I can’t remember exactly where in Cuba I took this photograph.  Propaganda/ the communist party message is everywhere across the island nation.  The translation is of a speech that Fidel Castro made to the Cuban people on May 1 (International Workers’ Day) in Plaza de la revolución (Revolution Square) in Havana.  Cuba, now under the presidency of Fidel’s brother Raul, is currently undergoing extensive change through the adoption of previously unthought of economic and social changes.  Upcoming Cuba posts will investigate.  I feel that Castro’s year 2000 definition of revolution is a reasonable place to start.  The clip that follows is the speech itself.

REVOLUTION

Is the sense of the historic moment;

is to change all which must be changed

is complete equality and liberty

is to be treated and to treat others as human beings

is to emancipate ourselves by ourselves and with our own efforts

is to challenge dominant powerful forces within the social and national scope and realm;

is to defend values in which we believe at the price of any sacrifice;

is modesty, unselfishness, altruism, solidarity and heroism;

is to fight with audacity, intelligence and realism;

is to never lie nor violate ethical principles;

is the profound conviction that exists no force in the world capable of confounding truth and ideas

REVOLUTION

is unity, is independence, is to fight for our dreams of justice for Cuba and for the world

which is the base of our patriotism, our socialism and our internationalism

Fidel Castro Ruz, May 1 2000