The little engine that dialectically must

The following lessons are from textbooks written for Fidel Castro’s literacy campaign, begun in 1961; the books are still in use in many Cuban schools. Today, 97 percent of the Cuban population is literate, and Castro has helped Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez design a literacy program for his country. Translated from the Spanish.

THEME 1: IMPERIALISM

Imperialism is a common phenomenon of our age. Imperialists are those countries that, having well-developed economies, concentrate a large percentage of capital in the hands of few. They then use that capital to exploit other countries’ economies, forcing them to export natural resources and import value-added goods. They thus deform these economies, robbing them of their independence. An imperialist country doesn’t necessarily have colonies. Any country that exploits another is imperialistic.

Exercise 1:

Once, the Yankees attacked us. They sent many bad people. They wanted to do away with Free Cuba. The populace defeated them. Fidel led the fight.

Question: What does this say about Fidel?

THEME 2: REVOLUTION

The people need revolution in order to move forward. When one nation is dominated by a more powerful nation, only revolution can wrest control from the foreign power. When the humble citizens of a country live without work, without land to cultivate, without education, they must rise up in revolution.

Exercise 1:

Let’s first read and then write: “The fishing cooperative helps the fishermen. They sell fish in the cooperative. Daniel helps to sell. The money is for everyone. The fishermen are no longer exploited. Now the fishermen live better lives. New lives for the fishermen.”

Copy in your best handwriting: “Daniel helps to sell.”

Exercise 2:

Let’s first read and then write: “Today’s Cuban is free. The workers build the houses. There will be houses for everyone. New factories will open.”

Copy in your best handwriting: “New factories will open.”

Exercise 3:

Let’s first read and then write: “The lamp was expensive. Mario cleans his weapon. Pura looks at the sea.”

Copy in your best handwriting: “Mario cleans his weapon.”

THEME 3: A UNITED AND ALERT POPULACE

As the Cuban Revolution is anti-imperialistic, she has powerful enemies waiting to attack her. As the Cuban Revolution is a revolution of the people, the whole populace must be ready to defend her. For this purpose, we organize into militias: workers, peasants, professionals, youth, women, gather at training centers to learn military skills and renounce their leisure time of days past.

Exercise 1:

One day, Fidel met with a group of Pioneers [Young Communists] and told them: We want our children to be the most studious, the best behaved. The child who doesn’t study is a bad revolutionary. We want our children to be the happiest. We want to always be proud of our children. The children heard this with great emotion and decided to be better.

Question: How does Fidel want the Pioneers to be?

Exercise 2:

Let’s first read and then write: “The main square looks very pretty. The people’s militia marches by. Thousands of bandannas saluting. Long live Fidel! The militiaman has a rifle. He loves peace. In good hands, a rifle is good.

Young and old united, we swear alongside Fidel. Together we will defend Cuba. They’ll never defeat us again!”

Copy in your best handwriting: “They’ll never defeat us again!”

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