Fidel's ideas are the inspiration of the Cuban Revolution

Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz was born on August 13, 1926, in Birán, a small town located on the eastern side of the island. Cuba had proclaimed itself a Republic only 24 years before, and our national flag flew for the first time at Havana’s Morro Castle. The first Constitution of that pseudo-republic –without taking into account the ones that existed during the Republic in Arms- is owed to patriots of the stature of Manuel Sanguily and Juan Gualberto Gómez –although in spite of their enormous efforts it was born with the burden of an appendix –The Platt Amendment-, which gave the United States the right to take control of the country every time it thought fit to it.

In 1902, a period characterized by disputes in search of political power began, as well as the gangsterism linked to them and a series of events, as a consequence of which Cuba, like the rest of Latin American nations -first, due to the disputes of the old European powers and then of the big U.S corporations-, underwent several historic problems. Small wars, interventions, removals, electoral frauds, political assassinations combined with common crime, and coups d’etat against civic and honest forces trying to defend the good of the nation, were the response of foreign economic interests masked behind political maneuvering, which, taking advantage of their support, plundered our national resources.

In 1923, three years before Fidel’s birth, one of the honest and patriotic Cubans at the time, Rubén Martínez Villena, wrote: "It takes a load to kill the scoundrels, to complete the work of the revolutions; To avenge the dead suffering from outrage, to remove the tenacious scab of colonization.” Rubén, of course, never knew that, three years later, the man who would carry out that new Mambí charge that he poetically demanded on behalf of his homeland, would be born.
On July 26, 1953, the charge for the definitive liberation of Cuba began.  Those who follow Cuban History know how much the country has achieved after the revolutionary triumph of January 1st, 1959.

With Fidel leading its people all the time, inspired by José Martí’s thinking and honoring the Political Testament of the apostle, explicit in his letter to Manuel Mercado (Dos Rios, May 18, 1895), it’s the first time we’re the masters of our destiny as an independent nation. 

Since then, under the undisputed guidance of Commander in Chief Fidel Castro Ruz, illiteracy was eradicated; the barracks were turned into schools and, among the country’s many achievements, the rights of black people and women as actors in the construction of the new society together with farmers, workers, students, professionals and intellectuals, were recognized.  Cuba stopped being a spot barely known on the map; its voice resounded in the farthest corners of the world to assert its dignity.

The achievements of the Cuban Revolution inspired and led by Fidel along with Raul, Camilo, Che, Almeida, Vilma, Celia, Haydee and all the entire combatant people are countless, but if we were only to mention two of them, they would be: the total recovery of our sovereignty and social justice.

With Fidel and next to Fidel we made and continue to make the Revolution, a project that is continuously growing and changing positively. A Revolution as heroic as in the times in which a number of Cubans became internationalist combatants to defend Angola’s independence, to fight racism in South Africa, and to defend noble and just causes in other lands. In the same way today, our medical staff travels to the most intricate confines of the world to restore people to health. With that same virile and consistent heroism, our people face the demands of their time, and today, like yesterday and in the future, it becomes heroic in its daily work.

Next to Fidel we have learned to anticipate events, without forgetting the perspective of living and everyday tasks; his inspiring guidance shows us the course to follow in the face of every new challenge.

With Fidel’s guidance we have achieved a mother-child mortality rate that is lower than that of many developed countries, and an equally optimum life expectancy. We’re aware of our shortcomings, of our mistakes, and we are optimistic because we know our Revolution is perfectible, precisely because it is a real revolution in which its people are the main protagonist.

Today we accept and face the challenge of our economic and social reorganization, always confident that victory is on our side.

These and many more are the reasons we have to say, happily and optimistically: Happy Birthday, Fidel!

Translated by Daysi Olano

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