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WASHINGTON — In conjunction with six other members of the U.S. Congress, including Chairwoman Barbara Lee (CA) of the Congressional Black Caucus, Congresswoman Laura Richardson participated in a 5-day Congressional Delegation trip to Cuba. The visit had many firsts: the first official congressional delegation meeting with President Raul Castro, the first official meeting with Former President Fidel Castro since his illness in 2006, and the first meeting with several cabinet members, including the Ministers of Defense, Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Congresswoman Laura Richardson asked President Raul Castro along with Chairwoman Lee and the other members of the delegation if it was possible to meet with Former President Fidel Castro. President Raul agreed and Congresswoman Richardson was one of three members of Congress from the delegation to meet with Former President Fidel Castro.
Congresswoman Richardson said, “I, like President Obama, did not grow up during the Cuban Revolution and neither am I a product of the past Cold War philosophies. Therefore, I met with the President and Former President to listen, to learn and to determine if there was a possibility of new diplomacy and new strategies for both countries.”
Further Congresswoman Richardson stated, “Just yesterday, President Obama said while in Turkey that there was a need to ‘turn the page’ and a willingness to open dialogue with foreign nations such as Cuba, a country only 90 miles away from the United States border.”
“I look forward to meeting with President Obama and Secretary of State Clinton to share my insights and experiences. I want to share with them what I witnessed regarding higher education, medical research and development,” stated Congresswoman Richardson. “During my visit to Cuba, I experienced freedom of travel, freedom of religion and the freedom of speech. The array of perspectives of the Cuban people and their government, I hope to share with the Administration prior to the upcoming Organization of American States (OAS) meeting.”
Returning to Washington for the district work period for district meetings and activities, Congresswoman Richardson said this of her visit:
“Serving on both the House Homeland Security and Transportation and Infrastructure Committees, I found the discussions of migration and untapped trade opportunities for 11 million people relevant, timely and productive.”
Reflections by Comrade Fidel
THE MEETING WITH BARBARA LEE AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE BLACK CAUCUS
The morning was stormy, damp and cold. Strong winds were blowing and the sky was dark. This was no spring day, not warm.
The official plane that had brought them to Cuba had pushed forward their trip by 24 hours and it would be leaving at two in the afternoon of Tuesday, instead of on Wednesday.
On this occasion, circumstances had changed considerably. The Legislative Black Caucus represents a sector that carries a lot of weight in the United States.
The long struggle for equality and justice was illuminated by the life and example of Martin Luther King whose thinking and work today enthrals millions of people in the world and who was the reason, in my view, why a black citizen, at a moment of deep crisis, reached the U.S. presidency.
As a result, a new meeting with the Black Caucus would take on, for me personally, a special significance. I learned about their stay in Cuba from the comrades who looked after them during their visit, the basic ideas of the congressional organization and the opinions held by its members.
Raul had also communicated to me the magnificent impression they had made on him during his meeting with them which had extended for almost four hours last night, on Monday.
When Barbara Lee arrived at the house, accompanied by Bobby Rush, Democratic Congressman for Illinois, and Laura Richardson, Congresswoman for California, together with José Miyar Barrueco, the Minister of CITMA, who for many years was secretary of the Council of State, it was 11:35 a.m.; the skies had cleared and radiant sunshine filled the courtyard. I was really happy to see Barbara once again and to have the possibility of personally greeting Bobby and Laura, two people whose names were by now familiar because of their words spoken at the meetings with Raul, Alarcón, Bruno, Miyar and the relatives of the Cuban Five.
Their meeting with me lasted 1 hour and forty-five minutes, by the clock; in reality, it took half a minute if I were to judge by the speed with which it took place and my desires to listen to them.
Their interest and the depth with which they were expressing their points of view, the sincerity and warmth of their simple and profound words were comforting. The three of them were reflecting transparency, pride in their work, their organization, their struggle and their country. It is clear that they know Obama and they radiate confidence, certitude and sympathy with him.
Laura is California congresswoman for Long Beach and she speaks with special pride about the California port which, she says, “is the third in the world”. In truth I couldn’t hold back my desire to joke and bearing in mind that she is an active defender of the environment I told her: “Laura, if the Antarctic polar ice cap melts, your third port in the world will be underwater”. In the ambience created there, she wasn’t upset in the least and she continued telling me interesting things.
Rush spoke next; he is the oldest and most experienced of the legislators and he was a radical activist in his youth.
I asked him about the meaning of his statement: “Obama can improve relations with Cuba, but Cuba should help Obama”. We have never been aggressors nor do we threaten the United States. Cuba would not have the possibility to take the initiative. From the beginning we had had the certainty that his words were sincere and we said it publicly before and after his election. At the same time we expressed the opinion that, in the United States, the objective realities were more powerful than Obama’s sincere intentions.
Finally, I asked him about which of the books published in English in the U.S. about Martin Luther King were the best and whether they were translated into Spanish. The three of them spoke to me about Taylor Bretch’s trilogy, as the most interesting among them, and of: “Letters from Birmingham Jail”. They were not sure about their translation into Spanish and they promised to send me the pertinent material.
It was an excellent meeting.
Fidel Castro Ruz
April 7, 2009
6 :31 p.m.
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