According to the AP, Raul has taken over the reins at least for now.
Could this be the start of something new for Cuba? Or more of the same?
As of 2/28/05: 101 pounds since December 7, 2004 OFFICIAL THREE-MONTH COUNT: 112 pounds on March 9, 2005 OFFICIAL SIX-MONTH COUNT: 142 pounds on June 8, 2005 OFFICIAL ONE YEAR COUNT: 187 pounds on December 7, 2005 As of 2/27/06: 202 pounds "I've lost a heavyweight" As of 7/31/06: 224 pounds
Cuban-Americans are throwing a party celebrating Fidel's ill health a little prematurely, IMO. I'm kinda scared to find out what will happen if he lives....
"Programming today is a race between software engineers striving to build bigger and better idiot-proof programs, and the Universe trying to produce bigger and better idiots. So far, the Universe is winning." --Rick Cook
Originally posted by rinbergCuban-Americans are throwing a party celebrating Fidel's ill health a little prematurely, IMO. I'm kinda scared to find out what will happen if he lives....
Well, he's not coming to Miami to take 'em out - I think we discussed that here
(edited by AWArulz on 1.8.06 1004) We'll be back right after order has been restored here in the Omni Center.
Actually, I was envisioning riots throughout Little Cuba, but I didn't make clear whom I was afraid of. Sorry 'bout that.
"Programming today is a race between software engineers striving to build bigger and better idiot-proof programs, and the Universe trying to produce bigger and better idiots. So far, the Universe is winning." --Rick Cook
Originally posted by rinbergCuban-Americans are throwing a party celebrating Fidel's ill health a little prematurely, IMO. I'm kinda scared to find out what will happen if he lives....
I wonder, if/when he dies, there will be a mass exodus of Cubans back to the island and what effect (if any) that sort of migration would have on Florida?
Also, on a completely unrelated tangent, might the death of Castro (and possible subsequent lifting of the embargo) swing Florida Democratic? It's been my understanding that the issue keeping a huge number of Florida's Hispanics voting Republican is the GOP's refusal to lift the embargo (a stance which Castro haters fall in line with). What kind of changes (if any) might Raul bring? Also, who will replace Raul?
Our stance with Castro for over 40 years positions us poorly re Cuba when he goes. What will happen seems up in the air to many experts. I doubt Raul will have the hold Fidel does. Remember, as in the USSR, this isn't communism but a cult of personality.
Originally posted by DrDirt Remember, as in the USSR, this isn't communism but a cult of personality.
The USSR was a cult of personality? Whose?
As of 2/28/05: 101 pounds since December 7, 2004 OFFICIAL THREE-MONTH COUNT: 112 pounds on March 9, 2005 OFFICIAL SIX-MONTH COUNT: 142 pounds on June 8, 2005 OFFICIAL ONE YEAR COUNT: 187 pounds on December 7, 2005 As of 2/27/06: 202 pounds "I've lost a heavyweight" As of 7/31/06: 224 pounds
Clearly, both the USSR and Chinese PRC states were at one time cults of personality. I think you can see that from the HUGE posters, statues and images of Lenin, Stalin, Mao and others. Of course, Saddam used that. Lenin laid in public for like 50 years after he died, visible.
Not so much in later years. Brezzie tried to put his mug up, but it wasn't the same - same with Choi en Lai.
We'll be back right after order has been restored here in the Omni Center.
The funny thing is, Fidel actually doesn't have anything named for him or any statues or anything. You want a real cult of personality, check out this guy:
Originally posted by MoeGatesAs for Cubans returning? You've got to be kidding me. Visit, sure. Start up businesses, sure. Retire there? Maybe. Live there? Not a chance.
I personally know at least three Cubans living in South Florida whose families would like to return to the island under less oppressive circumstances. I have no idea how accurate a reflection that is on all the state's Cuban population, but lived in South Florida for nearly two decades until recently and met many, many Cubans who spoke fondly of their native land but had nasty things to say about its ruler.
EDIT: None of this is to say Fidel's removal, by death or otherwise, would all of a sudden make Cuba home to freedom and combatent of oppression. I know a little bit about Raul, but more important that that, given Raul's age, is who follows him.
then again, TheBucsFan- Fidel was really old... 20 years ago, so; who knows if Raul doesnt have half a century of rule in him. Then again, we dont know if he wont get knocked out of power the first week Fidel is gone.
