Why Support Cuba?
The punditocracy, orphaned by neoliberal governments, is intensifying its attacks on the solidarity shown by our government and the majority of our people toward Cuba. The island’s population is currently subject to an oil embargo that compounds the general trade embargo maintained by Washington since the early 1960s. This attack campaign has several slanderous aspects. The first concocted in the reactionary anti-Castro circles of Miami and adopted by Mexican commentators and media outlets, is that Mexican aid is helping to prop up a failed, murderous, repressive, dictatorial, inept and corrupt communist state — the list of adjectives is endless — and that this is proof of an ideological brotherhood between the current governments of Mexico and Havana.
In this case, the condemnatory dismissal of the Cuban political system disregards the principle of self-determination, enshrined not only in Articles 1 and 55 of the 1945 United Nations Charter, but also in Article 89 of the Political Constitution of the United Mexican States, which, moreover recognizes international treaties (such as the U.N. Charter) as a source of law.
Thus, regardless of individual or group opinion regarding the nature of the Cuban political system, the Mexican government is doubly obligated to uphold the principle of self-determination and to promote the principle of nonintervention — principles flagrantly and openly violated by the United States in its effort to drive the Cuban people to such a degree of deprivation and despair that they rise up against their own government.
Further, the shared history linking Cuba and Mexico began with Spanish expeditions setting sail from that island in the early 16th century bound for our territory, the most significant of which was led by Hernán Cortés. Following the violent destruction and subjugation of Mesoamerican societies and the establishment of the colonial regime, the Captaincy General of Santo Domingo was formed — including Cuba — depending in many respects on New Spain. And all that occurred two centuries before the United States even came into existence. This dependency continued uninterrupted when, in the mid-18th century, the island was established as a captaincy general in its own right.
Cuba’s presence as part of Mexico was so apparent that between 1820 and 1827, Mexican insurgents devised various plans to liberate Cuba from Spanish rule, one of which was hatched in collaboration with Colombia. Although the Caribbean island remained under Spanish rule for nearly another century, ties of all kinds with Mexico continued. Both before and after Cuban independence, our country served as the rear guard for efforts to liberate it from colonial and neocolonial domination — from the efforts of José Martà to those of Fidel Castro. Conversely, Benito Juárez lived in exile in Havana between 1853 and 1854, and the island was among the first countries to recognize the government of Venustiano Carranza.
Moreover, this historical brotherhood has endured over centuries, regardless of the ideologies and forms of government in both countries. Finally, empathy, fraternity and a sense of humanity compel us to help our neighbors in need; the hardships currently endured by the Cuban people are no small matter. On the Caribbean island, people are literally dying because of Donald Trump’s cruelty; it would be profoundly cruel and immoral to remain indifferent to this situation. Here, too, ideological differences with the Cuban government cannot be used as an excuse to denounce solidarity-based assistance.
In the face of earthquakes, hurricanes and fires, Mexico has come to the aid of numerous populations, as was the case in Turkey and, on several occasions, the United States itself, regardless of which political party was in office. Thus, the media smear campaign against providing aid to Cuba, given the current circumstances, runs counter to national and international law; to a history of close ties between our two peoples; and to fundamental humanitarian principles. It will not succeed in stopping our efforts to help the Cuban people overcome the current crisis, but it does reveal the profound pettiness, hatred and cruelty that lurk within those who are waging this campaign.
In this case, the condemnatory dismissal of the Cuban political system disregards the principle of self-determination, enshrined not only in Articles 1 and 55 of the 1945 United Nations Charter, but also in Article 89 of the Political Constitution of the United Mexican States, which, moreover recognizes international treaties (such as the U.N. Charter) as a source of law.
Thus, regardless of individual or group opinion regarding the nature of the Cuban political system, the Mexican government is doubly obligated to uphold the principle of self-determination and to promote the principle of nonintervention — principles flagrantly and openly violated by the United States in its effort to drive the Cuban people to such a degree of deprivation and despair that they rise up against their own government.
Further, the shared history linking Cuba and Mexico began with Spanish expeditions setting sail from that island in the early 16th century bound for our territory, the most significant of which was led by Hernán Cortés. Following the violent destruction and subjugation of Mesoamerican societies and the establishment of the colonial regime, the Captaincy General of Santo Domingo was formed — including Cuba — depending in many respects on New Spain. And all that occurred two centuries before the United States even came into existence. This dependency continued uninterrupted when, in the mid-18th century, the island was established as a captaincy general in its own right.
Cuba’s presence as part of Mexico was so apparent that between 1820 and 1827, Mexican insurgents devised various plans to liberate Cuba from Spanish rule, one of which was hatched in collaboration with Colombia. Although the Caribbean island remained under Spanish rule for nearly another century, ties of all kinds with Mexico continued. Both before and after Cuban independence, our country served as the rear guard for efforts to liberate it from colonial and neocolonial domination — from the efforts of José Martà to those of Fidel Castro. Conversely, Benito Juárez lived in exile in Havana between 1853 and 1854, and the island was among the first countries to recognize the government of Venustiano Carranza.
Moreover, this historical brotherhood has endured over centuries, regardless of the ideologies and forms of government in both countries. Finally, empathy, fraternity and a sense of humanity compel us to help our neighbors in need; the hardships currently endured by the Cuban people are no small matter. On the Caribbean island, people are literally dying because of Donald Trump’s cruelty; it would be profoundly cruel and immoral to remain indifferent to this situation. Here, too, ideological differences with the Cuban government cannot be used as an excuse to denounce solidarity-based assistance.
In the face of earthquakes, hurricanes and fires, Mexico has come to the aid of numerous populations, as was the case in Turkey and, on several occasions, the United States itself, regardless of which political party was in office. Thus, the media smear campaign against providing aid to Cuba, given the current circumstances, runs counter to national and international law; to a history of close ties between our two peoples; and to fundamental humanitarian principles. It will not succeed in stopping our efforts to help the Cuban people overcome the current crisis, but it does reveal the profound pettiness, hatred and cruelty that lurk within those who are waging this campaign.
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