Acceptance of
the University in Exile Award
New School University Convocation
September 4, 2003
Dear Mr. President, distinguished Professors, ladies
and gentlemen:
I'd like to express my thanks to New School University for bestowing this
honor on those of us who engage in a peaceful struggle within Cuba for
human rights, democracy and reconciliation. Accepting this award is Mr.
Juan Suarez-Rivas- a brother in this struggle- who lives exiled from his
Cuban homeland. I make this distinction because we Cubans within the island
also live exiled in our homeland.
I consider the 2003 University in Exile Award to be a recognition of the
struggles of the Cuban people and especially in recognition of our brothers
the Prisoner@s of Cuba@s Springtime. They are our heroes because even
when faced with humiliation, harassed on a daily basis, fed concentration-camp
rations and jailed in solitary confinement, they continue to defend the
rights of all Cubans.
I invite you to lift your voices and demand the release of the prisoners
of Cuba's Springtime as well as the release of all other political prisoners
on the island. It is in this manner that the rights of a people are defended-
particularly the right to achieve, through peaceful means, the political
changes that are inevitable.
I would like to express my admiration for this university and for the
courage with which it defends freedom. For many years the people of Cuba
sailed alone on a ship
--which appeared to proclaim justice but which carried slaves in its hold;
--which seemed to proclaim liberty but repressed or silenced any expressions
of liberty. Many were fooled by appearances and identified the usurpers
at the helm as the sole and legitimate representatives of the Cuban people;
many accepted the facade of justice as a true representation of the reality
in Cuba. For a long while the people of Cuba were alone. But after many
years of struggle, sacrifice, imprisonment and executions, we Cubans have
achieved a recognition of the following two facts:
-First, we never selected nor wanted a society without rights, nor a tyranny
that negates our right to self government. We are children of God and
brothers of all men and women. We are entitled to the rights we desire
and we want them now.
-Second, we Cubans, living inside and outside of the island, are one community-
working and struggling to reach reconciliation and justice. If the regime
currently ruling Cuba has no vision for the future , the people of Cuba
do have a vision and they do have a future. It is one of peace and liberty
and one that is already being built by the Cuban people.
In light of all this, international cooperation with our country should
be focused on supporting the peaceful struggle of Cubans and on advocating
their role as leaders of this transition. The citizens are the leaders
of the Varela Project.
Friends, never has there been more danger for Cuba. The official government
position and its propaganda resembles a ship taken by force who's only
destiny is to remain hostage or to be destroyed. But this will not be
our fate, for also, there has never been so much hope. We know that the
majority of Cubans, no matter their politics or socioeconomic standing,
want peaceful change. The majority of Cubans desire a reconciliation.
Included in this majority are those that march in the government demonstrations
and later risk their lives at sea or seek visas to emigrate. Included
in this majority are those that are part of, or are identified with, the
government. This majority includes a large number of poor men and women
who can expect nothing of this regime. All these people make up the Cuban
community. And that community, without hate and without violence, is building
that future first envisioned by Jose Marti who said: "With all, and
for the benefit of all."
This hope is expressed by the thousands of Cubans, who defying a culture
of fear, signed the Varela Project petition, and, by the new signatures
we continue to receive despite the current wave of repression and personal
attacks and defamations disseminated by the regime's propaganda machine.
These are the hardships faced by those on the front line struggling for
the peaceful change that is vital to the future of our country.
The inclusive nature of the Varela Project was infused in part by the
Christian Liberal Movement. This movement, already in its 15th year of
work within Cuba, is Project Varela's principal advocate. The Project's
strategy is based on the participation of most Cuban citizens; without
them peaceful change will be difficult. Aware of this and holding a firm
conviction of the need for a democratic process we have motivated the
citizenry to join us as we walk together towards a new era of liberty
and justice for our country. The government's entrenchment within its
own system, and its unwillingness to consider change, does not dampen
our resolve. Cuba is our house, our home, our country.
Project Varela takes its campaign to the citizenry and in doing so both
reclaims our fundamental rights and begins a dialogue amongst Cubans determined
to design and shape a transition. The government can chose to participate
or not in this process. But even if it does not, it cannot impede that
we Cubans change the present and prepare our future. The 'ship' will not
remain hostage until it crashes and sinks, the 'ship' is our home and
we cannot allow it to be lost; we will rescue it from within, without
using or surrendering to violence.
This last point we make because some have previously discounted the role
of the Cuban people in shaping their destiny and ignoring us as a significant
agent for change. Some talk of waiting for the natural death of the regime,
including even discussing the names of possible successors. The first
consists of waiting for a biological fate and the second suggestion is
an insult to the Cuban people as it assumes we are condemned to be governed
by dictators. I assure you that neither of these will come to pass. There
will not be a succession. The next government will be elected by a free
and sovereign citizenry.
We realize how complex the world is and the amount of conflict, injustice
and dangers that exist. It is not acceptable to name one problem as more
important than another. No people is more or less important. But, we believe
it would be a mistake to underestimate how beneficial a successful and
peaceful transition to democracy in Cuba would be to peace in the region
and the world. There is no peace for humanity if there isn't peace, liberty
and justice for all people.
I hope you do not interpret our resolve as arrogance but rather see it
as our determination, with the help of God, to seek liberty and reconciliation,
at each available opportunity.
Thank you for this honor bestowed on the vocation towards liberty and
peace of the Cuban people.
