posted
Anybody surprised by this news event? He's been in power since 1959! For more details just look it up in both Yahoo News or the CNN website. Check out a recent Wikipedia article edit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fidel_Castro#Retirement
Here's some trivia to share with you: Castro persecuted a cartoonist who was very critical of his regime.Months after coming to power this cartoonist fled to the U.S.A. and stayed until his death in 1998.This cartoonist is none other than the creator of the popular MAD Magazine feature Spy VS.Spy-Antonio Prohias!!
Registered: Oct 2003
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Teronna
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posted
Well. I used to think that the end of Castro's rule would mean democracy for Cuba, but now that his brother is taking over? I'm not so sure.
Though I did think that the only thing that would make him give up the presidency would be his death.
From: Chicago | Registered: Oct 2007
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posted
I don't know a lot about Cuban politics, but I have a hunch that brother Castro won't last long. Fidel was an icon (for better or for worse), but his brother seems only to have the name in common. He doesn't have the people's fear or respect. I think Cuba is probably in for some major changes -- sooner, rather than later.
Registered: Aug 2003
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posted
Jorge, I imagine you have much more knowledge/info on this than I do. Still, as I thought about this today, I was shocked that he actually officially resigned. Now, don't get me wrong, he will no doubt remain a power behind the throne. Still, how many despotic, totalitarian dicatators have actually "stepped down" voluntarily? Stalin died. Mao died. Brezhnev died. Hitler died. Mugabe died. And so on. And yet Fidel Castro steps down. It's a remarkable event, given the lack of historical antecedent.
-------------------- ...but you don't have a moment where you're sitting there staring at a table full of twenty-five characters with little name signs that say, "Hi, my superpower is confusing you!"
From: Chicago, IL | Registered: Jul 2004
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posted
I believe stepping down is a tactical decision by Castro. He has probably determined that by stepping down (following the recent Chinese model) he can continue to control the direction of the country from behind the scenes. He will continue to be a member of the "parliament" as well as the politboro and central council. From those positions of power he will still wield enourmous influence.
I expect little change initially whether Raul is elevated to the Presidency or Carlos Lago or one of the other 2nd generation communists is moved up. What I will be looking for is if and when they decide to allow students, who have been agitating for it, to study abroad and to have access to the internet unfettered. Once this happens, it will be the beginning of the end for this brutual regime.
-------------------- "Hey Jim! Get Mon out of the Zone!! And...when do we get Condo back?"
From: Paragon City on patrol | Registered: Jul 2003
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posted
Vee, not defending Castro or anything (he's evil). But I know a few guys that were able to go to Europe for jobs after college. They studied IT (information technology) and because Cuba didn't have many jobs to offer they were given the oppurtunity to move to Europe. Belgium specifically and I think some in Spain. Ofcourse they got married and began families and have no wish to return.
I also think Fidel will be runnings things behind the scenes. But Fidel was a very tough smart man. I don't think the other communist will be able to replace Castro effectively. Atleast I hope not.
Vee, you were born there right?
From: Tampa | Registered: Mar 2004
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posted
I disagree with none of the assessments of Castro here, but I would point out that even without Raul, it's not an all-or-nothing scenario, Castros/communists-or-democracy.
Remember that Castro rose to power by overthrowing a US-backed dictator, too. For most Cubans, as I understand it, life didn't change that much; only one elite replaced another. The old elite, and their children and grandchildren, waiting in the wings in south Florida do not give the impression that they any more demcracy-oriented than any other Cuban regime; they seem to expect they will just power-boat back to Cuba someday and resume their own regime.
From: Vancouver, BC, Canada | Registered: Dec 2003
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posted
Things did change between one dictator and another. There is no elite at all. The thing is even the people who weren't elite fell down a few rungs. My family wasn't rich in Cuba. Lower middle class or right above poor. That changed. It got worse. It got worse for everybody.
There is nothing to strive for. Atleast poor people here(or in other countries) have hope to escape that situation. In Cuba there is no hope.
In Florida there isn't an old elite. Not everyone who left Cuba was rich. Infact very few were. The Cubans in Florida are people who came here with nothing and have done quite well for themselves.
