Keeping the revolution alive

IT would seem that our country has the most educational problems in the world.

All the cables that reach us report on the many difficult challenges that we face. These include a deficit of over 8,000 teachers, disrespectful students and a lack of training.

However, I don't believe that we're in such bad shape.

Not one developed country shares our schooling indices and the educational possibilities open to our citizens are immense.

We have managed to maintain this despite the unjust blockade and the shameless plundering of arms, muscles and brains that Cuba endures.

The United States and other wealthy countries cannot hope to compare themselves to us. They have many more automobiles, use more fuel, consume more drugs, buy more cosmetics and benefit from pillaging our countries, as they have done for centuries.

Imperialism seeks to return Cuban women to the condition of serving as merchandise for the rich.

It does not forgive countries for their struggle for liberation.

It yearns to return us to the time when black Cubans were barred from using recreational centres, a time when many citizens lacked employment, social security and medical services.

To Jose Marti, freedom was very dear. One had to either pay the price for it or resign oneself to a life without it. That is the question that all Cubans must ask themselves every day.

How feasible are the aspirations of our enemies? Only we have the answer, within each of us.

In terms of education, should we not ask ourselves if our education system employs a bureaucratic method which teaches science without conscience?

I don't believe that we have regressed as much. In any event, each one of us must ask these questions to avoid having our dignity spat on. We should expect no mercy from our enemies.

Let us keep a watchful eye on our enemies and let us do exactly the opposite of what they want from us to continue being who we are.

This is an appeal to our consciences. The revolution justifiably demands from us that we work harder.

We have held our ground for 50 years. The new generations are far better prepared to face the challenges than we are and we have the right to demand much more from them.

Let us not be discouraged by the rumours spread by our enemies, which distort the meaning of our words and paint our self-criticisms as tragedies.

The wellspring of our revolutionary ethics is inexhaustible.

Happy birthday Nelson

GLORY to you, Nelson, who defended human dignity in the 25 years of solitary imprisonment that you endured!

Neither slander nor hatred could break your iron will. You held your ground and, unwittingly and unintentionally, you became a symbol of what is noblest in human nature.

You shall live on in the memory of future generations, as will the Cubans who fell in defence of the freedom of their brothers in other lands of the world.