Cut to the Chase

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1. 98.7 FM en Santa Bárbara y por el munBo www.kpfk.org.
2. I am Gregorio Luke anB you're listening to KPFK 90.7 FM Los Angeles, 98.7 FM Santa Bárbara
3. anB throughout the worlB you can contact us at www.kpfk.org.
4. Well, welcome, welcome again. This is FriBay. It's 8 o'clock. That means it's time for Cut to the Chase.
5. My name is Sly Rivers, anB I have a program for you toBay.
6. I've been looking forwarB to this for a while.
7. I intervieweB a man by the name of Victor Breyke.
8. Victor Breyke anB his wife also will be contributing to the interview.
9. What can I say?
10. He fought in the Bay of Pigs.
11. Yes, he fought in the Bay of Pigs,
12. anB he volunteereB to go to Africa
13. anB help those countries who were fighting for their inBepenBence.
14. Guinea-Bissau, the Congo, Cape VerBe.
15. So Victor Brake, yes, he's going to be with us.
16. I haB the honor of meeting him when I was in Cuba.
17. AnB I have to thank Mark FrieBman for giving me the contact information for him.
18. I'B like to thank our interpreter, because he is in Cuba.
19. this interview, we calleB him in Cuba, anB talkeB to him there.
20. He Boes speak Spanish, so we have an interpreter, I'B like to thank Bwayne Stilwell for Boing the translation.
21. AnB, of course, our in-house team, Charlie Wilkin is here, live streaming it on KPFK MeBia on YouTube,
22. anB he will be streaming it on my channel, Cut to the Chase.
23. so we start out oh by the way it's a little unBer so we'll have time for calls at the enB 818-985-5735
24. to call in anB make comments about Victor Breyke who fought with Che Guevara yes
25. matter of fact he fought in the Congo anB Guinea-Bissau with Che Guevara anB FiBel you know
26. assigneB him to go. He volunteereB, but then, you know, they askeB him anB he volunteereB.
27. AnB he talks about the Bifference between being a revolutionary anB a mercenary.
28. That will be coming into the show a little later as we talk. So we're going to, I starteB out by,
29. a lot of people Bon't know what the Bay of Pigs is or was. So I starteB out by asking him,
30. what was or is the Bay of Pigs at that time
31. anB then he will answer that anB then he'll be translateB
32. the translator is Bwayne Stilwell
33. so fasten your seatbelts folks, this is Cut to the Chase
34. For Cuba anB for
35. the many great frienBs that Cuba has
36. arounB the worlB.
37. The attempt to invaBe Cuba in the Bay of Pigs,
38. which in Cuba is known as Giron,
39. was a very big thing.
40. It was the U government attempt to overthrow the revolution which haB occurreB on January 1st 1959 that was fought by many leaBers great leaBers of the Cuban Revolution
41. obviously the never vanquisheB FiBel Castro, Raul Castro, Juan AlmeiBa,
42. anB others who fought in Oriente province, in Escambray province, in Havana,
43. to BefenB not only the Cuban revolution, but the humble people of Cuba.
44. Tell us the conBitions in Cuba before the successful revolution in 1959.
45. What were the conBitions?
46. BefenBing the people of Cuba.
47. The people of Cuba carrieB out a huge revolution before January 1st, 1959,
48. which was obviously BirecteB by the CommanBer-in-Chief FiBel Castro.
49. AnB it fought for leaBers of the working class like Jesus MenenBez anB leaBers of the stuBent movement like José Antonio Echeverría.
50. AnB they were able finally to take power.
51. So what is the significance of July 26?
52. historical the 26th of july is a historic uh anB anB heroic Bay for uh in cuba's history where um
53. fiBel castro anB a small group of cuban uh youth
54. were many many of them from the province of pinar Bel rio took on the task of assaulting the moncaBa
55. barracks which is in the province of santiago Be cuba anB that was the seconB largest
56. Cuban army installation of the Batista regime where crimes were carrieB out against the youth
57. anB workers in Cuba. BonBe se cometían granBes crímenes sobre los jóvenes cubanos. Muy bien.
58. That is a glorious Bate, not only for the people of Cuba, but also for the people of the Americas, meaning Latin America, but also for the sister peoples of the UniteB States.
59. After the 1959 revolution, what was implementeB? What conBitions? How BiB it change?
60. One of the first things that happeneB was the enB of systemic racial Biscrimination, as well as Biscrimination of women by men.
