Soviet cogitations: 271 Defected to the U.S.S.R.: 27 Jul 2006, 18:32 Komsomol
22 Dec 2006, 16:00
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“THIS is a history-making congress, if we are capable of giving continuity and carrying out what we have agreed on,†affirmed General of the Army Raúl Castro Ruz, speaking on December 21 at the 7th Congress of the University Student Federation (FEU), which ended on Wednesday at the International Conference Center.
The first vice president of the Councils of State and Ministers likewise noted that the student congress could be described as the best such event to date, given its content, the profound character of its discussions and the historic moment in which it has taken place.
“I say historic because we (the generation that achieved the triumph of the Revolution) are completing the fulfillment of our duty, and we must continue gradually opening up the way for the new generations,†Raúl commented.
It is historic, he emphasized, because the Congress had as a platform for its discussions the speech by President Fidel Castro on November 17, 2005 in the Aula Magna of the University of Havana. In that speech, Fidel sounded a warning bell about the future of the Revolution in the convulsed and complex world of today.
Raúl urged the university students to be fearless about developing the practice of debate, analysis and differences, given that timely discussion, in the appropriate place and in the correct way, would always produce the best decisions.
The FAR minister commented that through his personal experience, he could testify to the importance of promoting that attitude in life. The first principle of building the armed forces, he said, is a unified command; however, that does not mean that discussions cannot happen. “I always say, discuss to your heart’s content and then bring me your differences; that is how we form our decisions, and I am talking about big decisions,†he affirmed.
With his customary joviality, Raúl also shared anecdotes with the students about his childhood, growing up with his brothers Ramón and Fidel, and promised his listeners that he would not make a speech or extensive presentation like the president usually does, “because Fidel cannot be substituted, unless all of us substitute him together, each in his or her place, carrying out his or her concrete task,†he said.
Only the Communist Party of Cuba can substitute Fidel, he affirmed.
At the request of the delegates, Comandante Faure Chomón, who was an outstanding student leader, presented a commemorative stamp for the 50th Anniversary of March 13, 1957 and the 85th Anniversary of the FEU: a recognition instituted by the congress and presented yesterday to Fidel and Raúl.
On the event’s closing day, the FEU’s new National Secretariat was announced after being elected in the morning. Carlos Lage Codorniú, ratified as president, presented the final declaration of the congress.
The students also decided to send a message to their counterparts in the United States, asking them to support the struggle to free the Cuban Five, the antiterrorist fighters imprisoned in that country.
As the political leader explained, the leadership of the Party, the State and the government have very closely followed proposals by the students throughout the nine months of discussion leading up to the congress, and based on proposals made by the FEU and the Young Communist League (UJC), it was decided to immediately respond to the most reiterated concerns.
Thus, he said, stipends would be increased for full-time regular university students as well as those studying for their degrees in special and preschool education in the Higher Pedagogical Institutes. The 50% subsidy for travel on ASTRO buses would be extended, and two tickets per year would be assigned for students who are enrolled in colleges away from home, so that they could travel to and return from their home provinces.
The closing ceremony was attended by members of the Political Bureau, Secretariat of the Central Committee and other leaders.
Soviet cogitations: 10595 Defected to the U.S.S.R.: 21 Dec 2004, 23:53 Ideology: Marxism-Leninism Philosophized
22 Dec 2006, 17:41
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Raúl urged the university students to be fearless about developing the practice of debate, analysis and differences, given that timely discussion, in the appropriate place and in the correct way, would always produce the best decisions.
I think that this is great. The one problem will be the possibility of becoming like China.
"This is just one more signal [Raul] has a different style and could set a different direction," said Phil Peters, a Cuba expert who accompanied a 10-member U.S. congressional delegation to the island last week.
"It's already known that he is not allergic to economic reform," added Peters, of the Lexington Institute think tank in suburban Washington. "He seems to be saying that under his leadership no one will be penalized for a different point of view."
Soviet cogitations: 562 Defected to the U.S.S.R.: 03 Jul 2004, 16:52 Komsomol
22 Dec 2006, 19:03
This is good news. Very happy about this.
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The one problem will be the possibility of becoming like China.
If Cuba is supposedly (I am not the one claiming this) democratic and thus controlled by the people, if the people have supposedly developed a strong class conscious, how is that possible?
I think the regime needs to hand out power to the people before the regime become corrupted, like so many other leninist/stalinist states, such as China, for instance. This is a step in the right direction.
Soviet cogitations: 10595 Defected to the U.S.S.R.: 21 Dec 2004, 23:53 Ideology: Marxism-Leninism Philosophized
23 Dec 2006, 00:37
Working Class wrote:
If Cuba is supposedly (I am not the one claiming this) democratic and thus controlled by the people, if the people have supposedly developed a strong class conscious, how is that possible?
The answer is they have not, or at least to a good enough degree.
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I think the regime needs to hand out power to the people before the regime become corrupted, like so many other leninist/stalinist states, such as China, for instance. This is a step in the right direction.
