| Cuba’s iconic former leader
attended its Communist Party’s 7th Congress as a delegate - perhaps his
last appearance at nearly age 90.
He addressed a thousand delegates and guests during its closing
session, speaking forthrightly, his revolutionary spirit not dimmed.
“Why did I become a socialist, or more plainly, why did I become a
communist,” he asked? He called the term “the most distorted and
maligned concept his history” - its ideology twisted by wealth and
power interests, exploiting humanity for greater enrichment and
dominance, causing appalling human misery in the process.
Any system benefitting the few at the expense of most others is a
high crime against humanity - my words I’m sure Fidel would endorse.
He hopes it won’t take “another 70 years “before another event like
the Russian Revolution (so) humanity (can) have another example of a
magnificent social revolution that marked a huge step in the
struggle against colonialism and its inseparable companion,
imperialism” - without violating its principles the way Lenin’s work
was defiled.
Fidel calls today’s super-weapons humanity’s greatest threat. In
lunatic hands like America’s bipartisan criminal class, they
undermine peace and risk its survival.
The human “species (could) disappear like the dinosaurs” millions of
years ago - from wars, ecocide, or planetary limits to provide
enough “drinking water and (other) natural resources” to survive,
Fidel explained.
“If only numerous human beings would concern ourselves with these
realities and not continue as in the times of Adam and Eve eating
forbidden apples,” he stressed.
“Who will feed the thirsty people of Africa with no technology at
their disposal, no rain, no reservoirs, no more underground aquifers
than those covered by sands?”
“We will see what the governments, which almost all signed the
climate commitments, say.” Their deplorable actions belie their
rhetorical commitment.
Time catches up with us all. “We all reach our turn,” said Fidel,
“but the ideas of the Cuban communists will remain as proof that on
this planet, working with fervor and dignity, can produce the
material and cultural wealth that humans need, and we must fight
relentlessly to obtain these.”
“To our brothers in Latin America and the world, we must convey that
the Cuban people will overcome.”
“This may be one of the last times that I speak in this room. I
voted for all the candidates submitted for election by Congress, and
I appreciate the invitation and the honor of your listening to me. I
congratulate you all, and firstly, companero Raul Castro for his
magnificent effort.”
“We will set forth on the march forward and we will perfect what we
should perfect, with the utmost loyalty and united force, just as
Marti, Maceo and Gomez, in an unstoppable march,” Fidel concluded.
His time is passing. His redoubtable spirit endures.
Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at
lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.
His new book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in
Ukraine: US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III."
http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html
Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com.
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