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History ignored
Publicado el 9 09e Octubre 09e 2009 2 comentarios
How can memory be invoked for history’s sake, just to forget it?
Former President Fidel Castro has published an apologetic reflection on the 60th anniversary of the proclamation of the Popular Republic of China, ignoring the black pages. Mao Tse Tung is no longer that “old fool” whom the reflectionist himself vilified at the Plaza of the Revolution, Maoism is no longer a counter-revolutionary current, as they used to teach at the Ñico López Communist Party School in the 80’s. Who was the one who gave the order to show that Soviet film entitled The long night on China, which was responsible for informing candidates to the Party of the horrors of the Cultural Revolution, the War of the Sparrows and the huge failure of the Great Step Forward?History cannot be ignored, so it is unacceptable for anyone in their right mind to state “Our ties with China stem, however, from Marxist ideas that inspired the Cuban Revolution and were able to traverse the difficult tests of the division between the two great socialist States, which caused so much damage to the global revolutionary movement.”
So the Moncada assault was inspired by Marxism! It now appears that our ties with China passed the division test! It was my understanding that this revolution was born from the desire to overthrow a dictatorship that violated the civil and political rights of Cubans. I could have sworn that, on said division, the Party, headed back then by the current reflectionist, clearly sided with the Soviet side, spitting and trampling with hatred on what today is referred to as “the Chinese model”.
History cannot be ignored, that is why it is so hard to understand that a process accused of betraying revolutionary ideals may be worthy of being on the list of the ones who “kept the banner of socialism aloft”.
History cannot be ignored. What kind of merit does an army have, other than that of imitating Hitler, in marching at 115 goose steps per minute? How funny is it for a civilian population to conduct itself like a beehive, emulating, along its armed compatriots, the ability to achieve a high level of mass organization?
I’d rather stay with the verses of Heberto Padilla:
History is the rat that climbs the stairs every night,
History is the scoundrel
that also leaps into bed with the Great Whore.2 responses to “History ignored”
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My history includes the time in the mid 1970s when I was obtaining one of the first visitors visas that had been issued for travel to China since the revolution and the closing of the country to foreigners. It was stated clearly that a visa from Cuba in my passport would mean that I would not be able to travel to China. Luckily, I did not have a Cuban visa.
When I returned from my sojourn I checked to see what the condition was with Cuba. I was told that the Chinese stamps in my passport meant that I would not be admitted to Cuba and I would have to get a new passport.
As luck and evolution would have it, now that Cuba and China are all kissy kissy, Cuba no longer stamps my passport and China doesn’t care if I have been there.
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Mark Petersen-Perez 12 12e Octubre 12e 2009 en 21:29
Having visited your country on two occasions I was impressed by the love of your people and the absent of fear I have often felt from other countries visited.
I currently live in the US although my home country is Nicaragua.
I know most Cuban’s long for freedom of press and religion. And look to the US as setting the standard in this regard. This is an illusion.
Freedom of thought and expression can and are often met with opposition from government officials.
Officials, who have been entrusted to safeguard this sacred passage of freedom (first amendment right)has been silently eroded and abandoned.
I speak from experience having lost my job for having exposed racism by our police department.
I became a target for speaking out and thus a casualty of Democracy. Yes, Democracy - How ironic.
In reality, and in many ways Cuba and there citizen may in fact be enjoying greater freedoms and prosperity without even knowing it.
There is a saying; “you cannot see the trees through the forest” and a lesson we all can appreciate comes from a former US President.
“Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.
John F. Kennedy
¿Y tú que opinas?
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Michael 10 10e Octubre 10e 2009 en 21:46