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Relatives
of those who fell
Fighters
of Playa Giron
Compatriots:
Three
days ago we commemorated the socialist character of the
Revolution and rendered tribute to the young gunners fallen in
combat when repelling the cowardly and surprising attack of US
planes disguised with the colors of the Cuban air force. Today
we commemorate the crushing victory of the revolutionary forces
and the first defeat of imperialism in America.
The
fact that Playa Giron fell in our hands 66 hours after the
explorers of the invading force had put their feet on our land,
shows the vigor of the fulminating counterattack carried out
against the invaders. The struggle was incessant day and night
without a single minute of delay. Three miles away from the
coast there was a US fleet, including a plane-carrier and Marine
infantry ready to intervene, observing the development of the
counterattack by the revolutionary forces with such a rhythm
that, if it received the order to face the vigorous
counter-attack there wouldn't be any invading force to reinforce
or air strip where a provisional government would be able to
land.
More
details are not necessary. At the recent conference entitled
"Giron: 40 years later", a detailed list was given,
which was transmitted to all the people in the TV space "Round
Table", for nine consecutive days. New books have been
written and will continue to be written. Two generations of
Cubans needed to know, on a more vivid and realistic way, the
happenings of great importance in which their fathers and grand
fathers took place or lived nearly to them.
The
need grew in the latest weeks after the mentioned the conference
and at hitting the exact date of the 40th Anniversary.
With no doubt, to know from the mouths of those who can still
tell the story and use the necessary documents the old stories
of what happened, for example, when the seize of Havana by the
British or the defeat of Napoleon in Waterloo. After the triumph
of the Revolution in 1959, there was no fact to mark so much the
destiny or future of the Revolution as the Giron Battle.
Last
Monday we talked about socialism for our country which has been
on top place in the present history of the Caribbean and Latin
American nations. I feel special need, at this moment, to think
about and remember Jose Marti.
When
he wrote his famous unconcluded letter, he confessed all he had
done until that day and would do after that, had the purpose of
avoiding with the independence of Cuba, that the United States
would fall with that added strength on our lands in America. In
that minute he couldn't know that only hours later he would die.
And he died physically to be born again turned into ideas to
continue doing what he said he would do, not only to impede on
time with the independence of Cuba that it could be part of a
huge force falling on our lands of America but to be herself the
trench of ideas and the unbreakable fortress in front of the
enemy of the Latin American peoples, whose children, in serving
their other country which he called humanity, would also serve
the cause of many other peoples of the world. (Exclamations and
applause).
His
revolution, rebegun the very year of his centenary by those who
had taken the privilege of receiving the revealing light of his
infinite patriotism, overcoming mountains of obstacles seemingly
impossible to save, he entered victoriously in the new millenium.
In
resisting for 42 years the blockade and economic war, imposed by
that power which could not conquer Cuba, in supporting countless
sabotages, terrorism. Murder attempts against its leaders,
biological aggressions and even the risks of a nuclear war,
without releasing a principle, when others had failed in
fulfilling the sacred rights which, as a great privilege , had
been given to them by human history , by suffering the terribly
hard times of the special period, when others had stopped doing
their duty by not hesitating
In
going ahead, when it felt alone in front of the empire that Jose
Marti had foreseen, already turned into a hegemonic superpower,
and which used against her all its political, economic and
hegemonic power to isolate her people, asphyxiating it and
forcing to surrender it by hunger and illnesses, Cuba could not
be conquered by the powerful empire.(Applause and yelling of
"And it never will!").
The
day that we arrived at the third millenium, on January First
2001, at the exact time when each year begins, also of
unreadable memories and insurmountable symbolism for the Cuban
Revolution, we have dealt on imperialism , before the eyes of
America and the world, its second great defeat.(Applause)
Fatherland
and humanity have united themselves inseparably, for history and
forever, in the mind and heart of the Cuban people (Applause)
Your
ideas, Marti, which have inserted in us with those of that who,
in your own words , had put himself on the side of the poor,
studied thoroughly and described with undeniable strength what
you were the first in discovering and called imperialism in the
most modern sense of the concept, have demonstrated to be
stronger than the stronger empire that has ever existed. To you
we consecrate this 4oth Anniversary of the first victory! (Exclamations)
Before you we swear to struggle up to the last drop of our blood
for this homeland and for humanity. Before you we swear that the
sacrifices of those who fell from La Demajagua to Giron, and of
those who gave their young lives, generous and noble fighting in
planes, mountains and peoples of any part of our small homeland
or in other lands of the world.
Calling
for the contribution of its modest efforts, in far corners of
the big homeland, were not in vein and will not be in vain.
(Yells of "We swear")
They
were never and will never be the sweat and sacrifice of millions
of unknown heroes who with their work and efforts have been able
to construct and preserve the beautiful Cuba of today, and leave
to the other generations the most beautiful Cuba of tomorrow. (Exclamations)
Today
eleven decorations will be given to Heroes of the Republic of
Cuba, who have served the Revolution, the homeland and socialism
for over 40 years, Giron fighters or not, for carrying with them
several or many pieces of our history, since the Assault of the
Moncada Barracks on July 26th, 1953 up to today,
April 19th, 2001. They never asked for these decorations. Maybe
they didn't think they would receive such great honors, but we
want to decorated them right here, on this 4oth Anniversary of
the great victory, as a tribute to all of those who in those
decisive days knew how to struggle and knew how to die for the
life and destiny of the eleven million Cubans that we are today,
for the hundreds of millions of Latin Americans and Caribbean,
fore the thousands of millions of human beings who are today
ransacked and exploited in countries which yesterday were
colonies yielding slaves , raw materials and gold, and today are
supplying cheap labor forces and not renewable raw materials
under the unbearable weight of the imperialist yoke.
We
promised to talk about interesting things related to the "Pirric"
victory or moral defeat of the United States in Geneva.
Yesterday our people received the first news. Friday, the deep
analysis will take place. Much is what has to be said to the
empire and its associates.
Today
is a day of glory in which nobody will be able to erase history.
Recalling the deed, recalling those who fell, recalling the
humble sons of our people who gave a demolishing blow to the
pride, self esteem and pre-potency of the empire, on this sacred
place, filled with symbolism, we will not say on this occasion
Homeland or Death, Socialism or Death, lets say in exchange from
the deepest place in our hearts:
Long
lives our country
Long
lives socialism
Long
lives victory
(Exclamations
of Viva Fidel)
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