Oddly, Audible, despite hosting some fairly right-wing and far-right tomes – to its credit – it also hosts Marx, Engels, Lenin, Mao Zedong, Ho Chi Minh, and Che Guevara (amongst others). Yes – some are bourgeois aberrations – but others are straight from the original ideological source material and convey clear Socialist and Communist thinking. So far – so good. Recently, whilst carrying-out my academic work of translating ancient Chinese texts into English – I play audio-books in the background – so I can continue to “learn” whilst working. This is how, over the last three-months, I made an effort to study the Cuban Revolutionary experience. This came about after I had a conversation (a few years ago) with a Spanish man now living in Sutton – who surprised me when he said he had no interest in China or the USSR – but rather the Central and South American experience. This got me thinking – as I used to generally integrate all these movements – assuming they were different aspects of the 1917 Russian Revolution (which of course they are). The point is that different ethno-centric experiences abound – even if we are political allies all heading in the same ideological direction. To this end, I have recently listened to the following books issued by the Havana Che Guevara Centre (which can be freely accessed via the links provided):
Reminiscences of the Cuban Revolutionary War
I Embrace You You With All My Revolutionary fervor – Letters 1947-1967
No doubt, as other titles become available – I will read-listen to the content. Given that Kennedy inflicted the illegal blockade on Cuba that Trump II is attempting to tighten to a deadly constriction, understanding the Cuban experience as an atrocity is unfolding in-front of our eyes. The capitalist Russian that betrayed its own Revolution in 1991 – completely rejected Cuba and took sanctions out against it. It was only with the rise of Putin that Russia starting assisting, supporting, and helping Cuba once again (perhaps from 2012). Cuba needs to be understood just in case the US manages to destroy it. I hope Cuba survives – but the post-1917 Revolution has not weathered too well. Keep studying, keep fighting, keep believing. My life has been enriched by the Che Guevara experience.
SANGHA KOMMUNE (SSR) 