I actually don't ever want to go to Cuba. I was born here and am quite happy. I don't even want to visit. Bad taste in my mouth and all of that. I don't know anyone who wants to move back. But I do have family over there...and I would like to see them stop sufferring. Because when we talk to them...they tell us they are sufferring. And all my friends with family over there have the same story.
From: Tampa | Registered: Mar 2004
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posted
I'd love to go to Cuba...once the dictatorship is over, Fidel or no Fidel. I just hope that whatever happens and whoever is in power, that the transition to democratic rule is a nonviolent one. I teach a seventh grade Geography class, and it's a little depressing to teach that all of Latin America is (at least on paper) democratic except for Cuba. So much progress from civil war and authoritarian rule in Latin America since the 80s, and none in Cuba (or Haiti, but that's a different thread). I wonder what Kennedy or any of the other presidents that Fidel has outlasted would say if they knew he would still be in power through the 21st century.
-------------------- The only consistent feature of all of your dissatisfying relationships is you.
Don't judge me!
Registered: Aug 2003
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posted
I agree armsfalloffboy. I just want Cuba to have a real democracy. They don't have to be best friends with the USA. Infact they are closer to Europe who still does business with them.
As for non-violent revolution? In Portugal they had one of those. I think it's called Revolution of Flowers? The Cuban people are just terrified to revolt because Fidel has killed so many of them.
From: Tampa | Registered: Mar 2004
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posted
You guys should become Canadian we can vacation in Cuba all we want. It's relatively cheap too. Funny that none of the poor Cubans are allowed into the 5 star resorts with the Canadians and Europeans.
I'm thinking of a prohibition era newsreel where it showed Babe Ruth wintering at a Havana casino pounding back the rum while shooting some craps (gotta keep that swing going in the off-season). I bet you that normal Cubans weren't allowed at the that resort either.
I find the whole execution of communist revolution hypocritical. Just an excuse to replace a bunch of Sugar Barons and their Old Church Allies with a new party of Communist cronies.
But maybe Castro providing universal education has provided the average Cuban the academic and philosophical tools to realize that the stated goals of the revolution are not what it has produced. I'm pretty sure that you can't fool people that are educated. I know there's been recent reports of the younger educated class asking difficult to answer questions to the Cuban officials. If this is the case, some of them are ready for a real democracy.
From: Canada | Registered: Apr 2005
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posted
Tamper Lad, I agree with what you say. For the most part Cuba is well educated. Though I've seen some Cubans arrive here in Tampa that are not as educated as I thought and are a bit trashy.
One of my cousins have just arrived a few months back. She said the education is good but it is not as good as you would think. Some people get a pass no matter what. Much like American education some people who don't deserve to graduate are just pushed through the system. (her mother is a teacher and she is a nurse) She also said she agrees about some of them being trashy. She said the combination of being poor and desperate for so long affects some in bad ways. Doesn't matter what education they received. Which I can totally understand.
But compared to most Latin American countries Cuba has very good education.
From: Tampa | Registered: Mar 2004
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posted
Anybody care to comment on my little bit of trivia? Well let me tell you that Castro is the type with no sense of humor,no interest in press freedoms,and no appetite for criticism or artful satire!
Do you find it odd for a national leader like Fidel Castro to relentlessly persecute cartoonist like Antonio Prohias?
All this can found in the 2001 book Spy VS.Spy-The Complete Casebook along with Prohias' pre-Spy cartoons!
Registered: Oct 2003
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posted
Red, thanks for the trivia. I had no idea that the creator of Spy VS Spy was a Cuban exile. But no, I don't find it odd that Castro relentlessly persecuted him and others. Castro and his cohorts have never permitted any sort of dissent. Making fun of him, his family or the government has always been considered a crime against the state in Castro's Cuba.
-------------------- "Hey Jim! Get Mon out of the Zone!! And...when do we get Condo back?"
From: Paragon City on patrol | Registered: Jul 2003
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Funny that none of the poor Cubans are allowed into the 5 star resorts with the Canadians and Europeans.
