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29.Oscar.Collazo.Pdf OSCAR COLLAZO PRISIONERO 70495 For Carmen Zoraida Collazo Este libro va dedicado a los heroes Nacionalistas que aun se encuentran encarcelados en las mazmorras del imperio; Lolita, Andres, Rafael, Irvin y mi adorado padre, Oscar Collazo; pero especialmente y con toda mi admiration de mujer puertorriquena, como homenaje postumo, al compariero de mi padre que dejo su joven vida frente a Casa Blair, GRISELIO TORRESOLA. EDITORIAL COQU 1671 N. Claremont Chicago, 111. 60647 INTRODUCTION Aparte las vividas imagenes que la evocacion de su nombre me sugiere, dos cosas hay que colocan a Oscar Collazo en un punto diferente al de toda otra persona cuyo cruce de pasos con los rmos va mucho mas alia de los recuer- dos. Nada de lo pasado queda fuera de la rnemoria. Tampoco a orillas del corazon. Todo el pasado recorre su ambito diminuto e inmenso de una sola vez, en alguna particularizada forma. Pero a lo que me referi al empezar esta nota no pertenece al recuerdo sino a la categorizacion. Son cargas que el juicio esta en la obligation de echarse encima y hay per- sonas que obligan. Lo primero levanta una bandera de protesta mas alia de toda consideration politica. Y sin embargo, hija de la so- ciedad politica. No creo que las personalidades insignes de las comunidades pre capitalistas se vieran pasadas por tal fndole de injusticia. A la que me refiero es una de las que mas suscita mis desdenes. Es un veneno; una dadiva em- panada que la inseguridad y la enajenacion han colocado como una lanza envenenada en medio mismo del criterio. Es triste decirlo. Pero lo of con referencia a Betances. Con punta hacia Albizu. Del primero, la sospecha hiriente. Si se queda en Puerto Rico lo habriamos visto por las calles de San Juan como otro cualquiera. Es el reverse de la medalla. Ya no es la acusacion de que debiendo haberse quedado en Puerto Rico en vez de regresar se quedo afuera. En el caso de Albizu, que se queda hasta el punto en que vive su posteridad antes de morir, las deshonestas conjeturas son otras. De una vez. A lo que me refiero es algo que va mas alia de los motives de la actitud y de la limitation de una persona. Es el feo habito creado por la desconfianza, con base en la inseguridad enajenante. Es la afirmacion hecha con tono sabihondo y pedante. No haya juicio defini- tivo del dirigente, del heroe o del apostol — de nadie, en ultima instancia — en tanto no lo veamos paralizado y mudo tranquilamente, como si las balas no zumbaran en sus oidos, en el fondo de la fosa. El pequeno mide a los otros con su vuelve a cargarla, colocando, una a una, las balas en la masa propia diminuta regla de a pulgada. ardiente del revolver? <,Fue en esos breves instantes, entre el valor y la momentanea impotencia, que Oscar Collazo Pues bien. De Oscar Collazo afirmo lo que fue mi juicio deja atras el valor y para siempre pierde el miedo? No lo se. de el cuando entro en la celda de la muerte. iQue suerte Quizas ni el mismo pueda explicar el intimo proceso. ;O la de Puerto Rico!, dije a mis intimos. La historia nos escogio fue acaso en las largas horas de la celda de la muerte, al hombre que se dejara asar en la silla electrica sin pestanar, cuando asediado por todas las tentaciones, se hace el transito sin gesto melodramatico; morira como ha vivido, serena- unico! mente. "Vida armonica muerte serena!" La anticipation es Hostosiana. El fenomeno es para el estudio a profundidad que no soy yo el llamado a llevar a cabo. Pero no tengo dudas sobre La otra afirmacion de indole categorica es tan chocante que una cosa es ser valiente y la otra es no tener miedo. que hara respingar al que la lea asi, de sopeton, sin prepa- El valor es el resorte con que la voluntad vence al panico. ration previa para entenderla. Si Oscar Collazo fue alguna Es este un testimonio que se da a millones en todas las vez hombre valiente lo fue hasta el dia en que perdio el guerras. Lo hicieron los valientes de las Termopilas, los miedo. Muevo su persona en mis recuerdos y la memoria heroes de Ayacucho, los contratacantes de Fere-Cham- no me basta para precisar si se dio el caso en el antes o penoise, los desembarcantes del Granma. No embalde al despues del combate frente a la Casa Blair. Me aclaro, hasta valor tambien se le llama bravura, identificandolo injusta- donde me es posible. Lo que Oscar Collazo y Griselio Torre- mente con el de la horrorosa combatividad de la fiera. In- sola hicieron, lo han hecho antes miles de personas en la justamente dije, porque