"...He eats what he wants, and if he wants to eat Rey Mysterio- he will!" -JBL on Mark Henry
Originally posted by WhoTookMyHonor?then again, TheBucsFan- Fidel was really old... 20 years ago, so; who knows if Raul doesnt have half a century of rule in him. Then again, we dont know if he wont get knocked out of power the first week Fidel is gone.
Raul is 75, Fidel is a week shy of his 80th birthday, so I really don't think we need to worry about Raul staying in power for long (assuming he does become the head of state after Fidel). A much more likely scenario, I'd think, would be Raul not being able to maintain peace or the trust of the Cuban people.
Incidently, the AP released a story on life in Cuba that I thought was pretty good. It points out some of the good things Cubans enjoy that keep them there, including free health care and education and a stable government.
On the other hand, it doesn't offer much of a dissident view, make casual but off-hand comments that "some" think the idea of Cuba as a democracy is a joke while allowing a Havana park cleaner who admits to sleeping in the shed where he keeps his tools to criticize a capitlist society where some have to work two jobs to get by. So take from the story what you will, I just thought it made me see the country in a very slightly different light.
I mention it more because these quotes make me think that Fidel's death, when it happens, will bring a *very* trying time to Cuba:
"There is only one Fidel Castro," said (Havana park cleaner Froilan Mezquia). "He is the one who was born with the ideals that made Cuba."
...
"Raul Castro will give no speeches until Fidel Castro decides it's time," Mezquia said. "I think even after he dies, Fidel Castro will still be in charge."
And, if you have "free" health care (sorry for the scare quotes, but you're using free in a different context than I understand), an education and a stable government, how could there possibly be any dissidents?
I go agree on one point--it will be pretty crazy and could potentially be chaotic when Castro does die (whether it is soon or in 60 years). A colleague of mine is from the USSR, and she said that when Stalin died, the general sentiment was 'what do we do now?' And, the people who were happy about it kept that joy to themselves, needless to say.
"Teach children that they have great potential because they are human." -Warrior
Originally posted by CorajudoAnd, if you have "free" health care (sorry for the scare quotes, but you're using free in a different context than I understand), an education and a stable government, how could there possibly be any dissidents?
Well it's a question of what you value more: health care and education or freedom of speech and the right to protest. I don't think the two are necessarily mutually exclusive, but in the case of Cuba, citizens are given outstanding doses of one and virtually none of the other. It's not really a trade I would make, but if I was had throat cancer and the prospect of free treatment like the guy in the story I quoted, I might be a bit more inclined to reconsider.
The story mentions the stability of Cuba's communist system; I think there really is something to be said for that. Now the only way you get the kind of stability Cuba "enjoys" is by having the same ruling party for half a century, and you generally don't get the same rulers for 50 years via political discourse and the democratic process. So again, it's a tradeoff I wouldn't want, and can't even really understand (giving up individual rights for the comfort of knowing what they're waking up to every morning), but hey whatever works for them. Besides, after 50 years, it's not like these people know what life without Castro in charge is like anyway, right?
Hrm, srry TheBucsFan- I guess I didnt really know Raul was that old (tee-hee?) well, in any case- we can agree that his rule; if it comes to be- will not last. Im thinking he will have to flee from attempts on his life; he is not nearlly the icon that Fidel is, and the people will surely not have him.
On a slightly unrelated note; I wonder how Fidel Castro will be seen once he's just an entry in the history books... not just by the U.S. but by the Cubans themselves.
"...He eats what he wants, and if he wants to eat Rey Mysterio- he will!" -JBL on Mark Henry
Thread ahead: Mike Wallace interviews President Ahmadinejad Next thread: Lieberman Loses Primary, Running as Independent Previous thread: The most costly piece of punctuation in Canada
Larry Flynt Dem 14,673 Gary Coleman Ind 12,195 Mary "Mary Carey" Cook Ind 9,461 If the Midget Porn industry had put aside their differences and gotten their act together, they could have garnered 36,329 votes (2,214 more if they recruited Ange...