Reprinted from http://www.granma.cu/ingles/2009/octubre/mier7/Reflections-6OCT.html:

Reflections of Fidel
History cannot be ignored

(Taken from CubaDebate)

THE 60th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China was commemorated this past October 1.

On that historic day in 1949, Mao Zedong, as leader of the Communist Party of China, presided over the first parade of the People’s Army and the people of China in Tiananmen Square. The victorious soldiers bore the arms seized in combat from invaders, oligarchies and traitors to their homeland.

The effects of these hurricanes on Cuba are deep. Do what you can to support Cuba to get through this natural disaster.

Official information on preliminary data of damages caused by Hurricanes Gustav and Ike

THE combined action of Hurricanes Gustav and Ike in winds, rain and flooding as they passed through almost the entire country between August 30 and September 9 — including the previous and subsequent effects as the hurricanes entered and left national territory — unquestionably made them the most destructive in the history of these meteorological phenomena in Cuba with respect to the magnitude of the material damage caused.

For our people, prepared for years to confront natural disasters thanks to the organization and efficiency demonstrated by their strong, energetic and farsighted Civil Defense — as Fidel described it — the experiences of hundreds thousands of directly affected compatriots have been horrific, as have images broadcast by the media in the locations affected.

Speech by Cuban President Raul Castro on July 26

SANTIAGO DE CUBA, Cuba, July 26 (acn) The Cuban New Agency brings you the full text of the speech given by Cuban President Raul Castro Ruz at the central rally marking National Rebelliousness Day in Cuba, held in the eastern province of Santiago de Cuba today.

SPEECH ON THE 55TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ATTACK ON THE
MONCADA AND CARLOS MANUEL DE CÉSPEDES BARRACKS.

JULY 26, 2008

Men and Women from Santiago:

Compatriots:

Fifty five years is a short period of time in the life of a nation but enough to confirm that July 26 marked the b

Fidel Castro, one of the greatest revolutionary leaders of our times, has declared that he won't seek to continue as president in this year's elections in Cuba. Still apparently not in great health, he said he will continue to contribute to the revolutionary process in Cuba and in the world mainly through writing and engaging in the 'battle of ideas'.

Most people thought there could never be a succession of leadership in Cuba while Fidel remained alive. Many people especially in the U.S. judged Fidel to be too wedded to power or irreplaceable. They have been proven wrong. There has been a leadership transition going on for over a year now, and this will make it official that the Cuban revolution is much bigger than and continues on past the personal leadership of Fidel.

That said, his leadership has been tremendous and nothing but heroic. It is difficult to be a revolutionary leader, to lead an armed revolutionary movement to victory. Fidel did that. It is more difficult to make the transition to governing. Fidel did that. It is even more difficult when you are a small island just 90 miles off the coast of the most militarily powerful country in the history of the world, and you face a direct invasion from the U.S. right after your revolution (Bay of Pigs), and defeat it. And then you are threatened with nuclear annihilation and have to navigate a worldwide nuclear crisis while defending your revolution within a couple years of your revolution. Fidel did that. It is more difficult still to continue the revolution in the face of a decades-long cruel blockade from what was essentially your colonial mono-crop country's only serious trading partner. It is more difficult still to maintain a revolution, and try to build socialism, for five decades under constant threat of invasion, attack, subversion, etc. from the U.S government. And oh yeah, to also survive and rebuild after the collapse of the USSR and Eastern Eurpean countries that had supported Cuba and provided it with 85% of its foreign trade, on generally very favorable terms. To survive the "collapse of socialism", and in such near-total isolation, with almost nothing to gain except trouble from sticking with socialism, Fidel led Cuba through the 'special period' in the 1990s, remaining firmly committed to socialism, never closing a single school or hospital in the face of a massive economic crisis, to the point where now Cuba has economically diversified and stabilized and is experiencing more economic growth than almost any other Latin American country.

This was all a collective effort of the Cuban people with the leadership of the Cuban Communist Party. But the individual leadership of Fidel Castro in all of this cannot be downplayed or denied. But in the service of his ever-strong revolutionary principles, Fidel has now decided to step back and play a different role, so new leadership can move the revolution forward. With dignity Fidel writes, "My elemental duty is not to cling to positions, much less to stand in the way of younger persons, but rather to contribute my own experience and ideas whose modest value comes from the exceptional era that I had the privilege of living in."

And he explains the role he hopes to play now: "This is not my farewell to you. My only wish is to fight as a soldier in the battle of ideas. I shall continue to write under the heading of 'Reflections by comrade Fidel.' It will be just another weapon you can count on. Perhaps my voice will be heard. I shall be careful."