en el soldado entra en juego, con milenaria historia. Una cosa es jugarse el todo por el todo, el instinto, un elemento, la voluntad, que no tiene lugar aun en condiciones de la mayor desigualdad en el combate, en la bestia. en los instantes en que la sangre hierve al calor de las balas que se entrecruzan en el proceso de la selection de la especie Mi discurso me lleva a una conclusion en que si entra que en la guerra se manifiesta con mayor intensidad y mas la memoria como abogado ante el tribunal de la conciencia. visiblemente que en la demorada exposition de las virgenes Conozco a Oscar Collazo desde que vino a vivir a Ciales, selvas. Dos hombres estan ahi, con el valor desenfadado siendo nino. Lo recuerdo a traves de las vicisitudes de su de los heroes, disputandole la vida a sus contraries y ejer- vida. Vuelvo a conocerlo en la deliciosa concatenation ciendo, con el mas noble de los decoros, su derecho a morir. de este epistolario. Creo que la fuerza inquebrantable de Torresola muere. Y muere tambien uno de sus adversaries. Oscar Collazo, que lo lleva hasta el altisimo piano en que Oscar Collazo sobrevive. Pero . Aqui empiezan mis interro- nuestra historia lo coloca, es su congenita, su diariamente gaciones. Collazo apenas conoce el manejo de un arma. manifiesta bondad. Solamente con el mismo ha sido im- Los dos a quienes la batalla no les permite testimoniar placable Oscar Collazo. Y ese magno pederio de la bondad su future son expertos tiradores. "de punteria letal" describe sobre su persona lo puso — no importa en que momento uno de los participantes a Torresola. Mas, ^Quien no queda de su existencia — en esa condition superior del espiritu pasmado ante esa description de Oscar Collazo, hecha por que distingue al hombre valiente, aun como heroe, en persona el enemigo, cuando se le ha descargado el arma y. sin miedo. in NOBLE PECADO (Por Lolita Lebron) Y asi vivira, sin quiebra posible hasta el fin de sus dias, mi amigo Oscar Collazo. A ti, Oscar Collazo, mi verso va llorando En lagrima infinita que beberan los astros Juan Antonio Corretjer Si la vida te arranca el tormento macabro Guaynabo, Puerto Rico En la mano traidora de los hombres tiranos A 3 de julio de 1976 No asomara la luna su faz en el espacio Y el horizonte todo sera dolor y llanto Habran nubes rojisimas en serial de pecado Y gemiran los vientos asombrados de espanto. El aguila en los aires no se vera volando Y estara entristecida en su lecho expirando, En los senderos libres que la espada ha bordado Habran sombras negrisimas de luto sollozando. Porque si tu, Oscar, Has pecado, fue amando Con el amor mas grande de los amores santos; Si en nombre de ese amor, de ese amor sacrosanto America del Norte estrechara tu mano Absolviendote justo de tu noble pecado; Bolivar y Marti, San Martin, Jorge Washington, Quienes dieron a America un nombre y un sudario (Emblemas que hoy sollozan al verte en el cadalzo) No ocultaran sus rostros ni seran profanados En las voces injustas que su muerte aclamaron, Habran flores y estrellas en cada campanario De los templos de Cristo: El Redentor Amado. La Estatua Libertaria con el credo en sus labios De Paz y Libertad; Extendera su mano Mas hermosa y mas bella a todos sus hermanos Y en los soles de julio el himno americano Sera cancion eterna del mas glorioso canto . ;Salve a ti, tierra mia! clamara el gran soldado Y su verbo bendito besara el lecho patrio Y hara eco en el pueblo que dejo soberano. Mas, si nada pudiera evitar tu calvario IV OSCAR COLLAZO Y tu ultimo latido de amor quedara ahogado El faro de la luz de tus amores patrios No ha de apagarse nunca . y sera cual un astro "El Nacionalismo Personificado", segun el Maestro Albizu, "El Soldado de la Patria por excelencia", segun En cada corazon que no se quiere esclavo . han dicho otros compaiieros. Y tu nombre, Oscar, mi noble hermano Sera beso en mi alma . y calor en mis labios. Es el 20 de enero de 1914, en el Barrio Pajonal de For todos los senderos de mis viajeros pasos Florida, cuando Doiia Trinidad Lopez Davila trae al mundo Llevare tu recuerdo . y orare en tu rosario, al menor de una prole de quince, a Oscar Collazo, siendo Y en pos de los que amas y que tambien yo amo el feliz padre Don Eduardo Collazo Gago. Caminare insesante con valor, sin desmayo Y si caigo . que caiga, tu me daras la mano. A los seis aiios de edad, Oscar Collazo queda huerfano de padre y se va a vivir con su hermano mayor, Salvador, a Jayuya y alii vive hasta la adolescencia.
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