Friday, May 16, 2008

Interview with Mariela Castro

Mariela Castro Espín, daughter of President Raúl and director of the National Center for Sex Education (Cenesex), is the greatest advocate of critical awareness and renovation from within the system in Cuba. Her proposals and viewpoints demonstrate it.
 
[ ... ]
 
There are many other areas, that have been identified, that require reforms in Cuba. In your view, what changes should be a priority?
For me, the key is to develop mechanisms for participation. That determines and identifies which changes must be made and how. The first thing is that everything has a logical direction. Because sometimes I feel that there are absurd mechanisms that seem to be changing. The most important thing is not to lose sight of the principle objective of socialism: the emancipation of human beings; their well-being with fairness and social justice, and that whatever is done satisfies the growing needs of human beings. It is not that now we want to construct a consumer society, which is the antithesis socialism, but that they produce the goods and services that people need. I also have faith in human betterment, which is why I betting on socialism. Now, I would like there to be fewer prohibitions, as my father said. Less bureaucracy would allow us to generate better levels of satisfaction. And insofar as we develop better mechanisms for participation, the same society is the one that proposes and decides. This was done in the discussion process after my father's speech on July 26: people criticized, analyzed and proposed. This has stayed a permanent mechanism for participation, which seems to me very good, but should not be the only way to do it.
 
[ ... ]
 
How do you assess the way the relay of the presidency of the country was done and the role that has been reserved for Fidel?
 
Fidel is a leader, more than the head, he is a leader. That is a difference, that sometimes is not understood. He has a great moral, historical authority and wisdom. He has authority for being a very brave man, because always he risked his life, without fear of hurricanes, of the dictator, of spies, of any circumstance. Because he always committed himself to improving the lives of his people, although sometimes it was difficult because there was little bread and much to distribute. For Cubans, he is an historical reference and even a cultural and ideological identity. We will always call him comandante [commander].
 
Often the differences between the two brothers are emphasized and there are some who see resistance from Fidel to the changes driven by Raúl.
I do not know, nor will I ever know. For me it is also a mystery because they are very discreet about what they do.
 
In general, it is said that they are different and perhaps complementary.
They are very different personalities, but that of being complementary is a cliché. Each one contributes his own self. In my view, Fidel is the one that takes care of strategy, the fundamental objectives, the basic principles that should not change.... And my father, who has also participated in that, cares more attentively to the concrete moments of that strategy; the gears of the mechanism. He has a lot of common sense and teamwork. Because of that, the Army is considered the best organized Ministry. Common sense helps to find practical solutions. Fidel has a more philosophical sense, although many times he also demonstrated a great common sense. But Fidel is all about the great plays in the political arena. In the moments of confrontation or difficulty, seeing him is like seeing a chess master who always will find a brilliant move.
 
 

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