Raúl and Díaz-Canel presided over the political and cultural event honoring the Commander-in-Chief’s 99th birthday. This day marked the beginning of the program commemorating Fidel’s centenary
Photo: Estudios Revolución
In Birán, fertile land of men who shape the future, Cuba celebrated the 99th birthday of the Commander-in-Chief on Wednesday, as it did throughout the country, a tribute that marked the beginning of a greater celebration: the commemorative program for Fidel’s centenary, which is, as the poet would say, “the root of the tree.”
The celebration in the historic complex, sheltered by a leafy carob tree and the cedars that almost a century ago sheltered the birth of a symbol, was presided over by another extraordinary son of that Holguín land, the most loyal Fidel supporter among Cubans, his brother in blood and ideas, Army General Raúl Castro Ruz, leader at the forefront of the Cuban Revolution.
Alongside Raúl, at that site which was the starting point in the history of the homeland, were First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party and President of the Republic, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez; as well as other members of the Political Bureau, leaders of the Party, the State and the Government, the Union of Young Communists, mass organizations, the Revolutionary Armed Forces and the Ministry of the Interior, and a representation of young people from the provinces of Santiago de Cuba, Guantánamo, and Holguín.
And in a special way, the youth solidarity brigade from several countries around the world participated in this day of remembrance, reaffirming that Cuba is not alone.
With the certainty that Fidel is a country and, rather than evoking him, it is time to bring him into the present and continue his legacy with deeds, Roberto Morales Ojeda, Member of the Political Bureau and Secretary of Organization of the Party’s Central Committee, reviewed the Commander’s fruitful life, which began in the batey of Birán and changed the course of history forever.
The historic leader was remembered during a tribute that featured the Children’s Theater Company La Colmenita
Photo: Artwork by Ernesto Rancaño
From the José Martí’s thought that children are the ones who know how to love and are the hope of the world, the Children’s Theater Company La Colmenita, together with other artists, celebrated the 98th birthday of the Commander-in-Chief with the show ¡Buenos días, Fidel! (Good morning, Fidel!).
The theater of the Sala Universal de las FAR yesterday experienced moments of intense emotion, recalling passages of the invincible giant, from images that, in a tight synthesis, went through the immense work of the historic leader of the Cuban Revolution.
The tribute was attended by the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Party and President of the Republic, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, together with the members of the Political Bureau, Esteban Lazo Hernández, president of the National Assembly of People’s Power, and Roberto Morales Ojeda, secretary of Organization of the Central Committee of the Party; in addition to the Commander of the Revolution Ramiro Valdés Menéndez, deputy prime minister; the Commander of the Rebel Army José Ramón Machado Ventura, and other senior leaders of the Party and the Government.
The iconic image of a majestic green rose with the symbol of the ranks of Commander-in-Chief spliced in its center, presided at the beginning of the huge stage, to assume the leading role of the child-artists.
With the same strength with which her voice burst forth, the singer Tomasita Quiala provoked different emotions among those present to, from poetry, refer to the Commander’s birthday as “98 flowers hung with sadness,” and to remember Fidel in the present.
For about 50 minutes, artists and members of La Colmenita put their hearts to the test to, with the magic that always surrounds theater, reflect through art the ideas for which Fidel fought so hard.
Supported by legendary texts by Fayad Jamís, Jesús Orta Ruiz and Thiago de Mello, among others, the show spoke of love, loyalty to the homeland, commitment and fidelity; values that the Cuban leader defended and multiplied among several generations. The singer-songwriters Raúl Torres and Nelson Valdés also joined in.
The leader was present in many dimensions throughout the tribute. Because it is difficult not to admire and love Fidel, because he was a country, Cuba made voice, Fidel is for all times.
OTHER TRIBUTES ON THE ISLAND
Fidel was also honored at the headquarters of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba. The activity was also presided over by Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, First Secretary of the PCC and President of the Republic, and by Roberto Morales Ojeda, member of the Political Bureau and Secretary of Organization.
In verses, songs and fragments of interviews, the occasion was propitious to remember how personalities of the world had Fidel as a universal reference, immortalized in the poem Ronda a la Fortuna, which its own author, Nancy Morejón, read there.
Those present also paid a heartfelt tribute to the National Literature Prize winner on the occasion of her 80th birthday.
