CUBA

It’s almost 2am and I’m stranded in Dallas Fort Worth Texas, am I gonna make it to Cuba?

These were my thoughts as I spent the night at the airport. Not sure why God allowed this to happen to me but, after all the hassle and a night in the airport, when that charter plane left Miami and landed in La Habana, Cuba— to be honest, I don’t think there were words to describe the emotions I felt. I was sooo so grateful, thank you Lord for allowing it. 

Cuba was nothing less than what I was hoping for. Cuba was a place that I had heard too much about (in a negative way) and had desired to go to for waaay too long. And it was a trip that I could not pass up. I have no regrets in life but, if I wouldn’t have gone on this trip knowing that I could have, it would have most definitely been my first regret.

As we made our way to our lodging, I noticed the beautiful green scenery, the patriotic slogans on billboards and the traffic; it was not hectic at all.  Not like most of the other countries I’ve visited. But, what stood out to me the most within the first 30 minutes of my arrival was the seaside Malecon, El Malecon. People were just chillin’— walking, talking, playing music, drinking, simply put, being with each other. NOT on their phones. This human interaction struck me. It was normal to them. I thought, for us to aspire to have a genuine presence with someone we have to be mindful and conscious enough to put our phones away on purpose, to not be distracted by technology. Interaction is no longer a “natural thing” for people in a capitalist country.

Our trip was a cultural and educational kind of trip. As a delegate of the International league of People’s Struggles, I was also representing the JFMLN and I was there not only to absorb everything but also, to learn how we can support the Cuban people.

Our delegation was made up of people representing various struggles—the Filipino, El Salvadoran, Pacific Islander, North Korean, Mexican people. We represent the people who hace been devastated by and continue to be condemned by imperialism, capitalism and neoliberalism. Our histories of struggle and oppression brought us to Cuba because we wanted to learn from them because their revolution is present in their daily lives today. They experience the consequences of their noble and inspiring resistance against capitalist hegemony that has plagued our countries including North America. The economic, financial and commercial blockade has denied Cuba access to many things. It is important to shed light on what the purpose of a blockade is first: a blockade is an action taken before an invasion; to weaken and strangle a country economically to the point that it succumbs to, in this case, U.S. pressures. And Cuba has resisted for 56 years!!! The sanctions weakened Cuba’s economic development that prevents them from developing their infrastructure—transportation, aqueducts, building construction, trade, etc. BUT, Fidel knew that the Revolution of 1959 would not be their greatest feat, for the most difficult times were yet to come—sustaining, defending and supporting the revolution against all odds would be their greatest feat.

The DUPLICITY that engulfs North American rhetoric teaches the American people not to question and to not critically think. U.S. rhetorical duplicity is encapsulated by this saying, "La ignorancia bien organizada a menudo es contada por sabiduria" (Ignorance well organized is often counted as wisdom). Why did the US block Cuba? What has Cuba done to the US? Well, by answering the second question, I’ll answer the first question.  Simply put, the Cuban revolution did not care about U.S. interests in the country. When Fidel and his army overthrew Bautista, he vowed Cuba free from colonial subjugation, that is, Cuba would no longer be a sugar colony for the U.S.  Fidel nationalized property—BIG NO NO—greatest evil for capital, expropriated properties and distributed wealth. 

Cuban Dictor Bautista and the U.S. Cretins

North American Sensationalist media speaks so foul of Cuba and its communist party but, they speak nothing about Cuba’s achievements. They speak ill will on a country that has been able to thrive without their help.  Just until a few days ago Cuba was taken off the terrorist list! A country that has and continues to invest in its people! The Cuban government has invested on the development of its citizens— Universal—FREE healthcare, free education (NO LOANS), subsidized housing for the majority, social security is available and everyone, no matter your class is given a ration book so EVERYONE gets the staple foods for the month. Cuba has had remarkable advances in science, healthcare, education, culture and sports.  They have developed a vaccine for lung cancer, which is being tested in the states as we speak. Cuba has had great breakthroughs in biotechnology and biochemical development and products that the U.S. blockade prevents from being widely spread throughout the world. The blockade on Cuba affects the exchange and realization of information and research between countries.

So I ask you to ask yourself, why does the U.S. not demonize countries whose poor are dying; illiteracy is high and where healthcare in non-existent? Perhaps because the U.S. has a part in that, or because that helps the U.S. thrive. Like the late honorable Galeano said, “underdevelopment is not a stage of development. It is a consequence.” Think about it ;).

