THE GUARAPO REVOLUTION (MANIFESTO)

From: d004525c@dcfreenet.seflin.lib.fl.us (Liborio)
Date: 15 Nov 1995 16:11:30 GMT
Organization: SEFLIN Free-Net - Dade

                   MANIFESTO OF THE GUARAPO REVOLUTION

                                    "One revolution is still necessary..." 
                                                               -Jose Marti
Dear Friends: When it's time for REVOLUTION, it becomes imperative to
unmask the opportunism that frustrates it: If the Communists were
Communists and the democrats, democrats, the world wouldn't be in such bad
shape. Present the Guarapo Revolution to a "Communist", and he'll give a
dirty look; present it to a "democrat", and, instead of showing a
spontaneous smile, he too will react likewise! But, who are this fellows
really if this Revolution offers a humanist proposition that, evidently,
is neither pro-imperialist nor totalitarian? I've got my suspicions:
They're the "WISE GUYS", the ones who live off the "fools", the ones that
practice that saying that goes: "Never bite the hand that feeds you". 

I have created this satire in order to help the freedom of Cuba and the
advancement of a better world, expecting to have the support of the
powerful. But, apart of some honorable exceptions, they have failed me.
With enemies like these, Castro doesn't need friends! And I say so because
we Cubans were supposed all to work together toward the rescue of our
motherland and, then, each one would go his way. By any chance, it
wouldn't be that they have Coca-Cola in mind when they ask for "Cuba
libre"? 
 
What's more, the leaders know better than anyone else the subject of the
proposed book, and they know that Humanity, if it remains on the same
path, DOESN'T HAVE A FUTURE. In fact I'm not very satisfied that, with the
end of the Cold War, we have been led from the uncertainty of a quick
death by a nuclear holocaust, to the certainty of a slow death by the
ECOLOGICAL HOLOCAUST. Consequently, is doubly reprehensible that, for
apathy or for vested interests, they haven't showed their leadership. It
comes to my mind a slogan that more or less says: "Take the first step,
that the leaders... will follow you!" 

At the same time, there are other individuals who oppose a humanist
proposition, not because of their privileges, but because of their temper:
they are the "PARTY POOPERS", those who make everybody else's lives
miserable. I'm not referring to the boss that humiliates you for
arrogance, but to the fellow worker who spoils your day for no apparent
reason. Nevertheless, they have something in common with the wise guys:
they are encouraged by some non humanist systems on which they depend.
Maybe that's why the party poopers too give you a dirty look when you show
them this message. Someone may say that they have found guarapo to be... a
"bitter drink"! 

On the other hand, I do not believe that the problem of our unfortunate
people is a matter of Cubans only. In fact, there are many, but many non
Cubans who reach out to us, while, as I pointed out before, there are some
compatriots of ours -including the "guarapo merchants"-, who don't give a
damn about anything (except cash). Jose Marti expressed it in these terms:
"The world has two groups: all that abhor liberty, because they only want
it for themselves, are in one; those who love liberty, and want it for
all, are in another". 

It is very likely that some may claim that they took the satire for a
"joke". But, even so, didn't they realize that, at least, it did harm the
dictatorship. And, by any chance, didn't they know either that some brave
young men were risking it all by carrying forth this campaign in the
Island? That's one of the tactics of the wise guys: to play the fools. 

Likewise, to repel another of the favorite weapons of the wise guys and
their "terror squads", consisting of accusing those who dare to think of
"agent of the Imperialism" and some other things, I would like to
summarize my position before some systems that, more than enemies, would
seem ACCOMPLICES: Communism is so, but so bad that... is worse than
Capitalism! 

Why not build, then, a new system? That offers PROSPERITY, SOCIAL JUSTICE
and LIBERTY; that rejects the defects of Communism and Capitalism; that,
although not perfect, is less bad; that has room for genuine left and
right-wingers; and that places the system at the service of the human
being, and not the other way around. Why not HUMANISM? 

Of course, such system should have as the maximum priorities health and
education; they should be free and available to all. Humanist economic
practices should be adopted; by the way, I do not believe that those wise
guys that have invested in Cuba to exploit an enslaved people, that
subject the Cuban to an apartheid system, should be part of the solution.
New ways for full employment should be sought; for example, stimulating
works in the public transportation infrastructure; but, if the
unemployment persists, the work time could be reduced. Housing should be
promoted to be available at popular prices. Public corruption should be
treated as "public enemy No 1". Culture, that is, TV and radio, should be
neither in the hands of the State nor in the hands of Big Business;
besides, we should remember that whoever owns the media... will be in
power; the BBC, though it reflects a society based on class, shows us an
example of an independent media. The Free Press of prestige should be
democratized, so the censorship of the contributions of the public is
eradicated. Politics should come down in prices to avoid its control by
certain groups; for instance, offering free time on TV to the candidates.
Likewise, we would have much to learn from the social model of the
Scandinavian countries; from the political model of Switzerland (its
system of referendums); from the Israeli kibbutz (associations based on
the principle of communal work and life); and from the industrial
cooperatives of Mondragon, in the Basque Country (a "workers'
Capitalism"). Nevertheless, we should never follow neither anything nor
anyone -including Liborio-, blindly. Something to think about: The
prohibition of street drugs has never been effective on consumption, but,
by raising the profits of the traffickers, it has indirectly fomented
crime.... Each and everyone of these propositions should be submitted to
popular referendum. And, the base of everything else: We should learn lo
live, not FROM, but WITH Nature. 

Perhaps the Guarapo Revolution, after all, doesn't have room for the wise
guys and the party poopers; perhaps it is the one that Marti dreamed
about. However, because, like he said, "A just principle, in the depth of
a cave, is more powerful than an army", one thing I'm sure about: You, the
people, can achieve it...  
Miami, February 24, 1995. 

SHAKE THE WORLD BECAUSE THE PEOPLES ARE AT THE BOTTOM!
Or, the way it would be said in Cuba:
SHAKE IT BABY! 

					Sincerely,
					"LIBORIO"