ARMANDO VALLADARES tortured and jailed for 22 years by the Fidel Castro government. His spirit stood against tyranny. He has a message for today. For you.
I warn you: Just as there is a very short distance between the US and Cuba, there is a very short distance between a democracy and a dictatorship where the government gets to decide what to do, how to think, and how to live. And sometimes your freedom is not taken away at gunpoint but instead it is done one piece of paper at a time, one seemingly meaningless rule at a time, one small silencing at a time. Never allow the government–or anyone else–to tell you what you can or cannot believe or what you can and cannot say or what your conscience tells you to have to do or not do.
HE REFUSED TO SAY: ‘I’M WITH FIDEL. ’ Armando Valladares Speech TranscriptArmando Valladares receives the 2016 Canterbury Medal
For that transgression he was jailed for years. His freedom would have been granted by repeating that sentence.
“I am not an extraordinary man, and I am quite ordinary. But God chose me for something quite extraordinary.
When I was 23 years old I refused to do something that at the time seemed very small. I refused to say a few words, “I’m with Fidel.” First I refused the sign on my desk at the postal office that said that, and after years of torture and watching many fellow fighters die, either in body or in spirit, I still refused to say those words.
If I just said those three words, I would have been released from prison.
My story is proof that a small act of defiance can mean everything for the friends of liberty. They did not keep me in jail for 22 years because my refusal to say three words meant nothing. In reality those three words meant everything.
For me to say those words would constituted a type of spiritual suicide. Even though my body was in prison and being tortured, my soul was free and it flourished. My jailers took everything away from me, but they could not take away my conscience or my faith.
Even when we have nothing, each person and only that person possesses the key to his or her own conscience, his or her own sacred castle. In that respect, each of us, though we may not have an earthly castle or even a house, each of us is richer than a king or queen.
The Little Sisters of the Poor know this. They may be called the Little Sisters of the Poor, and yet they are rich in that they live out their conscience, which no government bureaucrat can invade. They know what my body knows after 22 years of cruel torture: that if they sign the form, the government demands they will be violating their conscience and would commit spiritual suicide. If they did this they would forfeit the true and only wealth they have in abandoning the castle of their consciences.
And so I salute the Little Sisters of the Poor for their seemingly small act of defiance!
I am here to tell you that every little act counts. No man or woman is too small or simple to be called to bear witness to the truth. I’m here to remind you that each of you possesses great wealth in the sacred domain of your conscience. And I’m here to tell you that each of you is called to stay true. I am also here to tell you that when you make that choice, from that moment forward, even if you are naked, in solitary confinement for 8 years, you are never alone because God is there with you.
For many of you, particularly the young people, it may seem I come from a faraway land from a long time ago. Young friends, you may not be taken away at gunpoint, as I was for staying true to my conscience, but there are many other ways to take you away and to imprison your body and your mind. There are many ways you can be silenced, in your schools, your universities, in your workplace.
I warn you: Just as there is a very short distance between the US and Cuba, there is a very short distance between a democracy and a dictatorship where the government gets to decide what to do, how to think, and how to live. And sometimes your freedom is not taken away at gunpoint but instead it is done one piece of paper at a time, one seemingly meaningless rule at a time, one small silencing at a time. Never allow the government–or anyone else–to tell you what you can or cannot believe or what you can and cannot say or what your conscience tells you to have to do or not do.
As I look around this room I am heartened. And I want to applaud each of Becket’s clients for, in staying true to your conscience and in standing up for religious liberty, each of you protects this exceptional country of ours. A country that is not perfect but nevertheless still allows us to live in a society where we can hold a different view from each other and a different view from the government.
Thank you for this award. I accept it in the name of the thousands of Cubans that used their last breath to express their own religious freedom, by shouting, as they faced execution: “Long Live Christ the King.” I accept it in the name of those who still suffer in Cuba–a country that in the last two years alone has destroyed more than 300 churches and houses of worship persecuting Baptists, Methodists, Anglicans and confiscating their Bible and crosses while beating their pastors and parishioners.