The Cuban revolution transformed the presidential palace into a museum (Museo de la Revolucion); the military moncadas found in Ciudad Libertad were transformed into schools and the Literacy Museum was built there. Literacy in Cuba is 0.2%.  When Fidel took over, 1 million Cuban people did not know how to read and write. When Fidel began analyzing the situation of the 3^rd world countries, he determined literacy to be a solution. Fidel made a national call of duty to all countrymen and women to join the campaign against illiteracy; illiteracy would be abolished in a year. Young people from all classes went out to the rural areas; left their comfort, had no salary, no stipend nor was it their vacation, they did what they needed to do to help their country and countrymen/women. There were 8yr olds who taught 52yr olds.  People were learning at age 102 and 106. The proletariat developed an identity and believed with conviction in the revolution. But, they were not the only ones that had changed. Fidel warned all the teachers— they were going to learn more than they were going to teach. Students became more revolutionary. For many of the teachers, it was the most important thing they had ever accomplished. “Peasants learned the word, teachers taught, and together they created the homeland.”  By 2003, Cuba had a literacy program in 32 countries. UNESCO has awarded the Cuban literacy program “Yo Si Puedo” (Yes I can) three awards for its effectiveness. 

Cuba is a socialist country. Although they may be poor, due largely by the economic, financial and commercial blockade imposed on Cuba, Cuban’s most fundamental and basic needs are met.  YES there are contradictions—Cuba is not perfect and they humbly accept that they’ve made errors and face crime and corruption as does the majority of the world. But again, may I remind everyone, their revolution was consolidated and continues to be supported by the masses and therefore the revolution lives on as a result. They have a constituency that is actively participative and politically conscious. For example, communities are largely organized within Committees for the Defense of the Revolution (CDR). There is an appointed person in the CDR and the municipal government who is a representative to the government. That is, people do not only ask themselves what the problems are, but they are asked what they think the government and police should get involved in. They have a voice, a space to voice their concerns and ideas, and they are heard. They’re requests are not only noted but, addressed. Cuba can be described as a representative democracy. A lot of people think or have been taught to think that Cuba is a dictatorship especially since Fidel was in power for so long but, as renounced artist Compay Segundo once said, “Cuando no lo quieran [Fidel], el pueblo lo tumba, pero hasta que el pueblo lo tumbe, quieto alli” and well Fidel was president up until his health allowed it.

The masses in Cuba are the priority, which is why education and healthcare have historically been more than half of the state’s budget.  Although they have lived through scarcity and continue to do so, they do so together.  DISCLAIMER: the last thing I want to do is romanticize the revolution or their struggle but, their solidarity in their economic struggles are dully noted. Their education—ideological and political formation has inculcated in them the value of the human being; they respect each other and help one another out. I heard so many times the word solidarity. The Cuban people do not give each other leftovers, they give and share with each other the little that they have, WITHOUT LEAVING ANYONE TO HIS/HER OWN FATE.  True solidarity, it’s a standard among the Cuban people. As one individual told us, “No tenemos gran desarrollo, pero tenemos un gran desarrollo humano" (We do not have great development, but we have great human development.”  Cuba not only teaches us about the solidarity among their people but also, with the rest of the world and their struggle against imperialism. For example, Cuba has supported Africa with various military, educational and medical help for over the last 40+ decades. Also, let me add, Cuba has shown El Salvador incredible solidarity and support for example, their support really helped the FMLN during the civil war. In most recent years, Cuba continues to support El Salvador and welcomes students to ELAM (Latin American School of Medicine) and also, Cuba has sent hundreds of doctors to El Salvador for the project “Pulgarcito de América.”

As I sit here tonight, thinking and reflecting about the inspiration that Cuba reflects, I have a hard time not comparing Cuba to our deplorable state in the United States. I think about the massive inequalities in this country, the painful struggles of the working class, of the human beings in the hoods and the ghettos that are demonized and criminalized. I say to myself, “Cuba has got it right.” There may be a lack of economic development, but their services are on point. They have invested in their people; they have developed their people into thinking people, with an education. Yes, due to economic trials, many may not be able to practice what they studied, but they understand their circumstances, their history, the essence of the revolution and the majority support it.

There are kids tonight in the U.S. alone, trying to survive—this is inhumane. Nobody should have to survive. There are mothers in detention centers tonight, unconstitutionally incarcerated because their situation in their native country, which is directly linked to our transnational reality, forced them to leave in order to survive. The U.S. thrives by imposing its imperialism, capitalism and neoliberalism in today’s glorified globalized reality.

According to the Declaration of Independence, we have the right to “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” but, does every one have this equal access and opportunity to such a clause? In light of the recent BLACK LIVES MATTER campaign, it is clear that our black as well as brown brothers and sisters do not enjoy this right or others. We see how racism and it's relationship to the transnational economy and the people who benefit from it are creating this hatred infested place some can still call "home." Because a large percentage of our underserved colored people are locked up in a cell, while many more are locked into poverty, without access to quality education and healthcare. This is a country that has relegated its citizens to mere commodities and units of production, which raises the question of social justice and the well-being of humanity—one’s well being and health are interdependent with our unalienable human rights to life, liberty and happiness. Therefore, without one’s health the latter is virtually nonexistent. The general population is distracted by sensationalist media and temporary pleasures as the majority withers away in misery and crime that are facilitated by poverty, created by capitalism.