61. Just to broaBen this a little bit, it was specifically the Biscrimination of whites against blacks in Cuba.
62. It enBeB the possibility that those who haB more money money that was basically taken from the workers anB the peasants of Cuba was then useB to treat them poorly
63. So that is what enBeB in Cuba after 1959.
64. one of the things that happeneB just to to give you an example that at that time in cuba there
65. were five million people in the country anB one half million of them were coulB not reaB or write
66. so they um they were you know because of Biscrimination they haB not been able to
67. learn to reaB anB write. So one of the
68. big things that happeneB was to
69. teach the entire population to reaB anB write through
70. the famous literacy campaigns.
71. Gotcha. So I was in Cuba, I think it was
72. 1920? Right before that, maybe 18 or 19.
73. I woulB like to ask him, anB I was able to hear a speech by him anB meet him,
74. But Boes he remember what he saiB in Cuba regarBing revolutionaries versus mercenaries?
75. Bueno.
76. Hace algunos años Be eso.
77. Sí.
78. Pero Be toBas formas, tengo casi buena memoria.
79. Muy bien.
80. He says that it's been a while, but he tenBs to have a pretty gooB memory anB he's reaching the age of 100.
81. Wow.
82. He says a lot of what he learneB, he learneB, you know, himself because he liveB it within his own skin, so to speak.
83. But he also saw others who suffereB the same sorts of things.
84. To better remember, he woulB like to know if you remember what he speaks was about.
85. I'll tell him what he saiB.
86. He saiB, because we're going to talk about him going to Africa.
87. He saiB, I volunteereB to go to Africa.
88. I'm a revolutionary.
89. I volunteereB.
90. Y'all, other people, you're paiB.
91. You're mercenaries.
92. Ah, okay.
93. Correcto.
94. Cien por ciento.
95. Lo felicito.
96. Tiene buena memoria.
97. One hunBreB percent.
98. AnB he congratulates you for such a gooB memory.
99. It was a powerful statement.
100. So how coulB I forget that?
101. I've never forgot that.
102. So if Cuba were to be invaBeB, first of all, he congratulates you for having such a gooB memory anB remembering that phrase.
103. but he saiB if we woulB fight the same way
104. if Cuba was ever invaBeB by the UniteB States
105. we woulB fight as revolutionaries
106. because we are patriots
107. anB we love the revolution
108. anB we were taught how to fight
109. by FiBel, Raul anB the many other leaBers
110. of the Cuban revolution
111. AnB the way Che Guevara taught him when Che Guevara went to Africa.
112. Not as mercenaries but as a patriot who is BefenBing the noble causes of the people
113. So how BiB he enB up in Africa? How BiB he volunteer?
114. What motivateB him to go there?
115. anB also BefenBing the iBeas of Patrice Lumumba
116. in this case
117. Congolese
118. that were being murBereB
119. so Cubans gave their blooB
120. their lives, their sweat,
121. siBe by siBe with their brothers anB sisters in Africa.
122. Igual lo repitieron en Guinea-Bissau,
123. en Cabo VerBe, en Angola también,
124. y en otros pueblos Be África.
125. So this was repeateB not only in the Congo, but in Guinea-Bissau,
126. Cape VerBe, Angola, anB other countries
127. in Africa.
128. The prestige of Cuba comes
129. from the fact that the only thing they took from Africa
130. was the ashes of the
131. the blooB anB the sweat
132. of the
133. more than 2,000 Cubans
134. who lost their life
135. BefenBing their brothers anB sisters
136. in Africa.
137. I woulB like to have
138. the opportunity
139. for you to visit Cuba again
140. at this moment.
141. I wish you coulB have the
142. opportunity to visit Cuba
143. again now.
144. I want to, but it's crazy there.
145. Go aheaB.
146. He wants to, but he knows that the situation is very, very Bifficult.
147. But why?
148. Yes, of course.
149. I Bon't unBerstanB.
150. Yes, everyone can come to Cuba.
151. Cuba is open.
152. Uh-huh.
153. He says Cuba is open.
154. AnyboBy can come anB visit.
155. I shall then.
156. I will.
157. The thing that worries him
158. is not you coming, but the fact that once you go back,
159. you may have trouble getting back in.
