José Martí, Cuban Apostle

A Dialogue

Cintio Vitier, Daisaku Ikeda

• Publisher: I.B. Tauris
• Year: 2013
• ISBN:
  9781786720030
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Politics & International Relations
• Subtopic: Political Advocacy
• Index: Politics & International Relations

Once called 'the wellspring of the revolution' by Fidel Castro, Jose Marti (1853-1895) is revered as one of the greatest figures in the history of Cuba. Not only was he instrumental in the late nineteenth-century cause of securing Cuban independence from Spain. He is also considered one of Cuba's most brilliant writers, orators and formative intellectuals, who provided inspiration to the young Fidel, Che and their fellow revolutionaries by dedicating his whole life to the goal of national political emancipation. Jose Marti suffered persecution and early imprisonment for his convictions, and in consequence is often referred to as the 'Cuban Apostle'. In this wide-ranging discussion of Marti's life, work and influence, distinguished Cuban poet Cintio Vitier and prominent Buddhist leader Daisaku Ikeda explore their subject's understanding of non-violence; his nationalism that was also a profound openness to difference and dialogue; his spirituality; his poetical writings; and most of all his fundamental dignity, humanity and self-mastery. The book explores above all the nature of sacrifice, and the cost of relinquishing personal happiness for the sake of a great cause.
The discussants examine Marti's family life, including his difficult relationships with his wife - Carmen Zayas Bazan - and his parents, who distanced themselves from his revolutionary fervour. Comparisons are drawn between Marti's ideals and Nichiren Buddhism as a source of unfailing hope and courage. As Daisaku Ikeda, follower of Nichiren, says at one point in the dialogue: 'Self-mastery is the hardest thing of all. But to have a spiritual nature worthy of the name, a person must overcome himself, a task that only a true optimist can accomplish. Marti's perspicacity is revealed in his conviction that final victory in life is assured by such optimists.' Marti, like Nichiren, had the unerring ability to turn enemies into friends. And as Cintio Vitier and Daisaku Ikeda reveal, what set Marti apart was not his thought or ideas alone but what emanated from his words and found embodiment in his actions. It was thus that a follower at the time could say of him: we don't understand him, but we are ready to die for him.

CHAPTER 1

Persecution and Life

1: The Poetry of Justice

Spiritual Father of His People

IKEDA: I am delighted to have an opportunity of discussing José Julián Martí Pérez, the Cuban Apostle, with you, Dr Cintio Vitier, for whom I have the greatest respect. I am especially pleased at the opportunity to fully share Martí’s passionate cry for justice with young people, the men and women who represent our hope for the twenty-first century, and to bequeath to them the legacy of this great man. Since you occupy first place in José Martí studies, I regard you as a teacher from whom I, as a student, can learn much.

VITIER: Not at all. I am unqualified to be your teacher. I am fully aware of your diverse, global activities as president of Soka Gakkai International. During his 42 years of life, Martí, too, demonstrated various abilities in many fields and made many first-rate achievements. In this sense, I hope that, as we discuss his philosophy and deeds, we can talk about your broad knowledge, too.

IKEDA: You are too generous. Loved and revered by all Cubans, Martí was a poet, author, philosopher, journalist, educator, revolutionary for Cuban independence, and spiritual mainstay of his people. In spite of his great achievements, however, he is insufficiently known in the world at large.

VITIER: That is true. This makes me, as a person who loves and respects him, very sad. I hope our dialogue will make him a little better known in Japan and other parts of the world.

Castro and Martí
A Mentor–Disciple Relationship

IKEDA: Fidel Castro is held in great affection by the Cuban people and is well known throughout the world. For the Japanese, his militarily clad figure is the first thing that comes to mind at the mention of Cuba, which for many is closely identified with him.

VITIER: That is fine. As for the people of Cuba, so for Fidel too, Martí is a deeply respected and trusted teacher.

