“Some time ago, the United States was an English colony. If an Englishman were asked if the United States would be independent, he would have said no, that it would always be an English colony.”
- August 13, 1926 – November 25, 2016
- Cuban
- Revolutionary, Prime Minister and President of Cuba, Communist Leader
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Quote
“Some time ago, the United States was an English colony. If an Englishman were asked if the United States would be independent, he would have said no, that it would always be an English colony.”
Explanation
This quote illustrates Fidel Castro’s use of historical analogy to emphasize the inevitability of national liberation, even in the face of overwhelming power and skepticism. By referencing the American struggle for independence from British colonial rule, Castro draws a parallel between that revolution and the anti-imperialist and decolonial movements of the 20th century, including Cuba’s own. The image of an Englishman confidently asserting that the U.S. would “always be an English colony” highlights the arrogance of empires and the frequent failure of dominant powers to foresee the collapse of their control.
Historically, Castro often invoked the American Revolution to highlight the hypocrisy of U.S. foreign policy, arguing that the same nation which once fought for independence had become a modern imperial force, denying other countries the right to self-determination. This quote uses the U.S.’s own origin story as evidence that no domination is eternal and that people always have the potential to reclaim sovereignty, no matter how entrenched the colonial or imperial power appears.
In today’s context, the quote remains a powerful reminder of the cyclical nature of history and the enduring drive for freedom among oppressed peoples. It challenges assumptions about the permanence of geopolitical dominance, and reaffirms that the arc of history often bends toward independence and justice, even if powerful interests believe otherwise. Castro’s words are both a warning to imperial powers and an encouragement to those still struggling for autonomy: today’s empires, like those of the past, can and will be dismantled.
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