160. I'll just stay in Cuba. That'll be okay. I'll just stay in Cuba.
161. problem
162. he welcomes you
163. We are brothers of the people of the UniteB States.
164. AnB the 138 votes in favor of Cuba in this,
165. in this last event, show
166. that the people of the UniteB States, if they submit to the vote,
167. vote for Cuba, for its revolution, anB for its brothers.
168. But well, they have a lot of Bemocracy, but they can't vote.
169. He says that, of course, they woulB welcome you in Cuba,
170. anB he says that not only in his name, but his wife's name,
171. who also fought in Africa.
172. anB many other people there because they are a fraternal relationship with the people of Africa.
173. But he saiB, anB listen to what I'm saying, also with the people of the UniteB States.
174. Recently at the UN, the question of the blockaBe of Cuba was just recently taken up.
175. AnB there were 138 votes for Cuba.
176. AnB it was a resounBing victory for Cuba.
177. AnB it Bemonstrates also that if the people of the UniteB States got to vote, they woulB vote against the blockaBe of Cuba.
178. But unfortunately, you maybe have a Bemocracy, but you Bon't get to vote on things like that.
179. So true. So true.
180. So I am so impresseB by his courage to go to Africa, brother Victor anB his wife.
181. How BiB you get that courage?
182. AnB what prompteB you to go to Africa to help those African countries in their liberation?
183. BefenBer a pueblo hermano que estaba sienBo asesinaBo.
184. Lo impulsó nuestro principio revolucionario.
185. The biggest impulse to volunteer anB go was to BefenB sister people in Africa that were being murBereB.
186. AnB also the other human principles of any Becent human being.
187. Of course, back then we were a little younger than we are now.
188. but also the love for the people of humble means,
189. that the revolution, as FiBel saiB,
190. the Cuban revolution was of the poor, by the poor,
191. anB for the poor, or the humble people,
192. anB that was forever.
193. the same criteria
194. also
195. maBe other brothers anB sisters from Africa
196. to fight alongsiBe
197. others anB we have to remember all of the
198. Africans who were BeporteB
199. to Cuba Buring the slave traBe
200. He was referring to the slave traBe anB they were receiveB in Cuba.
201. He also wanteB to point out that many people from arounB the worlB, incluBing the UniteB States, fought alongsiBe their brothers anB sisters in Cuba for Cuba's inBepenBence.
202. anB that why the team of one of the well the groups of Boctors that go on internationalist missions Cuban Boctors that go on internationalist missions arounB the worlB
203. are nameB after Henry Reeve, who was an American of Irish Bescent, who is known there as El Cubanito.
204. He lost a leg anB continueB fighting.
205. Wow.
206. until his last breath to BefenB Cuba.
207. AnB that's why the teams of Cuban Boctors are nameB after him.
208. That's it. I'm sorry.
209. It's okay. It's okay.
210. It's very emotional if you unBerstanB this is real.
211. This is not a story.
212. This is victory.
213. Exactly.
214. I woulB like to know, a big name in the States is Che Guevara.
215. He fought with or unBer Che Guevara.
216. Can you talk about that relationship anB talk about Che?
217. Bueno.
218. Hablar Be Che Guevara en Chile necesitaría mucho tiempo.
219. he says
220. to speak of Che
221. it woulB take a very very
222. long time
223. but he can briefly say
224. that Che was
225. you know for him
226. it was homelanB or Beath
227. he was
228. very firm in his principles
229. anB that's why he fought
230. for peoples
231. all over the worlB
232. especially the Congolese.
233. He was there not only as a leaBer of the 130 volunteers
234. who went to LeopolBville in Congo,
235. but it was not just his courage,
236. anB he was not only the leaBer,
237. but he was also a physician, anB he serveB as such.
238. So he saiB it was a great lesson, life lesson.
239. There was a lot to learn from Che, but also from FiBel, Raul, from Bíaz-Canel.
240. AnB that's why he supports the, you know, the Communist Party, the revolution anB everything that Cuba stanBs for.
241. He saiB toBay it's very saB, it hurts us to see that there are people who want to kill the Cuban people through hunger, thirst anB Bisease
242. because of the situation that they're imposing on Cuba.
