Worn out from nearly a half-century of murder, pillage, rapine, and torture, Fidel Castro is finally ready for a break. The stress of sacking and looting the former island paradise, putting people into prison for trifling offenses, paying homage to revolutionary thugs and crushing dissidents has finally gotten to Castro, who has undergone surgery for a bleeding colon. For the first time in 47 years, Castro has "temporarily" relinquished his tyrannical authority in favor of his brother Raul, who apparently is set up to succeed him.
However, in a mood of cautious optimism, the Associated Press reports that the Maximum Leader is a long way from meeting his Maker (to use a subversive bourgeoise metaphor). According to AP reporter Vanessa Arrington, "Parliament Speaker Ricardo Alarcon said the Cuban leader is known for fighting to the very end and that his 'final moment is still very far away,' the government's Prensa Latina [i.e., TASS] news service reported."
Well, that settles it: if Cuba's ministry of propaganda says full recovery is in the cards, then it's definitely curtains for Fidel. Even the nail-biters on the left acknowledge this as they tremble for the poor sheep of Cuba who now will be bereft of their Beloved Shepherd. Like orphaned children, the Cuban people face a frightful and uncertain future:
But the revolution is doomed. When Ronald Reagan addressed the British Parliament at the Palace of Westminster in 1982, he spoke of "the march of freedom and democracy which will leave Marxism-Leninism on the ash-heap of history as it has left other tyrannies which stifle the freedom and muzzle the self-expression of the people." 26 years later, the Soviet Union is dead, Eastern Europe is free, and the march continues. The bastions of Communism are islands under seige. While we may (and should) hope that the Maximum Leader will make his peace with the Maker Whom he has denied by his actions all his adult life, we also can (and should) hope that the ash-heap will not have to wait long for him and everything he has stood for.
However, in a mood of cautious optimism, the Associated Press reports that the Maximum Leader is a long way from meeting his Maker (to use a subversive bourgeoise metaphor). According to AP reporter Vanessa Arrington, "Parliament Speaker Ricardo Alarcon said the Cuban leader is known for fighting to the very end and that his 'final moment is still very far away,' the government's Prensa Latina [i.e., TASS] news service reported."
Well, that settles it: if Cuba's ministry of propaganda says full recovery is in the cards, then it's definitely curtains for Fidel. Even the nail-biters on the left acknowledge this as they tremble for the poor sheep of Cuba who now will be bereft of their Beloved Shepherd. Like orphaned children, the Cuban people face a frightful and uncertain future:
Talk of Castro's mortality was taboo until June 23, 2001, when he fainted during a speech in the sun. Although Castro quickly recovered, many Cubans understood for the first time that their leader would eventually die. [Emphasis added.]Yes, lovingly sheltered for half a century from death, disease and starvation on their revolutionary island paradise, the Cuban people are now suddenly left to face the loss of the Dear Leader they thought would live forever. They certainly had a right to think El Supremo would live forever, seeing how he has long since surpassed the measly life expectancy of the average Cuban political prisoner. But never fear: already the sheepdogs are out in force to calm the flock. "Cuba's Communist government tried to impose a sense of normalcy Tuesday, its first day in 47 years without Fidel Castro in charge." Read: the goon squad is on the loose. Consider the admission of this young goon squad rookie, whose candor only youth, inexperience and little wit can excuse: "'We've been asked to keep things normal here, and to make sure that the revolution continues,' said Daniel, a young social worker [emphasis added]."
But the revolution is doomed. When Ronald Reagan addressed the British Parliament at the Palace of Westminster in 1982, he spoke of "the march of freedom and democracy which will leave Marxism-Leninism on the ash-heap of history as it has left other tyrannies which stifle the freedom and muzzle the self-expression of the people." 26 years later, the Soviet Union is dead, Eastern Europe is free, and the march continues. The bastions of Communism are islands under seige. While we may (and should) hope that the Maximum Leader will make his peace with the Maker Whom he has denied by his actions all his adult life, we also can (and should) hope that the ash-heap will not have to wait long for him and everything he has stood for.
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