A Revolutionary Vision of Fidel Castro - Essay Example

? Topic: Fidel Castro articulated a revolutionary vision in his 1953 trial defense, known as “History Will Absolve Me.” Upon what document does the young Castro base his revolutionary struggle? What are the key revolutionary laws he hopes to implement if he comes to power? Is this a socialist document? Introduction On July 26, 1953, Fidel Castro, a lawyer and a member in the Orthodox Party had led a couple of Cuban revolutionaries to attack the Moncada military barracks situated in Santiago de Cuba. The attack was made in an attempt for securing weapons in order to support their struggle to overpower the dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista. Castro was arrested and was sentenced to prison for fifteen years. During his trial in 1959, Fidel Castro had offered a long four-hour speech supporting the cause of the attack he had led and defended himself. This speech was later published in the form of a manifesto in the July 26th Movement which ultimately overthrew the then ruling Batista government and came to power in 1959 1. In the four hour long speech, Fidel Castro tried to speak about how he was denied justice and a fair legal aid. He spoke of how the jurist who was appointed to defend him was not given the permission to meet Castro in the required times. And this was the reason why he chose to defend himself in the trial. The revolutionary instances in the speech In the trial, Castro spoke about the positive intentions behind his actions. He recalled how he was questioned by the prosecutor and a large group of twenty defense attorneys. He had provided them with the correct facts and figures as well as the amount of money spent. He also mentioned the way the money was gathered and the arms rounded up. Castro was fearless in his trial and tried to hide nothing. He mentioned that it was achieved by the sacrifices of the country men who did not have any precedent seen in the history of the Cuban Republic. Fidel had spoken of the missions which inspired them in their national struggle. He also spoke of the humane and generous treatment which the party had faced in times of their adversaries. He stressed that if he was able to mention that the persons falsely accused in the trial were not related with him in any way, it was only because of his comrades and party members who were brave enough to accept their roles. He further mentioned that no amount of pain or suffering could deter their determination in being called as revolutionaries or patriots to their motherland. He spoke of how he and his comrades were kept separate from each other but they all ended up having the same plan and thinking. He then said then when revolutionary men carry the same ideals burning in their hearts no form of barrier could isolate them whether it is a prison wall or a sod of cemeteries. It was a single memory, one spirit, a single idea, a combined conscience and a single dignity that helped to sustain them2. He spoke of the different treacherous lies and deceits that were hurled against the freedom fighters. He spoke of the inhuman conditions in which the Cuban revolutionaries were treated3. In another instant, Castro spoke about how he was dishonored by the army personnel who also violated the orders of the court. Castro was even denied from talking with his peers4. These sentiments helped in fuelling the nationalist sentiment and the revolutionary struggle. Key revolutionary laws Fidel Castro had said that dictatorship is an unconstitutional feature5. Castro said that there were five revolutionary laws which could have been implemented after the capture of Moncada Barracks. The first revolutionary law would return sovereignty and power to its people which would help to proclaim the 1940 Constitution that is the Supreme Law of the State6. The second revolutionary law was to give non-mortgageable as well as non-transferable possession of the land to all the tenants as well as subtenant farmers, lessees, the share croppers and the squatters who were found to hold five caballerias of the lands or even less. The third revolutionary law, Castro said would be granting workers and the employees the fair right to share of almost 30% in the profits generated in the large industrial houses, mercantile buildings and mining enterprises that would include the sugar mills. The strictly agricultural businesses would be exempted by considering the agrarian laws that would be taken into effect7. The fourth revolutionary law was to grant all the sugar planters the right to share 55% of the sugar production and allotting a minimum quota consisting of forty thousand arrobas for the lower tenant farmers who have been settled for either three years or more than that. The fifth revolutionary law stated that there would be confiscation in all holdings as well as ill-gotten gains for those who will be found to have committed frauds in the previous regimes8. The speech as a social document The speech presented by Fidel Castro was socialist in many ways. It initiated the nationalist sentiment in the people of Cuba who were long oppressed and dominated. Fidel Castro in his speech provided the public with the inhuman brutalities that were inflicted upon the revolutionaries. These helped to fuel the public sentiments more. Fidel’s popularity in the Cuban cells where he was imprisoned further helped him in propagating his thoughts. In his speech Fidel explained how he and his comrades were treated inhumanly for an action that was done to liberate the nation. He defended his actions saying that it was conducted to liberate their motherland and was for the betterment of the people. Castro also said that there was no freedom in the present rule which was true in the scenario. The press and the judiciary were limited in its power and there was a constant tyranny in the streets by the army of the ruling government. No section of the society was free from its atrocities. These factors were highlighted by Castro in his defending speech that provided the much needed spark for the nationalist struggle. Conclusion Fidel Castro was imprisoned for fifteen years for mass murder and political crisis. He was not provided with any judicial attorney representing his side. So, he decided to defend his own case. He presented a burning speech, claiming justice for himself and the brutalities that were imposed on his comrades. This speech was prepared by Fidel Castro to liberate his actions and the sacrifices of his comrades was successful in igniting the burning passion for nationalism in the hearts of the people. Reference Document No. 10. The Cuban Revolution, n.d, retrieved on October 3, 2012, from:http://www.oup.com/us/companion.websites/9780195375701/pdf/SPD10_Cuban_Revolution.pdf Read More