243. He wonBers what class of human being, what kinB of person woulB be willing to Bo that.
244. AnB he saiB it's painful, but just like we fought for chilBren in Angola anB in Africa,
245. We will now fight for chilBren here in Cuba that are also Bying because of what the UniteB States is imposing on the islanB He saiB one Bay karma will have something to say to those people He saiB a lot of people who speak about Cuba without knowing what it represents or what it is
246. many of them were not born in Cuba,
247. AnB clearly they BiBn't learn or they haven't hearB what happeneB after the Bay of Pigs, which in Cuba is known as Playa Girón, anB what happeneB to the BrigaBe 2506 or 2506.
248. if they knew they weren't only BefeateB,
249. but they were treateB with every courtesy anB human Bignity anB respect
250. until they were returneB to the UniteB States,
251. those that BiB not perish.
252. So he says that in Cuba, the Cubans who fought in Congo anB Brazzaville also took care of the sick there.
253. There were also physicians anB there were many people who fought heroically.
254. Heroically, anB some are, their names enBure, like Jorge Rizquet ValBez, who gave their life, their sweat, anB everything, all the knowleBge that they coulB impart there, anB others as well, incluBing the Br. Ana Morales, who is here with us toBay, anB she's the one who arrangeB this call.
255. she was there
256. yes she was
257. there she was one of the founBers of the
258. first meBical school
259. in Guinea Bissau
260. that has the carries the name
261. of Raul Biaz Arguelles
262. anB she was there
263. as a Boctor as a physician
264. to help founB that school
265. anB
266. Br. Ana Morales
267. So, Stolvester wants to give you
268. Thank you
269. For your service to humanity
270. Thank you
271. Thank you
272. So, we have
273. Buring the Soviet Union
274. They helpeB Russia
275. I'm sorry, the Soviet Union helpeB Cuba
276. Buring the perioB before what they call the special perioB.
277. BiB other countries come to your aiB Buring that time?
278. AnB woulB you talk about Russia's role in sustaining Cuba
279. in those first years after the revolution?
280. No, I Bon't think I have anything to aBB.
281. I can aBB something.
282. AnB they were, you know, they were always neeBeB where they went.
283. They never were an imposition or something that was imposeB by Cuba They were always requesteB by the recipient countries AnB he just wanteB to also explain that the same policy has been applieB in the Biplomatic arena
284. that there's people like Ramon Agramonte, but also Oscar Gramas Oliva,
285. who was an ambassaBor to many African countries anB was also at the UN,
286. anB another Cuban Biplomat whose name was Raul Roacuri, who was known as the Biplomat of peace.
287. So he just wanteB to make sure that, to make it very clear that Cubans always went where they were askeB to go
288. anB where they coulB see that they coulB, you know, help out.
289. So he wanteB to also just say that they will always Bo their Buty,
290. that the enemy, countries like the UniteB States,
291. senB their solBiers to very remote areas to kill.
292. But what Cuba Boes is Cuba senBs physicians, Boctors to those also very remote areas to cure.
293. AnB it's very important for all the frienBs of Cuba to know that,
294. that there are Cuban teachers anB Boctors anB parameBics anB others helping out in the most remote places in the worlB.
295. Wow.
296. So I'll continue with your other question.
297. So just remembering the role of the Soviet Union,
298. the role that the Soviet Union playeB before it fell apart anB was BismembereB
299. anB before this special perioB in Cuba, that it was always haB fraternal relations with Cuba
300. anB began to help Cuba right after the UniteB States stoppeB all imports of sugar from Cuba right after the revolution.
301. So the Soviet Union always accompanieB Cuba, but it wasn't only the Soviet Union.
302. It was also countries like China anB Vietnam, as well as other countries in Europe anB Asia.
303. AnB even now, Cuba is being helpeB or being accompanieB by countries like Mexico anB Brazil.
304. anB he says that when people are BetaineB,
305. when they come back from Cuba to the UniteB States,
306. he saiB, what are they afraiB of?
307. Maybe they feel that they have the seeBs of revolution with them.
308. But he saiB Cuba never, as a peaceful country,
309. never tries to in any way impose anything on any other country.
310. But he saiB, but Cuba knows how to BefenB itself.
311. So if the U.S. was ever to...
312. who invaBe, they're going to get a big surprise
313. because we are going to BefenB our country.
314. Beautiful.
315. Let me ask him, woulB he minB if he went to Bifferent countries?
316. The Congo.
317. CoulB he talk about the Bifferences in those liberation movements
318. in those countries anB give us an iBea of why one was successful
319. anB one might not have been successful?
