A+Letter+from+a+South+African+Comrade+in+Cuba

=Fidel solves domestic difficulties=


 * Dear Comrades,**

It is a normal shiny day in Cuba and the sky is so beautiful just like the waters in the blessed seas of Cuba. Today I woke up highly active after watching a very exciting baseball game between two of the best Pelota teams in Cuba.My province, Sancti Spiritus won against Industrial with a 5-3 score.

Of course many of you might be lost as to exactly what I am talking about since, well, Baseball is not such a fashionable sport in South Africa.

Well, after living in Cuba for all this time, this is one of the beautiful things I have learned to like and admire. I now enjoy and even know to analyse the tactics of the game.

How is South Africa? I guess things should be fine, reading on the latest Status of Women Report for the UN, by the ANC newsletter as part of the International Women´s Day CELEBRATIONS. The report outlined some gains made on the status of women in our country.

Seeing that you are all friends of Cuba, I have decided to write this little few lines to encourage each one of you to continue sacrificing a bit of your time and resources to spread the story of the Cuban people.

Just like in any other part of the world, March 08 did not go unnoticed in Cuba. The “Commandante” Fidel Castro, used the day to speak to the nation in a record breaking speech of 6 hours outlining in details what are the challenges facing the country and also outlining some new measures to be adopted to make the lives of Cuban people even more easier. To close his speech, the beloved and most adored president, cde Fidel Castro anounced the ideal gift to all the women of the country. All the families without electric rice cooking pot are to be given a free electric pot with immediate effect. He also used the opportunity to anounce that the normal cuban peso (Cuban monetary unit) – US DOLLAR relations will be reduced from 1 USD : 27 PESOS to 1 USD : 24 CUBAN PESO.

Maybe when you are living outside Cuba, this might just sound like a very simple and obvious thing. But to us who are on day to day observing the Cuban life, what cde Fidel has done, goes more than just a generous act. Despite the economic difficulties that the country is going through, the President touched the very central and core unit of the Cuban population. He has spoken to each and every family when he gave them the electric cooking pot which then helps to prepare one of the staple and basic food in Cuba, which is rice. Once again Fidel has demonstrated his connection and sensitivity to his people. To Fidel nothing is ever too little or small if it worries his people. The poor love Fidel not because he give them millions, but because he takes their problems seriously and solve them in the most modest way that he can. The night that he spoke to the nation, he told them that the leadership of the Cuban Revolution was working hard and tirelessly to minimise all their problems.

Every household was switching on the TV listening to Fidel making promises that they are sure he is gonna fulfil because unlike many world presidents, Fidel never tell lies to his people. When there are resources,he give to the people. When there is scarcity like there is shortage now of water, he explain to the people and ask them to save the little that they have until new ways could be found to solve the problem. Their trust in him and his ability to live by his word has made Fidel the longest serving president alive. Fidel, just like Mandela, have a way of making all the people who come into contact love him spontaneously. He is a moral leader who has given more than any other president to many poor countries irrespective of the little resources that his countries has.

When he does all this, he always explain to his people why is impòrtant to help other poor countries hence his people are always willing to go where he sent them because just like him, they have begun to understand that those who are free and better off, believing genuinely in a better world, have then a moral obligation to help those they want freed in every possible ways. This is what Che defined as a true internationalist revolution. Maybe today we might even call it a different form of globilisation- that of skills and resources. As the followers of Che´s spirit and teachings, we are called to sacrifice some part of our lives to help free those who are oppressed. (politically, socially, economically, etc). Of course no one has said it is gonna be easy, but our convictions are more stronger than the physical barriers that stand on our way. The Cuban story is a living testimony that should encourage us in our fight for a better and peaceful world. Nothing should discourage anyone of us from doing his or her bit to continuously mobilise our friends, colleagues and families to join in the struggle of the Cuban people who have become the symbol of resistance against the imperialist block.

The fact that today each family in Cuba has recieved a free cooking pot; the Cuban peso has gained weight against the mighty US Dollar should be seen as a victory against the Economic blockade imposed on the Cuban people.That should be seen as a physical demonstration that the Economic models employed by the Cuban government are real and practical.But also that should serve to motivate us, friends of the Cuban people to strengthen our support for this revolution that takes care of its people because we know that the enemy is not pleased by this good news. The US owned and sponsored media is going to try and twist the truth about the success of the Cuban revolution and contest that there are no Human Rights in Cuba. Truths about many of the poor and workers´s children from other countries being formed into proffesionals in Cuba are really not newsworthy at all. Instead, false information about human rights abuse in Cuba is what is being debated in Geneva.

Comrades, I write you this few lines because I have full confidence in each one of you. I know you have immense capacity and possibility to take the Cuban struggle forward. So when you feel tired, pause for a while and think about the sacrifices Cuba is doing to help constuct a better world. So do not be discouraged. Let us all work not only to defend Cuba, but to defend the just human cause.


 * Yours in Solidarity with Cuba

Steve, Cuba

InfoMed Sancti Spiritus. Mensaje enviado utilizando Servicios Escambray.**