"A decisive measure of the effectiveness of our ideological work will be whether the younger generations are prepared to assume their responsibilities and answer for themselves, in a consistent manner: Who are we? Where do we come from? To whom are we indebted? What legacy must we be worthy of? What should our contribution be?"[1]
The one writing these words is a young man from the Centennial Generation who attacked the Moncada Barracks alongside his beloved brother, and who turned 25 in exile in Mexico, preparing to liberate his homeland from the Batista dictatorship; a young man who spent several New Year's celebrations away from his family for fighting for a just cause: imprisoned on the Isle of Pines in 1953 and 1954, in exile in 1955, and from 1956 to 1958 in the guerrilla struggle; a young Moncada veteran, an expeditionary, a friend to other young people, some of whom fell in the fight; a young man who wrote in his campaign diary that February 14th in the war was dedicated to his love for Cuba; a young minister in a revolutionary army at only 28 years old, a task to which he dedicated himself body and soul for decades.
An active young man, who gave cause for his rebellion in the fight for his country; Bold, Marxist, fiercely loyal, with a good sense of humor and sensitive to injustice. A young man who has remained young among those with gray hair and those who are just beginning their revolutionary struggle.
The words that begin this document serve as a guide for the political and ideological work of our Party and the Union of Young Communists, a legacy for future generations whose duty it will be to maintain the sovereignty of the Homeland as the only guarantee for continuing the work of social justice that began in 1959 and fulfilled the dream of José Martí.
"Today, the imperialists are plotting a global schism. They believe they are witnessing a definitive and irreversible crisis of socialism. Blinded by their triumphalist intoxication, they calculate that Cuba, seemingly isolated in its geographic proximity to the United States, will not be able to resist and will have to surrender. Of course, they are not simply waiting. Confident in this new version of the fatalism of the ripe fruit, they are doing and will do everything in their power to push us into capitulation." They lie in wait for the slightest crack to launch an attack against our homeland and thus fulfill one of their dearest imperial dreams: to crush the Cuban Revolution, eliminate its example, and forever subjugate the people who dared to defy them."[2]
These words from the speech in the Call to the Fourth Party Congress, on March 15, 1990, the anniversary of the Protest of Baraguá, reflect the historical reality of the Cuban Revolution, which, generation after generation, is attacked by the United States government. For this reason, working with young people, who will continue this struggle—which Fidel, in a letter to Celia, defined as the "true destiny" of Cuban revolutionaries—is essential for understanding our roots and our historical mission on the continent and in the world.
Raúl's closeness to young people, whether as head of the Armed Forces or as Second Secretary of the Central Committee, has gone far beyond the duties of those positions because he has simply been another young person who constantly wants to learn, to make decisions as part of a team, to climb hills, cut sugarcane, help other peoples of the world, evaluate alternatives without compromising his principles, understand what the new generations think, contribute to the cause, learn from them, and ensure that the most beautiful work remains young and joyful, profound and resolutely courageous; that it never loses the impetus of the guerrilla movement that has kept imperialism at bay for more than 60 years. For Raúl, as for Fidel, it is essential that the generations that follow him truly know our history so that they are capable of loving and defending it.
Raúl is a mentor to the youth and leaders of the Revolution, transmitting values through example, the vital lesson that a legitimate revolution is achieved through one's own efforts, in the face of the enemies of independence. It is essential for young Cubans to understand that in Our America, the worship of the Yankee who despises us is a clear sign of human degradation: history has proven it.
Many instructive remarks from Raúl's exchanges with young Cubans could be revisited today to celebrate his 95th birthday. But those that begin this piece serve as a compass for our times.
Let us embrace, on the centenary of our Fidel, a centenary of struggle, the legacy of unity, anti-imperialism, independence, and social justice that Raúl continues to defend alongside us, like a young mambí from Maceo's Baraguá, in the homeland of Martí. Let us contribute, in our revolutionary continuity, the sacrifice and love worthy of our history.
Source:
[1] Speech on the occasion of the Call to the Fourth Congress of the Party, Santiago de Cuba, March 15, 1990, Selected Works of Raúl Castro Ruz, Volume 6, Celia Editions, Office of Historical Affairs, Havana, 2025.
[2] Op. cit.