IKEDA: I met President Castro in the Havana Palace of the Revolution in June 1996. I vividly recall our meeting, which lasted an hour and a half – far longer than was scheduled. While realizing it was presumptuous to do so, I spoke to him in a somewhat admonitory fashion, but he listened sincerely and at the conclusion of our talks thanked me for my friendliness. Later, I received a message from him in response to my comments. He said he was both happy and honoured that I expressed concern about his health. He then wrote that, as a revolutionary, he intended to continue the struggle for the dignity of the Cuban people and the sovereignty of the Cuban Republic as long as he lived. He also called me a revolutionary, constantly fighting for the dignity of the ordinary people. He added a prayer for my good health and commented on my constant, extensive labours for world peace no matter what I encountered on the way.

During our meeting, I mentioned the issue of successors by quoting a Chinese derived proverb to the effect that while setting something in motion is easy, keeping it on its original track is difficult. When we spoke of Soviet socialism, I frankly expressed my view that a major cause of the collapse of the Soviet Union was a lack of the mentor–disciple spirit evinced by the practice of choosing Kremlin leaders, not from among spiritual heirs, but as the result of struggles for political power. I cannot help thinking that the Cuban situation is very different in this respect.

VITIER: Because of the respect Fidel has for Martí as his teacher, their relationship precisely coincides with your idea of a spiritual heir. Dr Armando Hart Dávalos, former minister of culture, was at your meeting and is sure that, just as he hoped, it proceeded smoothly and proved very fruitful.

IKEDA: Yes, I am greatly indebted to him. In addition to the message I just mentioned, I also received word that President Castro was very interested in our dialogue and was willing to do whatever we asked to help make it a success.

Castro’s Perseverance as a Revolutionary Leader

IKEDA: Since the Cuban Revolution of 1959, President Castro has been exposed to torrents of both praise and criticism, but has persevered in his position of leadership. With the hostile American superpower next door, it has not been easy. Indeed, in this sense he is without peers among revolutionary leaders. What made his perseverance possible?

VITIER: The United States would like to be rid of a close neighbour like Cuba with a different social system. Speaking as an ordinary Cuban who is not on personal terms of friendship with Fidel, I would cite two reasons for his continued success: the charisma surrounding him and the constant presence in his heart of José Martí, whom Fidel always calls the wellspring of the Cuban Revolution.

After the failure of the attack on Moncada Barracks in 1953, Fidel was tried in court. During the procedures, when asked who had written the scenario for the attack, he replied, ‘José Martí!’ The Revolution, which we are willing to defend to the death, is more than a drama of power exchange. It is the pulsating heritage of the spirituality that originated with Martí.

IKEDA: I see. Though only 27 at the time of the trial, young Castro withstood all reprimands and boldly made his famous declaration, ‘History will absolve me!’

I understand that he often refers to himself as an optimist. This gives a glimpse of Castro the man who is rock-solid in the certainty of being just.

Castro’s Sensitive Aspects

VITIER: I should like to point out, however, that in addition to his firmness, Fidel is an extremely sensitive person. Characteristically, he is able to take the part of the poor people, with whom he communicates instantaneously as individual, fellow human beings. Without formality or ceremony of any kind, he can share the sufferings of the poor and the weak. He is keenly sensitive to emotional subtleties.

IKEDA: You point out many things that I sensed when I actually met him.

VITIER: An illustrative instance of his sensitivity, not generally known, relates to my own family. As you know, ever since the Revolution, Fidel and the Cuban government have laid maximum stress on medical care and education. When she was only nine years old, my granddaughter was hospitalized with serious infantile type 1 diabetes. On one occasion, Fidel paid an inspection visit to the hospital where my granddaughter was undergoing treatment and actually called on her ward. The appearance of the famous head of state set the whole hospital abuzz. My granddaughter, too, anticipated the event with tense pleasure.

