PROS AND CONS OF
ARMED STRUGGLE By Manuel E. Yepe http://manuelyepe.wordpress.com/ A CubaNews translation. Edited by Walter Lippmann. Nobody doubts the comparative advantages attending revolutionaries who are able to advance the noble objectives of progress for their peoples by a route that precludes the calamities of war and its toll in deaths, disabled casualties and suffering of all kinds. But revolutionaries are such precisely because they do not wait with arms folded for the spontaneous evolution of events, but rather face them untying the knots that prevent the peoples from moving towards a better situation. Arguably, the peoples of Latin America have begun to march toward independence by democratic electoral roads because an armed revolution triumphed in Cuba and has been able to demonstrate the feasibility of resisting and sustaining its independence based on patriotic national unity, and the internationalist solidarity of other peoples of the continent and the world. The new reality in Latin America and the Caribbean, characterized by the coming to power of popular leaders who were not imposed, nor supported by, nor needing the approval of the government of the United States, has no precedent in the region. So many progressive leaders who proclaim the self-determination of their countries and the unity of the region have increased the chances of success in other nations of candidates for elective political posts, even the presidency, with similar libertatory ideals and advanced government projects. The Cuban people suffered extreme violence under the dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista, who had thrown overboard the semi-colonial order of "representative democracy" allowed to Cubans in view of their uncontrollable rebelliousness, as an alternative to the military occupation imposed by imperialist intervention. Prevented from denouncing and fighting the coup leaders, many revolutionaries took up arms as the main method of struggle and the young lawyer Fidel Castro became the leader of a movement that was tested in the assault on the Moncada barracks and fought on to victory through the actions of the Rebel Army and clandestine organizations nationwide. The July 26th Movement, led by Fidel Castro, and the Revolutionary Directorate, led by University of Havana student leader José Antonio Echevarría, viewed armed struggle as unavoidable and foremost. The Popular Socialist Party and its Socialist Youth initially prioritized mass struggle and other bloodless methods, but gave their full support to armed struggle as the confrontation became more violent and inevitable. All these revolutionary organizations agreed on the other fundamental aspects of the revolutionary confrontation against the tyranny and recognized the central leadership of Fidel Castro. When the revolution triumphed, it was able to stand up to and defeat every attack against unity due to the massive popular support and the formidable prestige of Fidel Castro, its maximum leader. After the victory, major revolutionary objectives such as administering justice to the murderers and torturers of the tyranny; implementing agrarian reform, which turned those who worked the land into proprietors; urban reform, which made residents the owners of the houses they lived in; bringing total literacy throughout the country; expropriating embezzled goods, nationalizing foreign companies; and the swift consolidation of the peoples' armed forces became realities thanks to the unity of all revolutionaries forged in the struggle and the universal recognition of the revolution as a source of law. However, Cubans have not been able to see their desire for true independence fulfilled and have been forced to endure another long period of political, economic and financial blockade which only now, half a century later, could begin to end as a reward for their heroic resistance, unprecedented in world history. The political will of its leaders and an impressive popular support made possible the great social and political developments in Cuba. Those achievements are still not available in countries where progressive leaders have come to political power without armed struggle but coexist with oligarchic groups in situations fatally dominated by the powerful northern neighbor, the market, and the electoral mechanisms inherent in capitalism. Thus, even today it is difficult to compare the results for their peoples of the revolutions which had to resort to armed struggle to enforce their rights to independence and freedom –which became their banners– and other revolutions that came to power without much bloodshed. At different times in their processes, both sides have faced grave dangers and have had to make great sacrifices. These have undoubtedly been worthwhile in view of the happiness they bring to majorities. January 31, 2015. |
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VENTAJAS Y DESVENTAJAS DE LA LUCHA ARMADA Por Manuel E. Yepe
http://manuelyepe.wordpress.com/
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