I remember sitting in front of my Soviet Krim television one day in the middle of my living room to watch Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz give a speech. It was July 26th, the date of the National Rebellion in Cuba. But I don’t remember the exact year; I do remember that I was a child.
Fidel was a master of oratory and delivered long speeches because he explained every detail of every problem. Unfortunately, problems are what abound in a revolution like Cuba’s. Preventing it from accomplishing all the good things it had planned since its triumph on January 1st, 1959.
I don’t want to write the typical chronicle that praises the politician. Because today, on what would have been his birthday—if he were still alive, since it’s the living who celebrate birthdays—. I want to highlight the human being behind the great international political figure he was.
When Fidel walked the streets of Cuba or traveled the world, even people who didn’t share his political ideals greeted him warmly. This happened during a visit to New York when he recounted how, suddenly, a door opened at the United Nations. And world leaders began filing through it to greet President Bill Clinton.
He was taken back and had no choice but to accept the rules of political diplomacy and greet Clinton. With whose government Cuba had no diplomatic relations. It was a warm moment, as he himself would later recount of his experience of that surprising encounter.
His political enemies called him a dictator, yet he was concerned with educating his people. A strange thing, because tyrants are not interested in an educated populace. Which makes it easier to govern and manipulate them.
“Let the philosophy of plunder disappear, and the philosophy of war will disappear,” he said on November 26th, 1960, at the United Nations. That’s why, as a leader, he was concerned with sending legions of doctors, teachers, and sports advisors to help the world’s poor. While Washington, as the world’s policeman, sent its army to protect democracy and freedom. But in reality, they left chaos, as happened in Gaddafi’s Libya. Where even Obama acknowledged his mistake after the US and NATO invasion, which left the country impoverished and in political turmoil.
Fidel is always remembered for his classic, famous phrases. But the most famous of all was: “Condemn me, history will absolve me!”
Why must some people walk barefoot so that others can travel in luxury cars? Why must some live 35 years so that others can live 70? Why must some be abjectly poor so that others can be excessively rich? I speak on behalf of the children of the world who don’t have a piece of bread. I speak on behalf of the sick who don’t have medicine. Also I speak on behalf of those who have been denied life and human dignity.
“The day I die, nothing will happen to the Revolution. A revolution is not the task of one man, it is the task of a people. No revolution has ever disappeared because its leader has died. Lenin died, and the Revolution continued.” And perhaps that’s why, when his ashes left Havana, traveling all over Cuba until reaching their final resting place in the Santa Ifigenia Cemetery in Santiago de Cuba. The people paid him homage, saying, “We are all Fidel.” But I remember that day, sitting alone in my living room in front of the television.
- Fidel Alejandro, the Human Being Behind the Politician - 8 de August de 2026
- The silent luxury of our life - 3 de August de 2026
- Showering with Your Partner Reduces Stress and Strengthens Your Relationship - 22 de July de 2026