"I
will
die facing
the
Sun"
By Dr. Rolando M. Ochoa
Next
Thursday
January
28,
2021
marks
the
168th
birthday
of
the
birth
of
José
Martí,
the
apostle
of
Cuba's
independence.
Meditating
on
the
events
that have
occurred
in recent
months,
while trying to discern
what my
posture
and
performance
should be,
a fragment
of Martí's
“Versos Sencillos” (Simple
Verses)
came to
mind that
says:
"Don't
put
me
in
the
dark
to
die
like
a
traitor.
I
am
good
and
as
good; I
will
die facing
the
sun."
As
many
of
us
know,
Martí
predicted
his
death
as
he
desired
and
described
in
these
verses.
He
died
in
Dos
Ríos
fighting
for
his
ideals
and
facing
the
sun
in
a
battle
against
Spanish
oppression.
I
wondered
in
recalling
these
verses:
Can I
let
my
ideas and
my patriotic
fervor for
the United
States, my
adoptive
homeland,
to be place “in
the dark?"
or
can I
express
myself freely
and denounce
the
atrocities
that
await
us
given in
the
communist
tendencies
of the
new
administration?
My
answer
is
that
if
I
don't
express
myself
freely
and keep
quiet, I will
die
"like
a
traitor."
Today
we
hear
many
advocating
forgiveness
and
reconciliation.
They
also
say
we
have
to
unite.
Of
course,
that
unity
would
be only
one-way.
Those
of
us
who
did
not
vote
for
this
new
administration,
would have
to
join
it
by
accepting
its
actions.
A
true
union
is
when
both
sides
work
so
that
both
are
represented
and
their
ideas
are
adopted by
the
other
side.
This
is
not
going
to
happen
in this
case,
as
leftists
only
call for
unity when
they
are
in
charge.
Did
anyone
hear
one
of
these
who
now
call for
unity,
say
they
were
willing
to
a
unify
when
the
previous
administration
was
in
charge?"
Quite
the
opposite.
They
spent
four
years
trying
to get rid
of the
president.
Forgiveness, in my opinion, is only given to those
who repent of what they did and swear not to do so
anymore. The catechism of the Catholic Church calls
it; "act of contrition" and without it, forgiveness
is not given in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
What forgiveness can there be when it is clear that
this administration wants to eliminate our culture,
our political system, the unborn, and above all with
the freedoms we enjoy today?
It's more than proven that socialism doesn't work.
This effort by the New Left and the promoters of
what they call the "Big Reset," will not succeed and
many of those who now support this idea, will regret
it. When that happens and they apologize, I forgive
them. But not now.
Perhaps many think it is better to remain silent to
avoid the retaliations already experienced and those
that will be coming, but remember that totalitarian
regimes do not accept those who remain on the fence.
Eventually these, who now are silent, will be forced
to take a position when that happens, it may be
already too late. If many remain silent, the work of
these leftists will be made easier for them. If many
oppose it and denounce it, their work will be harder
Martí
said,
"I
am
good
and
as
good."
What did he mean by this? Many know that Martí was
great man, but like any man he had weaknesses.
I
think
he
meant
those
who
have
good
intentions
and
ideas.
Those
who
fight
for
a
better
world
with
freedom
and
opportunity
for
all.
In
the
time
of
Martí,
those who
fought
for
the
freedom
of
Cuba.
Martí
said
"I
will
die facing
the
sun."
Here
he
referred
not
only
to
death
itself,
but
to
die
gradually
while defending
our ideals
when we
are criticized
and
discriminated
against.
When
we
get
kicked
off
social
media
or
our job
for
expressing
what
we
believe
in.
When
our
family
and
friends
mock
and
despise
us.
We cannot let this plague consolidate, we must act firm and determined, even if we "die" little by little as I said, since at the end we will see the failure of these leftists and the resurgence of a nation
as established by the forefathers of the American homeland, free and sovereign. Just like Martí dreamed. And if we don't get there, at least we'll die "facing the sun."