Mayibuye Africa! Yes. ‘Patria o muerte, venceremos!’ No.

By GREGORIO IGARTÚA DE LA ROSA

Special to The STAR

A few days ago, I had the opportunity to watch on television the life story of one of my favorite historical figures, Nelson Mandela. His leadership and his liberating revolution place him among the most important leaders of the 20th century. His sense of justice, tenacity, and perseverance move me deeply.

I noticed that in many political activities, he and his followers shouted the slogan “Mayibuye Africa!” with great enthusiasm. The phrase was central to the African National Congress movement and was used to demand the return of land and freedom to native Africans, who had been displaced by the political control of white leaders -- then a minority ruling over the Black African majority. The slogan even inspired a musical composition by singer Miriam Makeba.

Not all political slogans, however, carry the purity or sincerity of that one. And of course, no slogan applies equally across different political contexts.

Using slogans is a common practice in global politics. Political movements often operate through slogans to promote their cause. They function like veils -- coverings not perfumed with religious spirituality or the purity of a bride at her wedding. Many are used only during electoral campaigns in free countries and disappear once the campaign ends.

In Puerto Rico, the main parties (New Progressive Party and Popular Democratic Party) have used slogans such as:

“Bread, Land, and Liberty” (Muñoz)

“This Has to Change” (Ferré)

“Statehood for the Poor” (C.R.B.)

“On the Road to Victory” (R.H.C.)

“Yes, We Can” (Pedro Rosselló)

All of these candidates -- and those who followed -- won elections and governed Puerto Rico with free‑market economic policies, without altering the environment of liberty that protects us constitutionally.

The truth is that slogans serve as a partial veil, allowing politicians to avoid discussing everything that must be explained in a political campaign. A slogan sparks electoral interest and keeps followers captive under its message. But as we will see, one must be careful with these veils, because some hide agendas and have proven deceptive. Some leaders never want to lift them, because the repetitive chant benefits them. They are veils of “we are all equal” (which we are not), while in practice they take everything from the people and give nothing back.

In socialist and communist movements, these slogans have failed -- and have served mainly to keep leaders in power and wealth for decades, while the people remain in poverty. Consider the following examples:

Venezuela

Hugo Chávez and Nicolás Maduro stayed in power by keeping the people captive under slogans such as “The Bolivarian Revolution,” “Fatherland, Socialism, or Death,” “We Live and We Win,” and “Always Loyal, Never Traitors.” They promised to reduce inequality through greater state intervention in the economy. They remained in power for years. Chávez died as a dictator, always justifying his struggle with the slogan of continuing the “Bolivarian Revolution.” Maduro followed the same path and was recently arrested by the U.S. government. One must ask: where did the idea come from that Simón Bolívar would have supported a socialist or communist revolution? It was simply the repetitive chant sold to the people -- a veil covering a promise that never materialized.

Cuba

Fidel Castro and his brother Raúl used slogans such as “Fatherland or Death, We Shall Overcome” and “Until Victory, Always.” These slogans served as deceptive veils for what became a failed communist policy, used to punish any dissident and demand absolute loyalty. They keep the people in a state of fear so they do not dare dissent. They hide the economic reality of widespread poverty and justify a life of sacrifice for the captive population -- while the ruling class enjoys exclusive wealth.

Nicaragua

Daniel Ortega uses the veil of “Free Fatherland or Die” and “The People Are President.” As in Cuba and Venezuela, Nicaragua is in economic failure, yet Ortega’s slogans persist. Attorney Rubén Berríos -- an American citizen, resident of Miami and Puerto Rico, and a Georgetown graduate -- is legal adviser to this totalitarian president. Ortega recently announced that there will be no more elections in Nicaragua. He alone governs.

Puerto Rico

Today in Puerto Rico, independence leader Juan Dalmau presents himself with the veil of “New Fatherland.” In a Puerto Rico organized to operate as a state, with 3.2 million U.S. citizens on the island and 6 million in the states, what can Dalmau promote with his “New Fatherland”? Especially after supporting Chávez, Maduro, Fidel, and Ortega -- and with no administrative experience? What new proposal can he offer to an American people who have rejected independence in every electoral event? Nothing, except an agenda hidden behind the veil of “every man for himself.”

Beware of the veils used by some politicians -- veils that arrive with the fresh aroma of perfume but contain hidden agendas inside the bottle. Beware of the veils in Puerto Rico.

Gregorio Igartúa De La Rosa is an attorney and longtime advocate of statehood for Puerto Rico.