Re: [Marxism] Changes in Cuba

[Eli Stephens <elishastephens@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Found it in English:
 http://www.granma.cu/ingles/2009/march/mar3/10reflex-i.html


                                                        
                                                        
                                                        Reflections of Fidel

                                                        Healthy 
                                                        changes within the 
Council of Ministers
                                                        (Taken from 
                                                        CubaDebate)
                                                        
                                                        IN response to changes 
made within the executive, 
                                                        certain news agencies 
are throwing up their hands in 
                                                        horror.

                                                        
                                                        Several 
                                                        of them are saying or 
echoing "popular" rumors about 
                                                        the substitution of 
"Fidel’s men" for "Raúl’s men."

                                                        The majority of those 
who have been replaced were 
                                                        never proposed by me. 
Almost without exception, they 
                                                        were proposed for their 
posts by other comrades 
                                                        within the leadership 
of the Party or the state. I 
                                                        never devoted myself to 
that task. 

                                                        I have never 
underestimated human intelligence or 
                                                        the vanity of men. 

                                                        I was consulted about 
the new ministers who have 
                                                        just been appointed 
even though there was no rule 
                                                        obliging those who 
proposed them to consult me, 
                                                        given that I renounced 
the prerogatives of power 
                                                        some time ago. They 
acted simply as genuine 
                                                        revolutionaries who 
carry within them loyalty to 
                                                        principles. 

                                                        There has been no 
injustice committed against 
                                                        certain cadres. 

                                                        Neither of the two 
individuals mentioned by news 
                                                        reports as the most 
affected have uttered a word to 
                                                        express any 
disagreement with the decision. It had 
                                                        nothing to do with an 
absence of personal value. It 
                                                        was another reason. The 
sweetness of power for which 
                                                        they had made no 
sacrifice awoke in them ambitions 
                                                        that led them to an 
unworthy role. The external 
                                                        enemy was filled with 
illusions about them. 

                                                        I don’t accept the 
gossip being mixed in with the 
                                                        Baseball Classic that 
is about to commence. I stated 
                                                        very clearly that our 
baseball players were 
                                                        first-rate young men, 
men who believe in "Patria o 
                                                        Muerte" (Homeland or 
Death).

                                                        As I have stated on 
other occasions, we will 
                                                        return with the shield 
or on the shield. 

                                                        We will win because we 
know how to and we can 
                                                        combine something that 
only free men can, those who 
                                                        have no owners, not 
professional players. 

                                                        Leonel Fernández was 
telling me yesterday 
                                                        afternoon that some of 
the excellent professional 
                                                        Dominican ballplayers 
didn’t want to take part in 
                                                        this competition; they 
would be absent, which would 
                                                        be sad for their 
people, who watched them grow. 

                                                        Chávez still doesn’t 
know why his magnificent 
                                                        pitchers and hitters 
will be defeated by our 
                                                        athletes. 

                                                        The Cuban national team 
that will measure its 
                                                        strength this year 
against the best professional 
                                                        players from the Major 
Leagues in the United States 
                                                        and Japan is much 
stronger and better prepared than 
                                                        the one of three years 
ago. 

                                                        Many of them are 
already veterans despite their 
                                                        youthful age. None of 
the players who made the team 
                                                        stayed behind, except 
for health reasons. 

                                                        I assume full 
responsibility for success or the 
                                                        opposite. The victories 
will be for all of us; 
                                                        defeat will never be 
bereft. 

                                                        Patria o Muerte! 
Venceremos!

                                                        
                                                        

                                                        Fidel Castro Ruz

                                                        March 3, 2009

                                                        11:32 a.m.


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