The Fiftieth Anniversary Parade / El Desfile del 50 Aniversario

Today I had the privilege of watching the impressive parade with which our people commemorated the Fiftieth Anniversary of the proclamation of the Socialist character of the Revolution and the Playa Girón Victory.

The Sixth Congress of the Communist Party of Cuba was also opened today.

I really enjoyed the detailed account of the parade as well as the music, gestures, faces, intelligence, gallantry and fighting spirit of our people.  I also enjoyed seeing the happy face of Mabelita, sitting on her wheelchair, and the children and teenagers of “La Colmenita”, who have multiplied several times.

It is worth having lived to watch this spectacle today and is also worth remembering forever those who died to make it happen.

This afternoon, during the opening of the Sixth Congress, I was able to notice in the words expressed by Raul and the faces of the delegates to that event, the most important of our Party, the same feeling of pride.

I could have been at the Revolution Square perhaps for one hour under the sun and the heat, but not three hours.  I could have felt attracted by the human warmth that was created there, and that would have been a dilemma for me.

Believe me; it hurt me when I saw that some of you were looking up, trying to find me at the tribune.  I thought you will all understand that I can no longer do what I did so many times.

I promised you I would be a soldier of the ideas, and I can still fulfill that duty.

Fidel Castro Ruz
April 16, 2011
7:14 p.m.
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El Desfile del 50 Aniversario

Tuve hoy el privilegio de apreciar el impresionante desfile con que nuestro pueblo conmemoró el 50 Aniversario de la proclamación del carácter Socialista de la Revolución y la victoria de Playa Girón.

También se inició este día el Sexto Congreso del Partido Comunista de Cuba.

Disfruté mucho la narración pormenorizada y la música, gestos, rostros, inteligencia, marcialidad y combatividad de nuestro pueblo; a Mabelita en la silla de ruedas con el rostro feliz y a los niños y adolescentes de “La Colmenita” multiplicados varias veces.

Vale la pena haber vivido para el espectáculo de hoy, y vale la pena recordar siempre a los que murieron para hacerlo posible.

Al iniciarse esta tarde el Sexto Congreso pude apreciar, en las palabras  de Raúl y en el rostro de los delegados al máximo evento de nuestro Partido, el mismo sentimiento de orgullo.

Podía estar en la Plaza, tal vez una hora bajo el sol y el calor reinante, pero no tres horas. Atraído por el calor humano allí presente, me habría creado un dilema.

Créanme que sentí dolor cuando vi que algunos de ustedes me buscaban en la tribuna. Pensaba que todos comprenderían que no puedo ya hacer lo que tantas veces hice.

Les prometí ser un soldado de las ideas, y ese deber puedo cumplirlo todavía.

Fidel Castro Ruz
Abril 16 de 2011
7 y 14 p.m.