The Commander, the Chief, the Horse, Caguairán, that’s how we refer to those who did not conceive to be defeated while there was the possibility of fighting, who taught us to resist, but above all else, they taught us to win.
Fate wanted, as if to alert us that it was only a new journey towards other horizons of struggle and revolutionary epic, to endow with great symbolism the date of the Commander’s death, which occurred on November 25, 2016, precisely 60 years after The Leader of the Cuban Revolution, defying all the impossibles, will launch into the sea from Tuxpan on the yacht Granma along with his companions, determined to liberate the Homeland from the oppressive repression at the cost of their own lives.
From his struggles at the University of Havana to his last breath, Fidel characterized himself for saying what he thought and doing what he said; On January 8, 1959, he had stated in a historic speech delivered at the Columbia camp: «I also know that never again in our lives we will witness such a crowd again, except on another occasion (…) and it is the day we die, because we (…) will never disappoint our people! ».
And those crowds met again throughout all of Cuba to say goodbye and honor his leader at the time of his physical departure since Fidel never betrayed the trust of his people.
Before dying, he left his last wish raised, he did not want streets or monuments that bear his name, a whole life lesson, and expression of the most extraordinary quality that a revolutionary can carry in himself: simplicity, where true greatness rests.
Months before, on April 19, he had made the last public intervention of him on the 7th Party Congress, words that even today make us tremble when we read or hear them. It was a kind of farewell, but not at all mournful, but a new battle clarion, charged with the spirit of victory.
«I will soon have to turn 90 years old, such an idea would never have occurred to me and it was never the result of an effort; It was a whim of chance. Soon I will be like everyone else. We all will have our turn, but the ideas of the Cuban communists will remain as proof that on this planet, if we work with fervor and dignity, the material and cultural goods that human beings need can be produced, and we must fight relentlessly to get them. We must convey to our brothers in Latin America and the world that the Cuban people will win (…).
“We will undertake the march and we will perfect what we must perfect, with meridian loyalty and united strength, like Martí, Maceo and Gómez, in unstoppable march.”
That was how Fidel was like, a tireless fighter in thought and action, ready to give his entire existence to the cause of the humble of this world, to human emancipation from all possible domination and discrimination. Martiano to the core assumed Marxism and Leninism from that deep Cuban root, and enriched it from an original and anti-dogmatic political practice. Also in that field, he became a guerrilla.
He was a universal world-class political statesman, but also a human being overflowing with human sensibilities. He always valued the singularity of each human being, with his faults and virtues, but always promoted the latter in function of the Revolution.
He knew how to be ethical even with his adversary since his struggles in the Sierra Maestra, he did not conceive politics without ethics.
In turn, Fidel was the main promoter of Cuban solidarity and internationalism, always being very clear that solidarity not only helps and liberates the recipient but also –and on many occasions even more– the person who offers it. Not in vain he points out in one of his brilliant speeches: “Freedom is conquered with solidarity.”
He placed Cuba on the world map and, at the same time, with his leadership, contributed to modify it, in favor of independence and progressive ideas, the geography of other important regions of the world. Undoubtedly, one of the greatest legacies of Fidel was having managed to weave with patience and wisdom the unity of the revolutionary forces, before and after the triumph of the revolution, whose fruit our glorious Communist Party of Cuba was born.
Fidel rebelled and practiced heresy against US imperialism, but also against the impossible, dogmas, established truths, and defeatism. He radiated confidence and optimism in victory. The more difficult the circumstances, the stronger his will to fight. He knew how to turn the reverse into victory and the impossible into infinite possibility. The sense of honor, patriotism, and adherence to principles was for him a matter of life and death. He conceived socialism as the science of personal example.
He knew how to approach each situation with tactical flexibility, but without losing the roadmap to the strategic destination. He handled all issues and situations taking into account even the smallest detail. He was, without a doubt, a master in the art of doing politics.
The Commander, the Chief, the Horse, Caguairán, that is how we refer to those who did not conceive to be defeated while there was the possibility of fighting, to whom he taught us to resist, but above all else, he taught us to win.
All this and more Fidel bequeathed to us, hence we can explain why it is almost impossible to talk about Cuba today without talking about Fidel, how impossible it is to find some sphere of the internal life and international projection of the Greater Antilles, in which there is no trace of Fidel.
As the most fidelista of Cubans, Army General Raúl Castro, expressed since 1959: «Fidel is wherever you work, Fidel spiritually is wherever the Revolution advances. Fidel is wherever an intrigue is destroyed, wherever a Cuban is working honestly, wherever a Cuban, whoever he is, is doing good, wherever a Cuban, whoever he is, is defending the Revolution, Fidel will be there ».
