(Read the remarks made by Elian, his dad and others
at the rally celebrating his rescue on April 22, 2005:
http://www.walterlippmann.com/elian-04-22-2005.html )
============================================
 

Elian's Custody Inspires Cuba's Battle of Ideas

Havana.- President Fidel Castro said the fierce legal dispute over Elian's custody marked the beginning of the battle of ideas in Cuba five years ago. The Cuban leader attended Elian's six-grade graduation ceremony held yesterday in Cardenas, 130 km northeast of Havana. This year, 143,435 sixth grade students graduated on the island. "I have the privilege of being a friend of Elian Gonzalez," said Fidel Castro, after reading the boy's outstanding grades for this year. Now 11, Elian was at the center of a custody dispute after being found floating on a makeshift raft in the Strait of Florida, following a failed emigration attempt to the US from Cuba. "The Revolution is strong enough to wage and win any battle against the most powerful and cynical Empire," said Fidel Castro.
(Prensa Latina - Synthesis - July 22, 2005)

Text of Fidel Castro's remarks at this event

 


Juventud Rebelde
July 22, 2005

We are the future of the Revolution
Remarks by Elián González at the graduation
of primary schools in Cardenas

A CubaNews translation by Ana Portela.
Edited by Walter Lippmann.

http://www.jrebelde.cu/2005/julio-septiembre/jul-22/somos.html




Dear pioneers:

Today, such a special day for pioneers who graduate 6th grade, I want to congratulate all those here present.

Five years ago I learned my first letters and finished first grade. Our dear Fidel gave me La Edad de Oro (The Golden Age), that journal written by José Martí. It was my first reading and where I learned many good and interesting things.

During these years and with the dedication of our teachers, my school friends and I have learned to question, to think; we have grown in wisdom. We learned of the history of our country, with its rich tradition of struggle to achieve and defend its sovereignty, its independence and its freedom; We learned about the history of our martyrs, good men and women who gave their lives so that today, children in schools available to all, can enjoy all teaching aids to help us learn more and better.

This school where we had years together became a Battle of Ideas like many others in the country. In all, we pioneers have been protagonists of changes we have televisions, videos, computers, a library full of interesting books, art teachers who teach us music, painting and theater and we can also enjoy areas for games and sports sharing with our classmates and making friends with others.

At school, the Pioneers Organization is a venue to express our criteria and prepare us for life as integral young people, knowing that we are the future of this Revolution.

ˇViva Fidel!

Pioneers for communism!

We will be like Che!
 


Fidel Castro Underscores Potential of Cuban Education

Cuban President Fidel CastroHavana, July 22 (AIN) Cuban President Fidel Castro highlighted the endless potential of the island's educational system for all Cuban children, during the graduation ceremony of 1,264 sixth graders in the municipality of Cardenas, Matanzas.  

President Castro noted that the country's education system now has more than 15,000 intensively trained teachers, 29,000 social workers (all graduated from new programs of the Revolution), and that schools exist in the most remote communities of the island. University education has expanded and is being taught even at the municipal level, and Cuba now has a state-of-the-art University of Informatics Sciences. 

"In Cuba, any child can study what he or she wants, be it astronomy, education, painting, dance or medicine," said the president. 

He said that fifty years ago few people had access to education and many never reached the sixth grade. He noted that today all Cuban children can study at all education levels and acquire the necessary knowledge for their careers. 

Referring to what Cuba has done and is doing to help others, President Castro recalled that 10,000 foreign students are currently studying medicine with full scholarships provided by the island and that "many others will continue to come." 

Fidel Castro referred to the high illiteracy levels plaguing most Third World countries. On the positive side, he cited the educational revolution underway in Venezuela as an example of what can be achieved in areas like education when there is a strong determination to do so.  

Regarding kids who have suffered from accidents or have been born with congenital problems, he said that more than 50,000 Cuban children are enrolled in special education centers. 

Fidel reflected on those countries that slander Cuba but have nothing to show to the world in terms of social achievements. He asked the audience if there is another place in the world where the children have their future more securely guaranteed. 

The leader of the revolution said that Cuba, a country of 11 million inhabitants, has 9,029 schools with 90,867 teachers. He noted that elementary school classes have a maximum of 20 students.   

Fidel Castro said the country's emphasis on educational programming on TV has contributed to the deepening of knowledge. With presently one computer per every 45 grade school students, the president said that figure will continue to improve as the country moves to keep up with technological advances. 

The Cuban President announced that in September Cardenas will have a local TV station, news the population received with enthusiasm. 

Finally, Fidel read the teacher's positive sixth grade evaluation of Elian Gonzalez, the survivor of a tragic sea journey and subsequent kidnapping orchestrated by right wing groups in Miami. In what became a daily front page world news item, Elian was returned to his father and Cuba following a huge campaign waged by the Cuban people with international support


 




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