[Marxism] Rice Cookers Are Not The Only News

["Walter Lippmann" <walterlx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Earlier in the week we shared with you reporting from the
AP and Reuters regarding Fidel Castro's five hour speech at
the congress of the Federation of Cuban Women (FMC). Each
of those gave the impression that the central element of 
his remarks were the decision to sell rice and pressure
cookers to the population at subsidized rates and with an
extended period to pay for them in regular Cuban pesos.

As important as that was and is, the real news is the way
this reflects a positive turnaround in the economic state
in which the island finds itself. The foreign press viewed
it all as another move by the dictatorship of Fidel Castro
to re-centralize the Cuban economy. Here you can compare 
that with the way the Cuban media framed the issue, quite 
differently.

A CubaNews translation.


Walter Lippmann, CubaNews
http://www.walterlippmann.com 
===========================================================

March 11, 2005
Juventud Rebelde (Havana)

Rice Cookers Are Not The Only News
Marina Menéndez Quintero

Although we all jumped for joy when our Commander-in-Chief
announced that every home will soon have the famous
economical, fast, clean and pretty rice cooker, and our
eyes shone thinking of the 100,000 pressure cookers that
will follow; these was not the most electrifying news in
the speech of our Commander-in-Chief on Tuesday, during the
closing ceremony of the event dedicated to us, women.

What made the five hours of lively conversation between
Fidel and the people into a transcendental speech, was
learning that a very difficult economic, social and even
emotional period is coming to an end and the fact that we
will resume the march -never really abandoned, but
certainly hindered by the Special Period- towards a more
equitable society based on the principle of "to each man
according to his work?"

And, why is it possible now? Simply because? now we can. 
As Fidel also said, we are en route to becoming economically
invulnerable; a statement this country was not able to make
since?how long ago?

Certainly the rice cooker will save us time and effort in
the kitchen and will also save rice. And, of course, these
benefits are not a new discovery.

But the really meaningful thing is not how, from now on, we
will be cooking our rice -- a dish that due to tradition is
indispensable in our menu -- The really important thing is
to know that this country finally has the economic
possibility and the infrastructure not only to provide the
convenient rice cooker to each family, but also to sustain
the energy consumption their use will demand. Even when
-- as Fidel said -- we should be rational and save energy.
This is the real reason to be happy. It shows how much we
can do now.

Similar thoughts are inspired by other projects announced
by our Commander-in-Chief with such air of complicity that
makes us feel, as we listen to him, that we are in a family
reunion. Some of these projects are as important as the
modernization and remodeling of the railway system; or the
plan to build 100,000 houses next year -- despite the high
cost in a world ruled by the dollar. This will be an
additional effort made by our State. An effort made
possible also by the return to centralization and
indicative of the understanding of a very serious issue,
despite of the fact that its solution is economically
difficult.

Perhaps not of the same magnitude, when compared to issues
related to transportation and housing, but indeed important
is the project of adding new items to the subsidized family
quota -austere, but steady and reliable. Differently from
what many believe, the "libreta" is not a symbol of
rationing, but a way to equality. It is good to see it
revitalized and growing.

Listening to Fidel's detailed explanation and enjoying his
optimism, which we shared in view of so many projects -
among which our public health system will continue to be a
priority - we understand better the importance of the
agreements recently signed between Cuba and China; the
meaning of the agreements signed with Venezuela based on
the solidarity concepts proposed by ALBA, more partial to
human need than to marketing profits. These among other
events.

Without turning our backs to the new and good that,
together with many undesirable decisions, were imposed on
us by the Special Period, today we resume the return to the
point where we were before the fall of the Socialist block
and the disappearance of the Soviet Union. All this despite
the blockade!

These are the good news and the reason Fidel was so
obviously happy during his conversation on Tuesday.
Happier, he said, than ever before. A reason to feel sure
that our heroes did not die in vain. The certainty that we
are doing the right thing.


.


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