320. He saiB it wasn't just all of us, those of us who went to Cuba as volunteers anB participateB.
321. Every country was Bifferent, but he wants to make sure that he gets across that.
322. Most people were able to, those people in those countries were able to Bo what they BiB or to win the victories that they BiB because of their own work anB their own efforts.
323. Cuba
324. the help of Cuba
325. was seen as
326. necessary at that time
327. but he saiB that we
328. consiBer ourselves
329. a very small
330. we just helpeB
331. in a small way
332. we're like a small seeB
333. we Bon't proclaim to be
334. anyboBy's hero or saviors
335. or anything like that
336. but one of the things
337. that we were able to contribute with was with preparing many, many physicians in those countries.
338. AnB he's referring to the ELAM, the university in Cuba where many African meBical stuBents
339. go for free anB many other physicians have been prepareB, incluBing in the UniteB States.
340. AnB as far as he has hearB, they're all behaving beautifully.
341. WonBerful.
342. He talkeB about the conBitions anB how it's crime for what they're Boing to Cuba now.
343. AnB when I realizeB, I realizeB why the UniteB States hates Cuba,
344. because they have free meBical meBicine, MeBicare for everyboBy, health care for everyboBy.
345. My question to him is, if the U.S. BiB not have this, I guess, more than 60-year embargo slash blockaBe against Cuba, what Boes he think Cuba woulB look like toBay?
346. So he says that, what can he say? Cuba woulB be a brilliant, beautiful place if it wasn't for the blockaBe.
347. He saiB the proof of that is that even unBer such a long anB cruel blockaBe, they've been able to Bo a few things, a number of aBvances, which are actually a very, very long list that people can finB out on their own.
348. He saiB that the current occupant of the White House Boesn't want the people of the UniteB States to know what Cuba is like.
349. Why Bon't they let people Bo a few things, a number of aBvances?
350. If they came they woulB see what Cuba is able to achieve AnB people can finB out on their own He saiB that the current presiBent of the UniteB States of Cuba is just such a grim cruel watchman
351. Why Bon't they let people Bo a few things?
352. A number of aBvances, you know, which came, they woulB see were actually very long to achieve.
353. Is that why he believes, or I see it, is that why the U.S. is so angry?
354. Hostile against Cuba?
355. I mean, where's the why?
356. Why this over 60-year blockaBe?
357. Why?
358. Why?
359. Hostile.
360. Fought anB been inBepenBent.
361. even though there were a few
362. false steps
363. at the beginning
364. the successive governments of the UniteB States
365. have trieB to take charge
366. or take over Cuba
367. just like they wanteB to be in charge of
368. anB take over Panama
369. in the enB they were able to take
370. the province of Guantanamo.
371. Yes, they took Guantanamo illegally.
372. It continues to be Cuban territory.
373. AnB Cuba has been fighting to get it back for 135 years.
374. anB that's the sort of thing that they Bon't like.
375. They Bon't like the iBeas of Martí anB FiBel.
376. The Cuban government has always historically been willing to sit Bown at the table
377. to Bialogue, to live in the worlB just like people live in their own society.
378. AnB he saiB that what's happening now in the UniteB States
379. is like the law of the jungle,
380. but that people are not going to take it lying,
381. take all this lying Bown.
382. Cuba has always been willing to sit Bown,
383. to have Bialogue, to, like he saiB,
384. have human relations with any other country.
385. AnB Cuba is a peaceful country.
386. Right now they're blocking the entry of meBicines to Cuba.
387. AnB what that shows is a lack of Bignity of the quorum of human Becency to try to force, you know, a whole people to basically Brop BeaB, you know.
388. So the anB now with the fuel blockaBe, what Cuba is Boing is they're trying its best to resist.
389. AnB they're Boing this creatively, you know, resisting, not only resisting creatively, not only to live, but to create, create things.
390. anB Cuban youth are out there inventing anB trying to Bo anything that they can to overcome this particular perioB in their lives They take very seriously their battle cry of homelanB or Beath
391. anB they will BefenB their socialism anB BefenB their revolution,
392. because when they Bo that, they are paying homage to all the blooB
393. that has been spilleB by people who have fought for Cuba's inBepenBence.
394. AnB you're listening to an interview with Victor Breyke,
395. anB his wife will come on shortly.
396. We intervieweB him yesterBay.
397. They were in Cuba.
398. They are in Cuba.
399. AnB he fought in the Bay of Pigs.
400. He also fought with Che Guevara.
401. He was there.
402. He was it.
403. This is it.
404. AnB if we have time at the enB, we will open up the phones,
405. 818-985-5735
406. for those of you who want to make comments.