Upon arriving, Fidel made straight for the juvenile intensive-care unit. In general, hospitals are sad places. This is all the truer of wards for gravely ill children. Nonetheless, Fidel went there first. Among the children shyly approaching him was my granddaughter. Already headed towards recovery, she had good colouring and looked healthy. But by nature a withdrawn child, she held back, standing behind the others. In an outpouring of his characteristic affection and sensitivity, Fidel walked straight up to her and lightly pinched her cheek. Looking into his face, my granddaughter saw that his eyes brimmed with tears. When she told us about this, her own eyes gleamed, and her whole body expressed her emotional reaction. Whenever I recall this incident with not only a child, but a sick child, I cannot repress the feeling that it illustrates Fidel’s acute sensitivity and ability to empathize with the suffering of the weak as intensely as if it were his own.

IKEDA: Your description brings the scene to life. As a revolutionary warrior, Castro’s strength only has been emphasized. But true strength must be backed by gentleness. All leaders, including statesmen, must devote maximum attention to people in distress and pain. The age of power-dominated authority has passed. From now on, humanity will be doomed to eternal unhappiness unless we advance into an age of compassionate, humane leadership. In this connection, I think I can see why, since the Revolution, Cuba has concentrated on the weak and devoted such great energy to medical care.

In 1996, at about the time of my visit to your country, the National Art Museum of Cuba and the Tokyo Fuji Art Museum jointly sponsored an exhibition entitled ‘Treasures of Japanese Art’, in Havana. On the last day of the exhibition, keeping a promise made to me, President Castro attended the exhibit, carefully examining each work on display. People on duty at the time reported that, as he walked around the exhibition, he greeted each Cuban staff member, asking where they came from and how their families were getting along. I gather that these apparently casual inquiries brought tears to the eyes of some of the young people he talked with.

VITIER: Yes, Fidel is a sensitive person who sympathizes with others’ pain and distress.

Reading Martí in Prison

IKEDA: When I visited the José Martí Memorial in 1996, I was deeply impressed by a photograph of President Castro standing with head reverently bowed at Dos Ríos, where Martí died in battle. In an interview he gave in 1995 to mark the centennial of Martí’s death, Castro said that, though aspects of events connected with Martí’s life remained uncertain, there was nothing unclear about his way of life, his greatness, or his thought. He was a man of Latin America and of the world who thought on a wondrously big scale. Castro added that many of Martí’s letters, speeches, and writings amount to political proclamations. He went on to say that the attraction Martí’s image, ideas, prose, and poetry had for him as a young man and still have for many people was only to be expected.

VITIER: The Cuban Revolution itself can be considered Martí’s historical resurrection. After the failed attack on the Moncada Barracks, Fidel spent a year and a half in solitary confinement (his original sentence was for up to 15 years) on the Isla de Pinos, 100 kilometres south of Havana. During his confinement he continued studying industriously. It was at this time that he read Martí’s complete collected works. His highly valuable copy, preserved today in the Centre for the Studies of José Martí, bears his numerous underlinings and comments. These volumes are of especially great interest to me as a scholar since they were perused, not by other scholars, specialists, or university teachers, but by a warrior who devoted his whole life to the Revolution. Those underlinings suggest that Martí’s thoughts and ideas were surely alive in the era.

IKEDA: Lenin heavily annotated his copies of Hegel’s Science of Logic and Lectures on the History of Philosophy. Thoughts and ideas are dead as long as they remain shut away in the past. They come to life in the spirit of the age only when practised as part of the individual’s living present. Reviving them in this way endows them with the power to change the course of events.

A Mentor as an Irreplaceable Treasure

VITIER: Fidel has mentioned Martí with the greatest respect in his many speeches on memorial occasions, referring to him as the greatest philosophical benefactor and the moral foundation of the Cuban Revolution. This should make clear the degree of reverence in which he holds him. He also...

Table of contents

• Front Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Contents
• Foreword, by Dr Armando Hart Dávalos
• Preface, by Daisaku Ikeda
• An Expression of Gratitude, by Cintio Vitier
• Chapter 1 Persecution and Life
• Chapter 2 In Solidarity with the People
• Chapter 3 The Poetic Spirit
• Glossary
• Notes
• Back Cover