Fidel Castro Death Watch

The Internet has been on fire with still unconfirmed rumors of the death of Fidel Castro. I posted an article on August 18th with the title Fidel Castro Dead at 81 and have been amazed at the surge in traffic that posting produced.

No doubt that Fidel Castro is hated with a passion by members of the Miami Cuban American community. Castro is still high on the US government hate list as well. We will never forgive him for taking out Batista and for kicking our ass at the Bay of Pigs.

The Miami police have been on alert for some time as they brace for a round of wild celebrations whenever Castro’s death is confirmed, whether it is tonight or one or two years from now.

When I was a sophomore in college I had a roommate, a very nice quite guy, who was from Cuba. Under Batista’s rule his family had been one of the privileged rich Cuban families with extensive business interests. When Castro sized power his family lost everything. From being a rich kid he was almost overnight reduced to struggling to find funds to pay his college tuition and expenses.

The rich Cubans as well as the US were stunned that Castro was able to overpower the US supported Batista. Batista was as corrupt as they come but US business could do business with him.

The US has never forgiven Castro for taking down our Cuban puppet. When it suits our interests a dictator seems to be perfectly OK.

Whenever Castro does die he proved beyond any doubt that he is a tough survivor. He has outlasted the administrations of ten US Presidents. He gained from the Bay of Pigs fiasco (from the US point of view, it was a great victory for Castro) a pledge by the US to the Russians that the US would never invade Cuba.

We have lived up to that pledge but supposedly have been involved in several covert assassination attempts which obviously failed.

As I have said. No matter what your views are on Castro and how you might celebrate his death you have to admit that he is one tough hombre.

Under Castro, Cuba has developed an excellent health care system. Their infant mortality rate is lower (better) than the US rate. Cuba doctors are highly trained and in demand by countries in Latin America.

Under Castro, Cuba has developed a highly successful athletic  program. For example, Cuban boxers and baseball teams do well in world class competition. The economy has had a tough time of it, partially due to a long lasting embargo by the US.  

Castro leaves behind a very strange legacy. Under Castro, Cubans have had to toe the line. His line. If you said anything against his government bad things could, and probably would, happen to you and to family.

But that is the way with all dictators. They are tough guys with very thin skins. Once in power they are absolutely ruthless in doing whatever they deem necessary to remain in power. Even to the point of putting a bullet in your head or putting you into a windowless cell in a dismal prison if you get in their way.

Castro is a thin skinned dictator with a big voice. The passion and length of his speeches are legendary. Fidel Castro. A bigger than life actor on the world stage. When he finally does die even those who hate him will probably miss him.

No one will be able to replace Fidel Castro as one you can hate so much it feels good.

   

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