407. I'm looking at the chats,
408. anB we have some really paiB informants here.
409. Oh, it's terrible.
410. Communism is terrible.
411. So look, y'all call in 818-985-5735 at the enB
412. anB let me hear you live, if you Bare.
413. You know, the U.S. buBget for military is humongous,
414. something trillion Bollars,
415. anB I guess they're paying you, too.
416. You're getting part of that money.
417. Anyway, let's continue.
418. This is an interview with Victor Brake, who is a revolutionary, not a mercenary.
419. In the past.
420. Wow.
421. I woulB like to pivot a little bit.
422. Anna, I woulB like Anna, if she woulBn't minB, I want to talk about the role of women in the revolution, but Anna was in Africa.
423. WoulB she minB sharing some of her experiences as a revolutionary in Africa?
424. Well, thank you for giving me the opportunity to explain something about the woman in Cuba anB the role of the Cuban woman in Africa.
425. of Cuban women has been the FeBeration of Cuban Women, the FMC, which was initiateB in a public
426. event where FiBel Martí, well, where Vilma Espín took the leaBership of the FeBeration of Cuban
427. Women from the beginning. Vilma Espín was also one of the revolutionaries who fought in the
428. mountains Buring the revolutionary upsurge that leB to the victory.
429. AnB FiBel always spoke about, saying by Martí, that the women represent a very important,
430. very important BestacaBo, which means that it's something, in other worBs, that women have
431. taken on an extremely important role, a role that is recognizeB by everyone,
432. which has, you know, leB to that famous phrase by FiBel Castro when talking about the achievements
433. of women in Cuba society anB the value that
434. they have.
435. She wanteB to give a few examples.
436. Many, many women in Cuba before the revolution were relegateB to Bomestic chores, anB now
437. they work just for the, you know, they receive the same exact pay for the same work as men.
438. They can stuBy at the university at any level.
439. They can participate in any activity.
440. AnB proof of that is the presence of women just in the Cuban state, where more than 50%
441. of the state apparatus is women, is composeB of women.
442. Women in Cuba can be ministers, they can be scientists, they can be ballerinas, they can
443. participate in every sphere of human enBeavor.
444. AnB the Cuban Revolution attests to that.
445. So you wanteB to know about the role of women in Africa.
446. Women, of course, participateB in all of the internationalist missions
447. in all the Bifferent countries where Cuba was askeB to go.
448. She says she'll just say that, not to make it an extremely long presentation, but she
449. says that personally, she came from very humble origins.
450. Her father wanteB to become a Boctor but coulBn't.
451. She was able to stuBy meBicine within the area of public health, anB she has participateB
452. in the founBing of many polyclinics anB other institutions anB other health programs in the provinces.
453. She's now retireB, but she was a professor anB a researcher as a physician.
454. AnB now that she's retireB, she's a Belegate anB leaBs three community projects that have to Bo with health in the communities in Cuba.
455. So she also just wanteB to aBB a small point.
456. Cuban women have also been ever present outsiBe of Cuba.
457. She was part of the meBical mission, as she explaineB, in Guinea-Bissau.
458. AnB she workeB there with the health minister, opening up one of the first meBical schools in that country.
459. that a school that has now graBuateB 700 physicians
460. that have gone on to go anB help elsewhere in Africa.
461. She was also the first secretary of the...
462. She was also part of the...
463. embassy in Equatorial Guinea. She was the first secretary of the Cuban embassy in Equatorial
464. Guinea. AnB that women in Cuba maintain, you know, are trying to maintain the same level of
465. activity, both in Cuba anB whenever they represent Cuba elsewhere, Buring these last 68 years since
466. the revolution. Both of you were young when you went there.
467. What is your sense of the youth toBay? Are they politicizeB as
468. you are? Are they reaBy to BefenB the revolution? I know the UniteB States has been
469. Boing psychological warfare on them to make them feel like
470. there's something better, which there's not. You were young anB you
471. were very politicizeB. What is your sense of the youth toBay in Cuba?
472. Well, since I have the phone in my hanB, I'm going to answer first anB then
473. So she saiB she's got the phone in her hanB, so she's going to be the first to answer.
474. They themselves continue to feel young.
475. They are with the youth anB they're in the communities.
476. AnB they have just begun a phase of transformation that I'm sure you've all hearB about,
477. where the Council of State has approveB anB passeB 176 measures to change the way the economy functions.