Click here to read Fidel's statement...

From the New York Times:

Batista and Regime Flee Cuba; Castro Moving to Take Power; Mobs Riot and Loot in Havana

ARMY HALTS FIRE Rebels Seize Santiago and Santa Clara-- March on Capital

By R. HART PHILLIPS

Havana, Friday, Jan. 2 -- Fulgencio Batista resigned as President of rebellion-torn Cuba yesterday and fled to exile in the Dominican Republic. The rebel forces of Fidel Castro moved swiftly to seize power throughout the island.

Dr. Manuel Urrutia, Senor Castro's own choice, appeared likely early this morning to become the provisional President. Col. Ramon Barquin, who had been imprisoned for conspiring against the Batista Government, was brought here by military plane from the Isle Pines penitentiary and named chief of the joint staffs.

Colonel Barquin immediately sent out a call to Senor Castro to come to the capital with Dr. Urrutia and set up a new Government. The rebel leader and his forces had entered Santiago de Cuba late yesterday and had taken over the Moncado army post without firing a shot. About 5,000 soldiers here surrendered. Click here to continue reading...

Vilma Espín, a great Cuban revolutionary leader, passed away this week. This article tells a little bit about her history and contributions.

Heroine of the Clandestine Struggle and Outstanding Combatant of the Rebel Army, Vilma Espín Guillois, Passes Away in Havana

Vilma Espin with Raul Castro, back in the dayHavana, June 18 (RHC)-- With profound sorrow, the leadership of our Party and State announce that Compañera Vilma Espín Guillois, a heroine of the clandestine struggle, an outstanding combatant of the Rebel Army and untiring fighter for the emancipation of women and the defense of the rights of children, passed away in Havana today at 4:14 p.m., after a long and painful illness.

Born in Santiago de Cuba on April 7, 1930 in a family that very early on cultivated the values and ethics that would distinguish her, Vilma from a young age assumed political and revolutionary positions, actively participating in student demonstrations following the coup d'etat carried
out by Batista in 1952.Read more...

The above card is a pledge to struggle for freedom for the Cuban 5 in 2007. They are five Cubans unjustly held in U.S. jails for the "crime" of monitoring ultra-right wing Cuban groups in Miami that have repeatedly plotted violent attacks on socialist Cuba.

The postcard says:

We promise to the 5 Cuban heroes that in 2007 we won't stop even for an instant to work and fight so that others know the terrible injustice that keeps them imprisoned in the empire's jails.

See this page for more information on the Cuban 5, and also check out the US-based National Committee to Free the Cuban 5.

The Cuban 5 are Antonio Guerrero Rodgriguez, Fernando Gonzales Llort, Gerardo Henrique Nordelo, Ramon Lanino Salazar, and Rene Gonzalez Sehwerert.

You can write to them in U.S. prisons at the following addresses:

ANTONIO GUERRERO RODRÍGUEZ
# 58741-004
U.S.P. Florence
P.O. Box 7500
Florence, CO 81226

FERNANDO GONZÁLEZ LLORT (RUBÉN CAMPA)
(to write to Fernando Gonzalez, on the envelope it should say "Rubén Campa", but the letter should be written to "Fernando")
Rubén Campa
#58733-004 F.C.I. Oxford P.O. Box 1000
Oxford WI 53952-0505

GERARDO HERNÁNDEZ NORDELO (MANUEL VIRAMONTES)
Gerardo Hernández
#58739-004
U.S.P. Victorville
P.O. Box 5500
Adelanto, CA 92301

RAMÓN LABAÑINO SALAZAR (LUIS MEDINA)
To write to Ramón Labañino, on the envelope it should say "Luis Medina", but the letter can be written to "Ramón")
Luis Medina
#58734-004
U.S.P. Beaumont
P.O. Box 26030
Beaumont TX 77720-6035

RENÉ GONZÁLEZ SEHWERERT
#58738-004
FCI Marianna
P.O. Box 7007
Marianna, FL 32447-7007

Click here to see the Cuban 5's statement to the American People

Here's the story from Reuters:

HAVANA (Reuters) - Cuba said on Friday its economy grew 12.5 percent this year, the fastest pace in the Western hemisphere, and that its budget deficit remained well under control despite a 32 percent rise in spending.

The Communist-run government said the growth figure, based on its own formula that includes subsidized social services, would have been 9.5 percent using traditional measurements.

Click here to see rest of Reuters story...

This article is reprinted from the Proletarian, the newspaper of the Communist Party of Great Britain (Marxist-Leninist).