Why Fidel Castro’s exit probably won’t change Cuba much
Since Fidel Castro announced his resignation earlier this week, Americans have been swimming in a soup of Cold War history. Isn’t this what we’ve been waiting for? Who the hell is Raúl? What does this all amount to?
What it amounts to, boys and girls, is, well…very little, actually.
Fidel has become enigmatic in our culture – he’s a devil in fatigues to some, a rebel against American imperialism to others. He has outlasted countless ridiculous attempts on his life, over four decades of embargo and ten U.S. presidents. You gotta hand to the guy – he hasn’t given up easily.
But what’s next for Cuba? The most widely accepted rumor is that Fidel’s brother, Raúl, is next in line for the dictatorship. He’s currently the acting “president” of Cuba, since taking over from his brother disappeared with tummy troubles a year and a half ago. He’s also the favorite to be picked by Cuba’s National Assembly on Feb. 24.
While many might celebrate the ”great changes” coming to Cuba, we have to remember that Raúl is still a Castro. He has been portrayed as an alcoholic with a bloody streak to boot. Don’t forget that Raúl was carrying out executions (with Che Guevara – makes you rethink that t-shirt, eh?) while his brother was making speeches.
Yes, Raúl might be open to negotiations with the U.S. and he might be willing to make an economic transition like China. Might, might, might. We’re not holding our breath.
The White House is calling Raúl “dictator lite.” Bush has made numerous blanket statements that this is “the beginning of the democratic transition” and claiming that “the United States will help the people of Cuba realize the blessings of liberty.” This is as optimistic as it is vomtastic – and sounds frighteningly like recycled Iraq War rhetoric. Let’s be honest – America’s brand of “liberty” probably sits about as well with Raúl as is it did with his brother.
Fidel incites a lot of mixed reactions – he was big on universal health care and education, but he hated homosexuals and put severe limits on free speech. He’s a relic of the Cold War, but he’s inspired a whole new generation of socialist thinkers in Latin America, including Evo Morales and Hugo Chavez. He’s gone, but his legacy won’t die. It’s fitting, if you think about it.
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cuba doesn’t need to change nearly as much as the US does. the sanctions on cuba are bogus and unlawful…we can’t get cigars, baseball players, or cars from the 50s…lame.
Matt
February 21, 2008 at 11:53 pm
Wow. Is this the only thing that the United States is concerned about? Yes, how we can benefit from Cuba. I read the paper today and the biggest concern on mostly everyone’s mind in the business section is how we can benefit from Cuba in regards to the tourism, automobile, and nickle industry. Don’t mind the fact that although the US supposedly holds fast to their embargo, they still do multi-million transactions in agriculture with Cuba. What I think is lame is that some people cannot be sensitive enough, at least not for one momemnt to think about the social welfare of other people, but instead focus on their own interests. Never mind that these people have been brain washed for decades by the communist regime. Never mind that they have literally become prisoners in their own country, because they are physically not allowed to leave the country and mentally, any liberal thinking is repressed. Never mind. All we are concerned about is cigars, baseball players, and cars.
Ivette
February 22, 2008 at 12:59 am
My comment was intended to be a bit tongue-in-cheek, Ivette. Yes, the people in Cuba have been oppressed and with Fidel out, there may yet be hope for them in the near future. (Cubans are not the only ones being brainwashed by their government *cough*gulf of tonkin*cough*war on terror*cough*) When it happens, I think America being able to tap into a wealth of athletic talent in Cuba for the sport of baseball will go a long way in patching up any differences or grudges felt between the two countries.
Matthew Leib
February 24, 2008 at 9:22 am