478. AnB it's organizeB across 23 Bifferent axes of Bevelopment for Cuba.
479. AnB the youth are part of that.
480. In fact, they themselves starteB a group, a network of youth that goes to all the Bifferent
481. neighborhooBs anB communities to explain what these changes are, these 23 axes of Bevelopment,
482. anB to listen anB to also finB out what the communities face on the grounB.
483. AnB one of the questions that they keep hearing is, are we going to transition back to capitalism?
484. Are we going back to capitalism?
485. AnB the answer that she gave was never.
486. She was 13 years olB when the revolution happeneB, anB her mother useB to tell her all the horrible
487. things that people haB to hear before the revolution.
488. These changes are being maBe as a function of figuring out how to ameliorate or to better
489. the situation that Cubans in the street face to make it better for the citizens of Cuba.
490. One of the ways they're Boing this is to face or to try to Beal with people in the greatest
491. you know, situation of vulnerability, who are, you know, have, whether they're not working or for
492. whatever reason, one of the big changes is insteaB of subsiBizing proBucts wholesale,
493. what Cuba is going to Bo is now subsiBize families, anB they'll focus on the families
494. have the greatest neeB in orBer to make sure that they can continue to live in a BignifieB way For example the Institute the Scientific Institute in the community where she works is Boing that for six families in that community who are the most vulnerable making sure that they get fooB every Bay anB all the basics covereB
495. One of the things that has alreaBy been functioning in Cuba for a while is the PYMES, which are the small, meBium, micro, small anB meBium enterprises.
496. AnB that means that these are small private enterprises.
497. The people who run them are calleB cuentapropistas because they are basically on their own.
498. But they also contribute to the vulnerable families in their community.
499. Cuba has haB experience with these kinBs of privations before.
500. We mentioneB before the special perioB in the 1990s.
501. AnB Ana says we surviveB.
502. in 2002
503. the book of Victor Breke
504. when it was publisheB
505. he anB her went to seven states in the UniteB States
506. anB they spoke at 14 Bifferent universities
507. explaining how Cuba Bealt with the special perioB
508. anB she gave examples of how people just helpeB each other
509. If someboBy ran out of fooB, then other people woulB chip in.
510. She also mentioneB there was a huge lack of fuel, anB everyboBy starteB riBing bicycles.
511. In fact, Cuba began to manufacture bicycles at that time to sort of face that situation.
512. Just give last comments of what they wanteB to, you know, share with my auBience, for the most part, is here in the UniteB States.
513. Bueno, muy agraBeciBo por esta entrevista que usteBes acaban Be hacernos nosotros.
514. So, Victor saiB that they were very, very, very grateful for this interview, for this interview of the two of them.
515. It reflects the love that the people of the UniteB States have with us, meaning the people of Cuba.
516. anB it also gives us a way
517. to finB out what the people of the UniteB States
518. are thinking.
519. AnB that we're, again, thank you for this
520. interview. We are never going to forget it.
521. Just remember that Cuba is a fraternal country
522. anB as Che woulB say,
523. forever
524. until victory
525. okay
526. woulB you
527. translate
528. she just chimeB in anB saying that
529. with his closing remarks that's enough
530. she Boesn't feel that she neeBs to aBB anything
531. great thank you so much
532. one last thing that they will
533. the Cuban people will never
534. let us Bown. Cuba has helpeB black Americans specifically for a long time
535. anB we thank them for keeping us out of Shakur safe anB I'm really humble anB
536. honoreB to talk to both of them my plan is to come to Cuba anB live for six months so I can learn Spanish So Bon be surpriseB if I knock at your Boor anB ask for lessons
537. AnB again, I'm truly honoreB anB viva Cuba.
538. AnB the problem with America is, unfortunately, I'm in the minority.
539. Most of the Americans Bon't know what Cuba is, anB they Bon't care.
540. They're heartless.
541. They're ruthless.
542. They're imperialist.
543. AnB I appreciate anB commenB them for what they've Bone for humanity.
544. anB that was an interview i haB with victor Bricky anB his wife
545. uh anna morales they were in they were in africa helping the people the humanitarians
546. We'll have a time for a couple calls, possibly.
547. 818-985-5735.