Fidel started an anti-corruption campaign with the youth a while back.
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It is generally accepted by those who 'know' Cuba that the elections are a farce.
Soviet cogitations: 814 Defected to the U.S.S.R.: 19 Dec 2005, 16:51 Komsomol
24 Dec 2006, 15:42
The only rigged elections are those for the highest politicians. The National Assembly and Council of State elections have no reason to be rigged, because political parties do not nominate or control candidates.
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"This is just one more signal [Raul] has a different style and could set a different direction," said Phil Peters, a Cuba expert who accompanied a 10-member U.S. congressional delegation to the island last week.
Actually, most of the congressmen said they were disappointed by the absolute refusal of their hosts to make any reforms. They came expecting some great breakthrough and a meeting with Raul, and they received neither.
"In a Revolution, one triumphs or dies." -Major Ernesto Guevara
Soviet cogitations: 10595 Defected to the U.S.S.R.: 21 Dec 2004, 23:53 Ideology: Marxism-Leninism Philosophized
25 Dec 2006, 05:04
Paul wrote:
Actually, most of the congressmen said they were disappointed by the absolute refusal of their hosts to make any reforms. They came expecting some great breakthrough and a meeting with Raul, and they received neither.
Yeah that was kind of contradictory. On meeting with Cuban officals, they all told the congressmen that there would be no immediate economic reform.
Soviet cogitations: 562 Defected to the U.S.S.R.: 03 Jul 2004, 16:52 Komsomol
26 Dec 2006, 16:56
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Fidel started an anti-corruption campaign with the youth a while back.
Yes, that's good, but I don't really think that is "handing out power to the people"?
In any case, while we are on it, apparently a lot remains. Corruption is wide-spread in Cuba. It is literally everywhere.
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How so?
I do not exactly know what you mean by "how so?", but it is generally accepted by people who have lived or spent great amount of time in Cuba, that Cuba is not democratic. That is not to say that they don't like Cuba and aspects of the regime, because they do, but it is a pretty ordinary notion.
I brought this up once or twice on www.cubamaniaks.com and no one seemed to agree that Cuba is democratic.
Soviet cogitations: 7560 Defected to the U.S.S.R.: 26 Jun 2006, 02:51 Embalmed
27 Dec 2006, 00:08
I think Fitzy refers to "worker aristocrats" here; working people of the first world who benefit from the exploitation of the third world.
I don't think it's really accurate to say that national desicions are made at a town hall level as that makes no sense, but a lot of things that, in many countres, are decided nationally and applied to the whole nation, are instead left open nationally and decided on a local level.
Soviet cogitations: 10595 Defected to the U.S.S.R.: 21 Dec 2004, 23:53 Ideology: Marxism-Leninism Philosophized
27 Dec 2006, 00:29
WorkingClass wrote:
Yes, that's good, but I don't really think that is "handing out power to the people"?
No it is not. It is trying to solve corruption before it starts. Like many parts of socialism, it will take at least a generation to set root.
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I do not exactly know what you mean by "how so?", but it is generally accepted by people who have lived or spent great amount of time in Cuba, that Cuba is not democratic.
Cubans vote... the people they elect get in office... those people make the policies of Cuba...
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Fitzy- They are aristocrats
WorkingClass- They are workers
Cata- They are worker aristocrats
Soviet cogitations: 814 Defected to the U.S.S.R.: 19 Dec 2005, 16:51 Komsomol
27 Dec 2006, 18:15
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Could you give a few examples of national decisions which are decided in the 'town hall' level?
In 1976, two major pieces of legislation were passed by sending them through the factories and neighborhoods: the Constitution and the Moral Code. The former was passed with guarantees of universal healthcare, education, and housing, and was revised several times after being sent to the local communities and heavily debated. The latter was passed in a similar manner, and relaxed restrictions on homosexuality while maintaining traditional Cuban moral values. Its passage was a product of weeks of discussion from all levels of society.
In the modern day, elections to the National Assembly of People's Power and other moderately powerful positions are performed by small-scale votes in individual towns. Inaugurations are the most important part: the PCC may not nominate candidates for any position; they must be chosen by their constituents directly. The Committees for the Defense of the Revolution also exercise some political power, and are known for their grassroots membership (despite the fact that they sometimes function as an internal spy network as well).
"In a Revolution, one triumphs or dies." -Major Ernesto Guevara
Soviet cogitations: 218 Defected to the U.S.S.R.: 07 Jun 2006, 00:25 Pioneer
28 Dec 2006, 04:31
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If Cuba is supposedly (I am not the one claiming this) democratic and thus controlled by the people, if the people have supposedly developed a strong class conscious, how is that possible?
There’s a big difference between knowing the method, and actually applying the method. Which is what the party in Cuba is doing right now, but its impossible to build the method in isolation, which is why they need more revolutions to successfully achive Socialism.
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It is generally accepted by those who 'know' Cuba that the elections are a farce.
So, what do you prepose Cuba should do, start multiparty elections which would than restore "democracy.â€
22 Dec 2006, 16:00
