Strong, the roots that Fidel planted

Fidel raised, so to speak, an island brimming with humanism, happy children with much or little, and resilience and peace, and it’s up to us to fertilize, look after, and boost the growth of those roots that the Commander in Chief planted, says Flavia de los Angeles Contreras Vega, a young woman who is now doing her Military Service.

“My generation grew up watching Fidel on TV. I have at home a picture of him on a blue background that is a little faded but still reflects his unique look,” remarks this graduate of the University School of Journalism in the province of Matanzas. “I will not generalize and speak for all young people, but I can speak for me: I always dreamed of meeting him, sending him a letter and have a picture together. The values he spoke about so much have always been part of my life.

“Fidel is Cuba, the Homeland, the flag… I feel that despite the difficulties he’s still out there, in that people who stand up regardless of obstacles, who fight, who remain strong, who are proud of having been born and raised in the land of the Tocororo bird and the Royal Palm tree.

“Generations, that's the thing: the new ones will not be lucky enough to pass by a radio set and listen to his voice live, but Fidel left his mark on the people who have stood and will always stand by him. He will forever be in one of [Cuban poet] Carilda [Oliver]’s poems, the one that concludes, ‘Thank you for everything, Fidel’.

As the 98th anniversary of the birthday of the Historical Leader of the Cuban Revolution draws near, Flavia stresses: “His spirit had no equal, which is maybe why it became music and poetry and lives in paintings and art works, and why Fidel inspires to grow and create, and why we keep it as a burning flame".