Saturday, December 2nd: the 50th Anniversary of the Start of the Cuban Revolution
6 Comments Published by LeftyHenry on Tuesday at 5:47 PM.
On November 25, 1956, 82 revolutionaries including Fidel Castro, Ernesto "Che" Guevara, and many others boarded the Granma and set sail for Cuba ready and willing to give their lives for the cause of liberating Cuba from a few wealthy landowners and tyrants who had enslaved Cuba for so many years. Saturday, December 2nd is the 50th anniversary of the start of the Cuban Revolution.
On May 15th, 1955 Fidel Castro and his brother Raul went to Mexico City after being released from prison as political prisoners. In Mexico, they would met up with the Argentinian doctor, Ernesto Guevara. 17 months later, the trio would return to Cuba, and wage a sort of people's war to give Cuba back to the workers and farmers. By this time, Fidel and Raul had their mind set on revolution, and soon convinced Che. In order to wage the revolution, they needed ammo, food, water, a ship, weapons, gas for the boat, maps, compasses, and a variety of other items that would prove invaluable.
The Granma, a leisure yacht made for 12 people was acquired by a Mexican citizen acting on behalf of Fidel's guerilla group, The July 26th Movement. The yacht could float, but was seriously rundown. It was slow because of badly worn gears that weren't maintained, a radio that could not send messages to allies in Cuba, and a tank that was far too small to last the voyage to Cuba. On top of that 82 people and supplies to back a revolution needed to fit on the tiny vessel. miraculously the problems were solved, although conditions were less than comfortable.
They departed on November 25th from the port of Tuxpan, Mexico. They were quick and quiet about it as Mexican authorities already were on to them. The voyage passed well except on the last day, when one revolutionary fell overboard in the middle of the night. When they were just about to give up searching Fidel ordered them not to give up, and sure enough, minutes later the revolutionary would be spotted and rescued.
The Granma was supposed to land at a town called Niguero where trucks, ammo, food, and 50 more revolutionaries were waiting however, a helicopter spotted them and they were forced to land early in a swapmy area far from the DLZ. The marshy terrain prevented the rebels from unloading all their equipment. They were quickly nearly annihilaed, however they managed to regroup and create a stronghold in the Sierra Maestra mountains. Three years later in January, they would emerge victorious and march on Havana with parades of jubiliant people cheering.
Today, the anniversary is still honored in Cuba. every year on November 25th, a group of young Cubans in a replica of the Granma, retrace the footsteps of the freedom fighters.
Today Cuba faces as many problems as it did at the start of the revolution, but much progress has been made as I pointed out three posts back. Cuba is the last remaining socialist state in the world, and continues to resist US socio-economic imperialism 50 years later. Long live the Cuban Revolution!
Fidel managed to make every US president since Kennedy, look like an idiot.
He also didn't attend his birthday celebration. I think the revolution will survive after Fidel. Many people never knew another leader, their whole life.
They survived quite well, after being undermined by the Russian leadership.
I know Venezuelans, who are greatful for the healthcare they receive. The Cubans unconditionally helped Pakistan after the eartquake as well.
A minute of silence for all victims of the Cuban Revolution...
"A minute of silence for all victims of the Cuban Revolution... "
Yes a minute to all those landlords in Miami and crooks who sold Cuba out to the Mafia.
I'm just wondering.. who is better off today: A typical family in Puerto Rico or a typical family in Cuba? Be honest...
Well I don't know about Puerto Rico, Puerto Rico has the advantage of US funds, industry, trade, capital, social services etc etc...
Also it is a protectorate and the UN Millenium Indicators have no data on it.
However if you compare Cuba to pretty much every Latin American country aside from Argentina and Costa Rica, Cuba is far better off.
Puerto Rico is actually considered one of the poorest regions in the Carribbean. It has no economy besides Tourism...it would be the poorest state in the US and the poorest nation in the Carribbean if it were made to take any of those options.