I accept it in the name of the Jewish community in Cuba who, even at such small numbers, is also still persecuted. Finally, I accept this award in the name of my wife. It is really her that deserves it, not me. All of you have heard the story of Penelope, who waited 20 years for Ulysses. Martha is a real life Penelope. But she didn’t stay home knitting. She traveled all over the world campaigning for my release. She waited for me. She always hoped and trusted in God that we would both be reunited Against All Hope.
Thank you.”
https://www.becketlaw.org/media/armando-valladares-speech-transcript/
I am heartened by his truth. It is freedom of thought, conscience, speech and religion which must be protected.
Trudeau eulogizes dictator Castro. Some question what his eulogy for Pol Pot might have been. I question what Trudeau’s eulogy written by those detained and tortured by Fidel Castro would be?
Canada is beset by Bill 293, (KILLBILL293.COM)
Canada is beset by Bill 63.
In Trudeau’s Canada 100 churches burn down without a hate crime investigation opening. In Trudeau’s Canada only ‘racialized’ Canadians suffer racial discrimination. In Trudeau’s Canada, speech is a precursor to prison. In Trudeau’s Canada the Emergency Act was utilized to terrorize dissent. In Trudeau’s Canada Bills to restrict meat are tabled and pass the House. In Trudeau’s Canada drugs and addiction proliferate. In Trudeau’s Canada euthanasia is the 5th leading and fastest growing cause of death. In Trudeau’s Canada separating children from parents is how schools deal with non-affirming parents. In Trudeau’s Canada 10 vaccines were purchased for every man woman child and infant when the trope was one and done. In Trudeau’s Canada new immigrants receive the equivalent of $225 per day while Canadian’s struggle to feed their families. In Trudeau’s Canada all globalist treaties, agreements, multi-lateral and bi-lateral agreements are rubber stamped. In Trudeau’s Canada the public health policy of decriminalizing drugs is desired. In Trudeau’s world the globalist state is de facto arrived.
“Justin Trudeau told the New York Times that Canada is becoming a new kind of country, not defined by our history or European national origins, but by a “pan-cultural heritage”.”
“There is no core identity, no mainstream in Canada,” Trudeau said, concluding that he sees Canada as “the first post-national state.”https://torontosun.com/2016/09/14/trudeau-says-canada-has-no-core-identity
The core identity was the plurality that was premised on freedom of speech, freedom of religion and human rights that included freedom from persecution by reason of race or religion.
All of these seem to be at stake in a post national Canada.
Canada is beset by its own Castro who brings down consistently the authoritarian hammer, who has contempt for Christians and for bodily autonomy. Who seems attracted to martial law and dictatorships and dictators.
I was told by one source that a rumour has been circling by Trudeau insiders whether an election will take place next year at all. It can be presumed that the world will be beset by world events that permit martial law, that in turn prevent an election. Is the proposed Bill c-293 and it’s expected passing that martial law? killbill293.com #killbill293
It would be best that where MPs of conscience exist, that they cross the floor now.
Thank you for sharing this story - I pray I am faithful to “Christ The King” all the days of my life!
This sounds like Canada, with people like Tamara Lich etc. JAILED. doctors Jailed, he is right this happens one small step at a time..
For instance, maybe this is where all the alarms should be set off for Canadians.
Mississauga, has dedicated December to Christian heritage Month, while some are cheering, it really makes me sick. Because Canada was founded on Christianity, these small steps as Armando is telling us is proof of the encroachment in this country. Where by we are 'dedicating' months for religions that WERE the norm! we have been degraded to some month?.
We are there, Trudeau's were collaborating with Cuba for many years, and yet this Communist Trudeau was allowed to dictate this country. The Charter of Rights, is a homage to communist dictators.. its disgusting. Canada is a Socialist country. This country was founded on Chrisitanity but it has been chipped away.. Our Laws are not from Scriptures any longer.. this country is needing a lot of Prayers, because we really are heading towards Communism, just like that Like a Theif in the night, look what happened with c-vid.!