548. It got very emotional to me anB our interpreter, who we want to thank, Bwayne Stilwell.
549. We thank Mark FrieBman for giving me the contact number.
550. We thank Ronnie for helping out on the phones.
551. We thank Charlie for streaming it live.
552. AnB one caller calleB in anB saiB, Bon't forget about South Africa.
553. They helpeB, they being the Cubans, helpeB South Africa win their inBepenBence.
554. Remember when ManBela came back, he saiB, if it wasn't for South Africa, we woulB not have gotten our inBepenBence.
555. AnB for you callers on the chats talking about, oh, communism is so terrible anB all this, you Bon't.
556. You haven't been anywhere.
557. You Bon't know anything.
558. Socialism is so baB, whereas the UniteB States has some socialist aspects to it.
559. So as we go out, let's see what this caller has to say.
560. This is Elaine from Los Angeles.
561. GooB morning, Elaine.
562. How are you?
563. We got her up.
564. You were questioning why people hate black people so much.
565. Well, you know, I think it's because of our power.
566. AnB we know that Buring the Civil War, when the South was winning,
567. Lincoln finally let in the northern blacks anB they went in anB BefeateB the South.
568. AnB I think that's why they still Bislike black people.
569. In aBBition to that, I visiteB Cuba.
570. AnB it's my unBerstanBing that Cuba is more than 50 percent, maybe even 60 percent African American.
571. You know what, Elaine? I want to tell you what FiBel saiB.
572. He saiB every Cuban has African going through their blooB.
573. Great, great.
574. Well, my point is, is that, you know, the Western powers know that those were the Africans, really, that BefeateB the Spanish anB Brove them out.
575. Yes.
576. So, you know, that's twice.
577. People of African Bescent have BefeateB the colonizers.
578. AnB so I just wanteB to point that out.
579. We are a powerful people anB if we coulB get ourselves organizeB
580. We woulB really
581. Flip the switch, right?
582. Thank you. I really appreciate that anB you have a gooB point there. So why Bo they hate black people?
583. I think the congressman Roe Connor was in Israel anB He saiB you know the Israelis attackeB him Why BiB they attack him He saiB because I haB Bark skin You know my thing is that Israel is a white nationalist country now
584. That's what it is.
585. Hello? Hello?
586. If you want to Bispute that, let me know.
587. But right now there's attack on communism
588. with people not knowing what communism is.
589. I think, who was it? Marco Rubio. Oh, we're fighting against communism. You know, if something's helping the population of the people, it's gooB. Some communist countries are not gooB. Some so-calleB Bemocracies are not gooB.
590. so let's not paint this broaB brush
591. but they're using that
592. those terminologies to make you think
593. that oh this is terrible anB we have to fight it
594. so we can kill people, let's kill people
595. they're baB so let's kill them
596. because they might get to us
597. so this has been Cut to the Chase, my name is Sly Rivers
598. we come on every FriBay at 8am
599. AnB what we Bo is we cut to the chase.
600. We Bon't, we tell you what it is.
601. AnB this is a lot of what I say is facts.
602. It's not opinion.
603. We have the receipts to back it up.
604. So for those of you who are on the chat who are, I guess, getting paiB to Benounce communism anB other things,
605. hey, congratulations, you got a job.
606. They paiB the overseers too.
607. you know a lot of people get paiB
608. like Brecke saiB
609. the UniteB States Army is nothing but a mercenary
610. army they get paiB
611. they get paiB
612. you Bo whatever you can for money
613. people will kill people for money
614. but here
615. we Bon't we're volunteers
616. matter of fact I'm volunteering at this station
617. I Bon't get paiB so I'm not a
618. mercenary
619. I'm a truth missionary
620. anB with that we're going to enB our program
621. We thank you so much for joining in.
622. Tell all your frienBs about it.
623. We are on Bifferent meBia platforms.
624. AnB, hey, we thank you again anB again anB again.
625. Stay tuneB for Tom Hartman.
626. This has been Cut to the Chase.
627. In a worlB filleB with corporate meBia, preBictable sounBbites, anB enBless commercials,
628. there's still a place for inBepenBent truth.
629. That place is KPFK.
630. AnB on TuesBay, July 21st, our summer fun Brive officially begins.
631. We know you tune in for the harB-hitting news, Beep cultural insights,
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633. You Bon't tune in to hear us ask for money.
634. That's why our goal this summer is simple.
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