By Jesús Zúñiga, Independent Press Agency of Cuba
HAVANA, DECEMBER - During his recent speech before delegate candidates to the National Assembly of the Popular Power, Fidel Castro said: "We want a world without hegemony, a world without violations to sovereignty and self-determination." And he added: "We want a world of peace, justice and dignity where everyone, without any exception whatsoever, has the right to material ease and life." But he failed to mention other Cuban dreams, dreams which I now would like to proclaim.
Mr. President: We Cubans want a country where there is no intolerance, no violence of any kind; a country where there is no oppression or discrimination because of religion or political affiliation. We want a country where no one is excluded from society and where there are no children begging in the streets; we want a country where all children are allowed to be born without being sentenced to total misery because of the cruelty of a selfish society.
Moreover, we want a country where people are not harassed for expressing their ideas, for their religion, for their legitimate options or for claiming their rights. We want a country from which people won't have to flee and become political exiles; a country where no one is denied the right to leave their country or return to live with dignity to the place where they were born. We want a country free of corruptions that devour entire nations; a country without nomenclatures, privileged classes, without powerful groups controlling lives and with more than one political party. And if it's not too much to ask, we also want a country free of tyrannies and tyrants, without repression, totalitarianism and any kind of slavery.
A country without pornography or prostitution; a country without vice where no homage is paid to hatred or materialism. We want a country where no torture, abuse or force is practiced; a country where there are no acts of repudiation and intolerance. And for those of us who believe that this will come to pass, we want a country with social and economic justice, where interaction between men is based on solidarity and not in might and economic power or selfish competition.
A world where human rights are respected. We want a country where the exercise of rights is a practical possibility for all in the pluralism, respect and fraternity. We want a country of free men with liberty.
It is significant that Cuban government leaders refuse to talk about liberty. They claim that the system governing Cuba was selected by the Cubans. Can a nation reject liberty? When did we Cubans choose life without liberty? Why can't we ask what we want in a plebiscite? I proclaim the term liberty and proclaim our dream and our right to a homeland and a world with liberty.
Liberty, a word which can cause distress when reaching many ears and sound strident, subversive, irreverent and even old fashioned to the most pragmatic people. If we talk about Cuba, communism and liberty, it is now the time to say that this regime has failed and driven us into misery, because we Cubans don't know how to live without liberty. This regime is destroying our nation and society because we Cubans cannot live without liberty.
1997 is coming to an end and the Cuban nation continues to agonize and wait for its liberty. We hope that 1998 will bring us the disappearance of the regime, surpassed by the nation. I am not an inspired crazy person, I'm speaking with the certainty of a common man.
Happy 1998, health and good fortune for all compatriots in the island and in exile.
"The most beautiful ocean is not the one we haven't seen, the most beautiful creature hasn't been born yet, we haven't lived yet our most beautiful day.
And the best I have to tell you, I haven't said it yet."
(Anonymous)