doncarlos

When we celebrate July 4th we may not be aware of details that took place on that historic day. We celebrate the independence and the commencement of an effort to be a sovereign nation, a country of united colonies that would later become the United States. We celebrate the Declaration of Independence which was signed in Philadelphia on July 4, 1776 and not the actual day we gained independence and won the right to be a sovereign nation. The revolt and protest had taken form as riots, attacks and sabotage of the economy since 1773. Even after the war and formal organization of the new country and after 1780, there were revolts against the new congress which the first president found himself against his own former officers. When History is written it is written with the majority of the people in mind and is does not come with all the confusing details. History is written to make it simple and make it sound romantic. So, someone choose the day when our founding fathers signed the paper that outlined a declaration of independence as the USA day of independence. The day we became a free and independent people, for Justice, Fairness and Democracy.

Today, July 26, marks in my memory and history records another celebration of independence. On July 26, 1953 about 150 rebels including two girls for nurses and a physician, disguised themselves in army uniforms and stormed a large military encampment and armory. The target: Moncada Fort, headquarters of 1,000 troops in the City of Santiago, Cuba 1000 miles east of Havana. The plan was to infiltrate the installation, hold the soldiers at bay and seal the arsenal to prevent its being used against the people, while another contingent would take over the posts radio station and broadcast an appeal to the citizenry urging them to join the insurrection against the dictator and US supported self appointed President Batista.

As it turned out, the attack on Fort Moncada was the Revolutions first attack and first major setback and perhaps its finest hour. The magnitude of the enterprise and the courage and ideals which had inspired it shook the lethargic people out of their apathy and vulcanized them into protest, underground resistance, and eventually into overt action. As in every revolution, the price was high. Half of the rebels died, not in combat, but under torture. When the dust settled months later the few that were captured alive were sentenced to 15 years in prison. Among them the leader a 26 year old lawyer, son of a wealthy farmer, Fidel Castro Ruz. After 18 months in jail and having read over 100 books he and his followers were pardoned and exiled to Mexico. Only to return in December 1956 west of the Moncada Fort on another failed attempt with 81 revolutionaries. It is said - that only few survived and when rounding up the supplies and remaining live soldiers the count was 11 men, 5 weapons and 7 bullets, the young Castro said, great, we are already winning the war. Two years later he would ride into Havana victorious.

July 26 1953 was not the day Cuba became a sovereign nation. In my view it did not become a full independent country until the fall of the Soviet Union and collapse in 1990. Only then was Cuba a totally independent nation. But it is the day when 150 young people said enough, took the chance, the risk and laid their lives for the sake of Justice, Fairness and true Democracy. It was that day July 26, 1953 we now remember as The Republic of Cubas Independence Day. When was your day, the day you decided to become your own history maker and design our own destiny? When was your day when you decided to be free? Keep the Revolution Moving Forward. Un Abrazo.