CubaPLUS Magazine

A true friendship is a relationship so important between two people that, at times, it is much more important than that between family members. Trust, honesty and mutual support are the fundamental basis of this bond.

That is why in Cuba there is a saying that says: “a good friend is worth more than a sugar mill.” This topic comes up today, July 30, when the International Day of Friendship is celebrated, proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 2011, with the idea that this feeling is cultivated, strengthened and inspires peace initiatives among peoples, countries and cultures in general.

This idea was born from the proposal made by UNESCO approved by the General Assembly of the United Nations in 1997, which defined the Culture of Peace as a set of values, attitudes, and behaviors that reject violence and seek to prevent conflicts, while reflecting the causes with the objective of solving them.

Two years later, the Declaration and Program of Action on a Culture of Peace was adopted, which established 8 lines of action that nations, organizations and people can undertake to ensure that a culture of peace prevails. Cuba, a small Caribbean island, has always cultivated the feeling of friendship with all the peoples of the world, regardless of the political, social and economic regime, who have a reciprocal attitude with the island in accordance with the principles of International Law, which is reflected in article 16 of the constitution.

There are many examples that can be mentioned of the actions that Cuba has carried out, which reflect the great feeling of friendship that unites it with countless peoples from all continents. To mention only one and it is the sending of medical brigades to countries that have suffered disasters such as the case of Haiti in August 2021.

On a personal level, Cubans are extremely friendly and, even, our idiosyncrasy confirms it. It is normal for any national to establish a beautiful friendship with a person on the street, on a bus or in another place as they say, "right off the bat" because they experienced some pleasant or unpleasant event at a certain time. And what about those who have been intimately linked from the earliest ages in daycare centers, schools... and reach adulthood, until death separates them.

Friendship, when it is sincere and true, is a very beautiful feeling that reflects affection, esteem, intimacy and trust between two people. Sometimes, especially when someone is going through a difficult situation, a good friend gives you a hand, helps you, which has incalculable value.

Therefore, today we should reflect on the friends we may have or, if we do not have one, look for one. Because according to the popular saying, "whoever has a friend, has a treasure", "a friend in adversity, a true friend", "a good friend, a good shelter". Many congratulations to all friends on this beautiful day.