Fidel Castro’s Farewell Address?
by Stephen Lendman
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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