José Martí

Like bones to the human body, the axle to the wheel, the wing to the bird, and the air to the wing, so is liberty the essence of life. Whatever is done without it is imperfect.--José Martí

José Martí (1/28/1853-5/19/1895), was born in Havana, Cuba. Libertarian, revolutionary, poet, essayist and journalist, he remains the symbol of Cuba's struggle for independence, with few comparable to him. The popular song "Guantanamera" is based on a poem by Martí, His Manifesto of Montecristi describes Cuba as a completely independent republic, free from economic or military control by any outside source. He foresaw an end to Cuba's one-crop economy and U.S. domination, an end to racial discrimination, the embrace of Cuba's African population and outlined what was to be the policy for Cuba's war of independence:

1. the war was to be waged by blacks and whites alike;
2. participation of all blacks was crucial for victory;
3. Spaniards who did not object to the war effort should be spared;
4. private rural properties should not be damaged; and
5. the revolution should bring new economic life to Cuba.

Always the poet, his elegant comments flow with the vision of freedom:

No man has any special right because he belongs to any specific race; just by saying the word man, we have already said all the rights.

Perhaps the enemies of liberty are such only because they judge it by its loud voice. If they knew its charms, the dignity that accompanies it, how much a free man feels like a king, the perpetual inner light that is produced by decorous self-awareness and realization, perhaps there would be no greater friends of freedom than those who are its worst enemies.

Just a thought.
Just Ken
CLASSical Liberalism