highest dreams.

No one, however, is good or bad by itself. None of us is designed for the role it should take in the revolutionary society. In part, the Cubans had the privilege of having the example of José Martí. I wonder even if they had to fall or not in Dos Rios, saying "it is time for me", and charged the Spanish forces entrenched in a solid line of fire. I did not want to return to the United States and no one who did return. Someone plucked a few leaves from his diary. Who bore the perfidious fault, that was certainly the work of some unscrupulous schemer? differences between the bosses are known but never indiscipline. "Whoever attempts to conquer Cuba will only gather the dust of her soil soaked in blood, if not perish in the fight" said the glorious black leader Antonio Maceo. It is also recognized in Maximo Gomez, the most disciplined and discreet military chief of our history.

Looked at from another angle, how not to admire the indignation of Bonifacio Byrne when, from the distant boat that brought him back to Cuba, at the sight of another flag next to Lone Star, said: "My flag is one that has mercenary ever been ... "to add immediately one of the most beautiful phrases I never heard:" If undone in small pieces becomes my flag someday ... our dead raising his arms to defend know yet ...! ". Nor do I forget the words of Camilo Cienfuegos lit that night, when several dozen meters bazookas and machine guns of American origin, in counter hands, pointed to the terrace where we were standing. Obama was born in August 1961, as he himself said. More than half a century would pass from that time.

Let's see how today however think our illustrious visitor:

"I came here to leave behind the last vestiges of the Cold War in the Americas. I came here extending the hand of friendship to the Cuban people. "

Immediately a flood of concepts, entirely new to most of us:

"They live in a new world colonized by Europeans." US President continued. "Cuba, like the United States, was founded by slaves brought from Africa; like the United States, the Cuban people have inheritance in slaves and slaveholders. "

Native populations do not exist at all in the minds of Obama. Nor does it say that racial discrimination was swept away by the Revolution; that retirement and salary of all Cubans were enacted by this before Mr. Barack Obama fulfilled 10 years. The odious and racist bourgeois habit of hiring thugs to black citizens were expelled from recreation centers was swept by the Cuban Revolution. This would be remembered for the battle fought in Angola against apartheid, ending the presence of nuclear weapons in a continent of more than one billion people. That was not the goal of our solidarity, but to help the people of Angola, Mozambique, Guinea Bissau and other fascist colonial rule of Portugal.

In 1961, just two years and three months after the triumph of the Revolution, a mercenary force with cannons and armored infantry, equipped with aircraft, was trained and accompanied by warships and aircraft carriers in the US, raiding our country. Nothing can justify this premeditated attack that cost our country hundreds of killed and wounded. Pro-Yankee Brigade assault, nowhere has there could have evacuated a single mercenary. Yanks warplanes were presented to the United Nations as rebels Cuban teams.

It is well known military experience and power of that country. In Africa also they believed that revolutionary Cuba would easily put out of action. The attack southern Angola by the racist South Africa motorized brigades leads to the vicinity of Luanda, the capital of this country. Hence a struggle that lasted not less than 15 years starts. I speak not even this, unless he had the elemental duty to respond to Obama's speech at the Gran Teatro de La Habana Alicia Alonso.

Nor I try to give details, only to emphasize that there honorably page of the struggle for human liberation was written. In a way I wanted Obama's behavior was correct. His humble origins and his natural intelligence were evident. Mandela was imprisoned for life and had become a giant in the struggle for human dignity. One day I got my hands on a copy of the book in that part of the life of Mandela and oh, surprise !: was prefaced by Barack Obama is told. I flipped through quickly. It was amazing the size of the lowercase letter stating Mandela data. Worth having known men like that.

On the episode of South Africa I must point out another experience. I was really interested in learning more about how the South Africans had acquired nuclear weapons. Only had very precise that did not exceed 10 or 12 bombs information. A reliable source would be the professor and researcher Piero Gleijeses, who had drafted the text "Conflicting Missions: Havana, Washington and Africa 1959-1976"; an excellent job. I knew he was the safest source of what happened and so I communicated; I replied that he had not spoken about the matter, because the text had answered the questions of teammate Jorge Risquet, who had been ambassador in Angola or Cuban partner, close friend of his. I located Risquet; and other important occupations was finishing a course which was missing several weeks. That task coincided with a fairly recent trip to our country Piero; He had warned that Risquet this was some years and his health was not optimal. A few days later it happened what I feared. Risquet worsened and he died. Piero came when there was nothing to do except promises, but I had already made about what was related to that weapon and help that racist South Africa had received from Reagan and Israel.

I do not know what Obama has to say on this story now. I do not know what or did not know, although it is very doubtful that I knew absolutely nothing. My modest suggestion is to reflect and do not try now to develop theories about Cuban politics.

There is an important question:

Obama delivered a speech in which he used to express the most honeyed words: "It's high time to forget the past, let the past, look to the future, let's look together, a future of hope. And it will not be easy, there will be challenges, and those we will give it time; but my stay here gives me more hope for what we can do together as friends, as family, as neighbors, together. "

It is assumed that each of us risked a heart attack upon hearing these words of the President of the United States. After a merciless blockade that has lasted almost 60 years, and those who have died in the mercenary attacks on ships and Cuban ports, an airliner full of passengers detonated in midair, mercenary invasions, multiple acts of violence and strength?

No illusion that the people of this noble and selfless surrender the glory country and the rights and spiritual wealth he has earned with the development of education, science and culture is made.

also warn that we are able to produce food and material wealth we need the effort and intelligence of our people. We do not need the empire regale us nothing. Our efforts will be legal and peaceful, because it is our commitment to peace and brotherhood of all human beings living on this planet.