We are in the “belly of the beast.”  Where history is told foul and/or our history is not told.  In Cuba, young people are revolutionary and teachers play a great role in that. Cuban citizens are faithful to their history, they have grasped tightly onto their roots. Included in their education—in their political and ideological formation is their love for the homeland, love for the municipality; liberty, freedom and peace. They are taught the pedagogical ethics of Marti, their national hero. Marti encourages the art of creation and believes it is key in conserving their historical memory and people in the face of imperialist pressures.  Jose Marti was an idealist but that doesn’t mean he believed in the impossible, it simply means that he believed in human kind and its ability to materialize the best for all. Marti said, "Un principio justo, desde el fondo de una cueva, puede mas que un ejercito" (One just principle from the depths of a cave is more powerful than an army"). Their convictions will play a role in combating the distraction that technology and capital will bring to the island once the blockade is lifted; the anti-imperialist struggle is still very much alive in the Cuban people today.

!INTERNATIONAL WORKERS DAY-MAY DAY CELEBRATION!

When the blockade eventually lifts, the Cuban government already has a Law of Foreign Business: it will not allow capital to do whatever they want in Cuba. The Cuban government decides who invests and together, members in the national commission and parliament ask the most important questions, bearing in mind the humble: “Is this investment needed?" “Will it solve a problem? Will it benefit our people?”  Cuba will embrace this new chapter in their country without renouncing their social ideals that founded their revolution. Cuba has laws in place like the Cuban labor law that protects its workers from exploitation; salaries are in line with production, and no surplus value is accumulated. When we visited the Central Cuban Worker’s Confederation, many of us grew to understand the power that the working class has in the country. No need to go on strike in Cuba because the state fights for the working class. Workers Unions do not need to protest. Workers rights are valued, honored and respected and there is dialogue between the workers and their bosses.

The socialist system is the one the Cuban people need, support and take action for in order to consolidate the revolution. How could they not? This system has laid out the foundation and precedent for schools that form the children; literacy campaigns that have spread worldwide, that have helped other countries and that have been a model to follow; where women have 1yr of maternity leave; men and women have an equal pay rate; disaster preparedness is on point—investment in prevention and early intervention Disaster Reduction Plans on the national, provincial and municipal levels, and finally, a government that cares for each and every citizen's life. Mental health in Cuba is not stigmatized as it is here. Because Cubans understand the value of the human being they prioritize the overall well-being of the individual including their mental health. When we met with Ministry of Health officials we discussed chronic diseases in Cuba and I was so happily astonished to learn that suicide and depression are at the bottom of the list. It made total sense! They’re basic and most fundamental needs are met.

I SAW NO HOMELESS.

I SAW NO CHILD ASKING FOR MONEY.

I DID FEEL THE HUMAN INTERACTION.

I DID FEEL CUBAN SOLIDARITY.

I DID SEE COPS WITHOUT GUNS—POLICE BRUTALITY IS NOT AN ISSUE.

VIVA CUBA

I do not have all the answers and I am not, by far an expert in this subject of Cuba, but these were some of my sincere observations. I cannot be blind to the contradictions that the Cuban people face and live however, I witnessed beautiful, unseen and unheard of things on this island. My hope is in the legacy and conservation of what was accomplished and consolidated through the revolution—conviction, independence and justice. With the blockade lifting, they will have to be creative in truly constructing the best society for its people. Their legacy will help them and the masses, who know their history, know their identity, know their rights and know the struggle fight if need be for their well-being and ultimate Cuban self-determination and liberation in the face of capitalism. 

I went on a delegation with 25 other individuals to Cuba. Each and every one of us, have a story and a just cause to struggle for. We are a people united by our histories. Although we may have grown up in the States and embody our own privileges—education, class, family, gender, color, etc., we represent our people who continue to struggle against the oppression of the larger class, of the plutocrats (the wealthy) that rule this country and that infringe the rights of those outside of this country. We denounce imperialism and its practices; we denounce U.S. imperialism in our native countries. We have seen, heard and empathized with the struggles of our people abroad.  We can continue to do our part in being "ruthless critics" of the world, of our surroundings, challenging these racist bigot policies, laws and political parties that are taking place here right now. Never forgetting however, that it is necessary to be a visionary of a better world that is possible with hard work, discipline and community.  It is also vital to remember that the answer to materializing this better humanity for the sake of the masses is to learn, rediscover, reclaim and become conscious of our own history, which will be key to motivate us to be creative and to thus, overcome. =).

We arrived in Cuba, knowing that this would change our lives somehow just not knowing to what degree. We accepted that challenge, and now, we know the possibilities. 

   Hasta La Victoria Siempre!