In Santiago de Cuba, a large representation of the people of the Hero City went to the monolith that treasures the ashes of the historic leader of the Cuban Revolution, in the Necropolis of Santa Ifigenia, where flowers were placed on the grounds of the sacred site by Party leaders, the Government, political organizations, and the rest of those present, especially the youngest, accompanied by combatants of the Cuban Revolution, and his companion of a thousand battles, the Commander of the Revolution Guillermo García Frías, who dedicated emotional words to the Chief: “To you, eternal Commander, my unforgettable memory.”
Meanwhile, in Birán, the town in Holguín where the colossal revolutionary was born, the creation of the Provincial Commission in charge of organizing the Fidel’s Centenary was announced.
Fidel Castro no fue solo un renovador permanente de los métodos de lucha revolucionaria, fue, igualmente, un soñador que tuvo la suerte de ver realizadas las más hermosas utopías
Autor: Amador Hernández Hernández | internet@granma.cu 11 de agosto de 2021 22:08:27
Foto: Ilustrativa Fidel Castro no fue solo un renovador permanente de los métodos de lucha revolucionaria, fue, igualmente, un soñador que tuvo la suerte de ver realizadas las más hermosas utopías.
Bien se sabe que su carácter inquieto y rebelde desde la niñez misma contribuyó a su rápida madurez política. Apenas con 21 años, como presidente del Comité Pro Democracia Dominicana de la feu, impulsó acciones para demandar la destitución del dictador dominicano Rafael Leónidas Trujillo, y formó parte de un proyecto militar para derrocar al sátrapa militar.
Un año después, enviado a Colombia como delegado de la feu a la IX Conferencia Interamericana –citado para encontrarse con el candidato a presidente Jorge Eliécer Gaitán, la misma tarde en que este fue asesinado, en la revuelta conocida como El Bogotazo–, se unió a la protesta del pueblo colombiano y solicitó armas para repeler la asonada militar.
La muerte del líder ortodoxo Eduardo Chibás y la traición de la soldadesca cubana al apoyar el golpe de Estado del 10 de marzo de 1952, liderado por Fulgencio Batista, constituyeron el empujón definitivo para que el joven abogado concentrara todos sus esfuerzos en una lucha sin cuartel por la definitiva y necesaria independencia de Cuba.
Retomaría el ideario del Apóstol para convocar a una generación de jóvenes dispuestos a sacrificarlo todo por hacer realidad los sueños de José Martí. A Cuba le nacía un líder auténtico, sagaz y batallador, con esa luz necesaria para guiar grandes acontecimientos.
Los sucesos del 26 de julio de 1953 no rindieron los frutos militares anhelados en su momento, pero despertaron a un pueblo forjado en las más hermosas tradiciones heroicas, que hizo suyo el Programa del Moncada, y se aferró a la utopía que le regresó la esperanza y las motivaciones para luchar y defender la revolución próxima, porque Fidel Castro sí tenía las agallas y la inteligencia para hacerla realidad.
En su alegato de defensa, Fidel había llevado a su pueblo al futuro y le había mostrado un país donde los campesinos eran dueños de la tierra que trabajaban, les reveló una patria llena de escuelas, de hospitales, de médicos, de fábricas donde los trabajadores se ganaban el pan honradamente; un pueblo de gente laboriosa, alegre y solidaria; un país donde el culto a la dignidad plena del hombre era la ley primera de su Constitución.
Y lo que parecía una nueva utopía de héroes románticos se fue configurando desde la prisión fecunda, desde el exilio productivo, desde aquel 25 de noviembre de 1956, cuando toda la utopía, vestida de verde olivo, vino montada en un yate de libertad, y salvó el proyecto Seremos libres o mártires, a pesar de la sorpresa de Alegría de Pío, de las largas marchas de los sobrevivientes por la manigua tupida, para levantar la utopía sobre el pico Turquino y bajarla triunfante, con la estrella que ilumina y mata como estandarte martiano de victoria, el 1ro. de enero de 1959. Ese fue el sueño que el joven abogado había adelantado en su alegato del Moncada.
Cuando a un país le nace un líder como Fidel, la utopía está condenada, sin remedios, a revestirse de realidades, y para asegurarlo aquí está Cuba con el mismo ensueño de que un mundo mejor es posible, y somos nosotros, los pobres y dignos, los responsables de hacerlo realidad.
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