My mother taught me from the time I was very little to know my father's ideals, his concerns, his ambitions as a revolutionary. And I have tried to follow that line in my life. In his letter of farewell to us, his children, he was asking us to strive to master technology, which enables one to master nature. He also told us to always study as much as we could, to never tire of it, because therein lies the possibility to best help humanity.
He asked that we should feel within ourselves the pain inflicted on any man anywhere in the world. I am the daughter of an internationalist. And that is the least I can give to humanity.
I cannot deny that my father had a certain influence in my choice of medicine as a profession. He was a doctor. But I believe that my decision was a little more selfish. As I grow older I want people to care about me not just because I am my father's daughter. I am always grateful for that, but such affection is not on account of me. As a human being I also need warmth and tenderness.
Medicine is a very humane profession. One in which, if you conduct yourself adequately, you can receive mountains of thanks. As a pediatrician I receive on a daily basis something better: the smiles of children. All the gold in the world cannot buy that. The feeling that you are doing something well, and that people care about you because you are their doctor, no matter whose daughter you are, is indescribable. I think this was the decisive reason I chose this profession.
My two internationalist missions as a doctor were tremendous experiences. They completed my education, above all because they confirmed that socialism is the only road possible for us. After living one year in Nicaragua and two years in Angola, I believe that if socialism were to disappear in Cuba, everything would be lost and we would become what Nicaragua, Guatemala, El Salvador, or Africa are today.
There are those who have looked at me in a different way and tried to be sweet, tender, and affectionate with us, because our father was not here and wasn't going to be here any more. And these people felt a commitment to him to give us everything they could on a human level. Sometimes spoiling us a bit, too. Other people felt a commitment to see that we, his children, became better every single day. On occasion, they would push us to the limit. Without realizing that we were normal, everyday children.
It was a much smaller group of people who treated us simply as regular human beings, genetic accidents of an extraordinary man and a very fine woman, nothing more.
I got to know that these were all expressions of the respect and admiration of the Cuban people and of those persons toward my father. That is, I got such treatment because I was an extension of him. People would focus their concern, their love, their demands, in his children. But these were always expressions of love. Very rarely have I felt anything else. I believe that is why I like the song by Ana Belén, "Derroche" [outpouring] so much. Because all my life I have received an outpouring of love. Ever since I was born, simply, without having done anything to deserve it, I have felt tremendous tenderness from the Cuban people. People know me as the daughter of that extraordinary man. That's a little heavy for one person, but I have always felt the beautiful side of it.
One time, talking to my brother Camilo, I told him how much we would be able to learn from our father, how much we would be able to discuss with him, how many things he would be able to clarify. Camilo looked at me and said, "If he were alive, he would not be our father."
And Camilo was right. Because had he triumphed in Bolivia, he would certainly have continued toward the south, which was his objective. Because he never renounced being an Argentine. And the north of Argentina awaited him. I realize that. But it angers me, it pains me that a man with my father's capacity of thought and action died so young. I believe he would have been of much use in Cuba.
A few days ago I was talking to someone from France. He told me that if the example of my father had served a useful purpose, then many people like Che would exist in the world, but he didn't know of any. I answered that neither of us was in the position of saying there are not thousands of people like Che in the world. But he should also not forget that Ernesto Guevara met a Fidel Castro, that he met a group of men determined to make a real revolution.
That Che Guevara had the opportunity of being with the Cuban people, and that the Cuban people supported him up to the final consequences so he could carry out his dream. I then told him that perhaps there are thousands of Ches in the world, but they have not had the opportunity to make themselves known.
It is very interesting, for example, to see the young people in Italy, who have no relation to my father, or people in Spain, who are concerned about knowing my father directly from us. That is a sign that there really are people in the world who very much want to do something more, to not remain trapped in the consumer society, and to try to help one's fellow beings. That for me is a tremendous encouragement.
I believe that Che is a banner in the world, a banner of dignity, power, and courage. The fact that his image presides over the Fourteenth World Festival of Youth and Students is something he earned, because unfortunately he died a young man, 39 years old, and he will remain young forever.
If we can really get to know him more and if we carry a little of him inside of us, then that young man who gave us such a complete example of a man of the 21st century met his fundamental objective in life. Because we would be capable of being better human beings, the human beings of the future that he wanted. And society, humanity would therefore live much better.