[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 8]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 10439]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  HONORING THE SPIRIT OF CUBAN FREEDOM

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 19, 2004

  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, 102 years ago, Cuba achieved its hard-
fought independence from the tyranny of Spanish imperialism. This 
moment of triumph and relief ushered in a new era of freedom, a 
republican age. The ideals of self-government had trumped despotic 
rule, and all were captivated by the promise of enduring liberty. May 
20, 1902 immediately assumed a profound significance for the Cuban 
nation, melding a fierce passion for independence with a zeal for 
democracy. Indeed, May 20, paralleling America's own 4th of July, 
celebrates the same democratic fervor that Americans fondly recall 
whenever we reflect on our own sorely won freedom.
  Unfortunately, the promise of a lasting and viable democracy would 
never be fully realized in Cuba. As we know all too well, the veil of 
``freedom'' Fidel Castro promised with his Revolution soon descended 
into one of the worst tyrannies in modern history. July 26, a date 
sanctified by Castro as a symbol of his own political triumph, replaced 
May 20 as the new national holiday, wiping away all memories of 
democratic hope.
  The Cuban people watched in stunned silence as they witnessed the 
dismantling of their republic and the institution of Marxist-Leninist 
totalitarianism. Soon the Soviet juggernaut had extended its iron fist 
across the ocean, marking the dawn of crushing religious, political, 
and artistic repression and the emergence of a culture of fear, theft, 
stagnation, and moral bankruptcy. After suffering countless state-
sanctioned crimes throughout the decades, the indomitable will and 
courage of the Cuban people keep the hope of freedom and democratic 
change alive as an achievable goal.
  Mr. Speaker, I proudly serve the cause of democracy as a United 
States Congresswoman, and continue the fight against the Castro regime 
and the oppression of the Cuban people. Ever cognizant of Cuba's 
plight, I feel compelled to call this oppression to your attention this 
day, May 20, 2004, a day representing freedom, and reminding us all of 
the tyranny that has usurped freedom.
  Mr. Speaker, this 20th of May, liberty has once again eluded the 
Cuban people. Yet, I know that soon May 20th will once again stand as 
an affirmation of Cuban democracy, as a new birth of freedom, as a 
celebration of victory over dictatorship. Positive change will no doubt 
come, and we work toward it every day. I unite my thoughts and prayers 
with the Cuban people, and ask them to believe: a true 20th of May 
celebration is on the horizon--Cuba will once again be free.

                          ____________________