Castro's health prohibits Cuba's freedom
John C. Bersia • The Orlando Sentinel
Friday, March 16, 2007
(MCT)—First, we heard the bizarre "I feel good" announcement by Fidel
Castro as he surprised audiences by calling in to Venezuelan President
Hugo Chavez's radio talk show two week's ago. Then, a Cuban official
said the ailing dictator might return to work soon.
Is all this part of a nightmare? Has the crusty caudillo found a 10th or
11th life? Or, are we witnessing the last gasps of one of the most
persistent, pervasive propaganda machines in history?
Perhaps all of the above.
Castro and his revolution have hung over my entire life. One of my
earliest recollections is of his bearded visage amid discussions of
troubles involving Cuba and the former Soviet Union. "What a frightening
man," I thought in my childish innocence.
With the passage of time, as well as the gaining of education and
experience—during which I listened to multiple accounts of benefits that
Castro has brought Cuban society, particularly in the area of health—I
revisited my earlier thoughts and arrived at this revised conclusion:
What a frightening, egotistical, repressive and disruptive man.
Even if Cuba has enjoyed certain successes under Castro— which I readily
acknowledge—those cannot replace, make up for or rationalize freedom lost.
That Castro has retained a consistently tight grip on Cubans' throats
while indulging his fanciful but failed ideology for all these decades
strikes me as both unfortunate and absurd. In addition, his rule insults
and stifles the creativity, capability and possibilities of Cuban society.
Recently, I wrote about a "perfect storm" for Cuba, a confluence of
catastrophic natural events—such as a mega-hurricane—economic shifts and
political turns that would spawn a much-needed tidal wave of change
across the island. Readers responded by the hundreds. In fact, quite a
few people have stopped me to say how the "perfect storm" scenario fits
into their own dreams.
It cannot happen fast enough.Despite all the talk that Raul Castro would
serve as a catalyst for positive change, the most visible aspect of his
time at the helm has been the donning of an iron glove. Various reports
indicate that repression is on the rise under him. To me, that suggests
he is consolidating his control, not preparing for a Cuban spring.
But such tactics will not gain Raul much time. When the right moment
comes, Cubans will rise. That is the kind of regime change that should
happen, from within.
Fidel certainly knows his people's potential. After all, he inspired
them to action during his revolution, albeit under false pretenses that
evaporated to reveal his communistic ambitions.
But I would urge him to think back to his failed first attempt to seize
power. On trial for that insurrection, he famously said, "La historia me
absolvera"—history will absolve me.
Sorry, but no. Despite his attempts to create the illusion of
absolution, Fidel will receive a judgment from history that mirrors the
harshness of his rule.
http://www.uecrescent.org/articles/stories/public/200703/16/45oo_opinion.html
John C. Bersia • The Orlando Sentinel
Friday, March 16, 2007
(MCT)—First, we heard the bizarre "I feel good" announcement by Fidel
Castro as he surprised audiences by calling in to Venezuelan President
Hugo Chavez's radio talk show two week's ago. Then, a Cuban official
said the ailing dictator might return to work soon.
Is all this part of a nightmare? Has the crusty caudillo found a 10th or
11th life? Or, are we witnessing the last gasps of one of the most
persistent, pervasive propaganda machines in history?
Perhaps all of the above.
Castro and his revolution have hung over my entire life. One of my
earliest recollections is of his bearded visage amid discussions of
troubles involving Cuba and the former Soviet Union. "What a frightening
man," I thought in my childish innocence.
With the passage of time, as well as the gaining of education and
experience—during which I listened to multiple accounts of benefits that
Castro has brought Cuban society, particularly in the area of health—I
revisited my earlier thoughts and arrived at this revised conclusion:
What a frightening, egotistical, repressive and disruptive man.
Even if Cuba has enjoyed certain successes under Castro— which I readily
acknowledge—those cannot replace, make up for or rationalize freedom lost.
That Castro has retained a consistently tight grip on Cubans' throats
while indulging his fanciful but failed ideology for all these decades
strikes me as both unfortunate and absurd. In addition, his rule insults
and stifles the creativity, capability and possibilities of Cuban society.
Recently, I wrote about a "perfect storm" for Cuba, a confluence of
catastrophic natural events—such as a mega-hurricane—economic shifts and
political turns that would spawn a much-needed tidal wave of change
across the island. Readers responded by the hundreds. In fact, quite a
few people have stopped me to say how the "perfect storm" scenario fits
into their own dreams.
It cannot happen fast enough.Despite all the talk that Raul Castro would
serve as a catalyst for positive change, the most visible aspect of his
time at the helm has been the donning of an iron glove. Various reports
indicate that repression is on the rise under him. To me, that suggests
he is consolidating his control, not preparing for a Cuban spring.
But such tactics will not gain Raul much time. When the right moment
comes, Cubans will rise. That is the kind of regime change that should
happen, from within.
Fidel certainly knows his people's potential. After all, he inspired
them to action during his revolution, albeit under false pretenses that
evaporated to reveal his communistic ambitions.
But I would urge him to think back to his failed first attempt to seize
power. On trial for that insurrection, he famously said, "La historia me
absolvera"—history will absolve me.
Sorry, but no. Despite his attempts to create the illusion of
absolution, Fidel will receive a judgment from history that mirrors the
harshness of his rule.
http://www.uecrescent.org/articles/stories/public/200703/16/45oo_opinion.html
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