To say goodbye can be accomplished with just a brief note left on the table, or by a telephone call where we say our final farewells. In the preparations to leave the country, at the end of a relationship, or of life itself, there are people who try to control the smallest details, draw up those limits that oblige the ones they leave behind to follow their path. Some leave slamming the door behind them, and others demand before taking off the great tribute they think they deserve. There are those who equitably distribute all their worldly goods, and also beings with so much power they change the constitution of a country so that no one can undo their work when they're gone.
The preparations for the Sixth Congress of the Cuban Communist Party and its sessions in the Palace of Conventions have been like a great public requiem for Fidel Castro. The scene of his farewell, the meticulous ceremonial demanded by him and realized -- sparing no expense -- by his younger brother. In the organizational excesses of the military parade, held on April 16, was seen the intention to "spare no expense" in a final tribute to someone who could not be there on the podium. It was clear that the announcement of the names of who would assume the highest positions in the Cuban Communist Party would not be read by the man who decided the course of this nation for almost fifty years. But he sat at the head table of the event to validate, with his presence, the transfer of power to Raul Castro. Being there was like coming -- still alive -- to the reading of his own will.
Then came the standing ovation, the tears of this or that delegate to the party conclave, and the phrases of eternal commitment to the old man with the almost white beard. Through the television screen some of us sensed the crackling of dried-up flowers or the sound of shovelfuls of dirt. It remains to be see if the General-cum-President can sustain the heavy legacy he has received, or if under the watchful supervision of his Big Brother he would prefer not to contradict him with fundamental reforms. It's just left to check the authenticity of Fidel Castro's departure from public life, and whether his substitute will choose to continue disappointing us, or to reject him.
Yoani's blog, Generation Y, can be read here in English translation.
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OutFidelity? And don’t forget to drop the keys on the table, on your way through.
“no one can undo their work when they're gone”.
That’ll be the day, kiddo. For if true, how the heck would we ever progress.
“the heavy legacy”
Fortunately for all, the bad that we do tends to die with us. Its only the good that we do, that can achieve a life of its own.
While Stalinism/Leninism may be Bunkum, Marx was still right.
I say, let technology guide The Human Race to it's Manifest Destiny; I say, Up With The Proliteriate, Make Everybody Bourgeoise (sp?); I say, Demand Nothing Less than a Global Slacker Paradise!
Viva La Revolucione!
People, remember, you are not writing for information isolated Cubans but for free world people with access to information!!!
Before castro-batista Cuban worked had speech freedom, association freedom, strike freedom, one the best social laws suit in the world, one of the best health care system in the world (castro just inherited it, he didn’t created it0, one of the best universal and free education system in the world.
It is an usual mistake and one of the preferred propaganda strategies used by castrofascism to try to compare castrofascism with batista when they are just the same thing. Batista initiated the 60 years long destruction of Cuba as nation by destroying democracy….. castro made the rest.
The week embargo implemented by USA on castro never worked because the world refused to join the “effort” and mainly because the huge subside of $5000.000.000 year sent by soviets for more than 40 years. The natural question about the embargo-subside thing would be “Why this enormous subside did not transform Cuba into a economical potence????”
Fidel risked his life many times for Cuba. He has no personal wealth. And Cuba as a nation has political sovereignty because Che, Camillo and Fidel fought the good fight and showed it can be done even within reach of what Jose Martí called the "colossus of the North".
Listening to Americans casually discuss Cuba, ignoring decades of embargo, defamation, and, of course, the horrific grossly illegal US torture center at Guantanemo Bay is just mind-boggling.
Castro defended and supported the forces fighting apartheid in South Africa, while US administrations did brisk business in the exploitation of Africans. Castro sent volunteers to fight white supremacy on the ground while the US and NATO sent weapons to a pack of genocidal, nuclear-armed lunatics.
Fidel was a product of his time, but more than most he helped bring an end to the old times where a pack of English, French, Spanish, Dutch and Americans sat around dividing up the darker nations as if world domination was their birthright.
So, whatever his many failings, Fidel Castro was right about one thing: History will absolve him. It already has.
Never before USA could get so easily Cuba’s richness and become Cuban’s destiny than under castrofascism. Thanks to castro “brilliant” economical doctrine all majors industries in Cuba vanished…… casually this industries reappeared in Florida by the hand of Cuban exiles; in such way all USA could envy and desire of Cuba was delivered by castro; Tourism industry, sugar industry, citric industry, cattle industry, agricultural industry, commerce industry, media industry, etc, etc, etc.
Financial capital is the first thin totalitarian regimes lose and human capital is the second one. Both of them fled Cuba to USA since the very beginning and still continue to flee in same direction. Almost a million Cubans in USA sending $2000.000.000 yearly makes Cuba totally dependable economically of USA……… and politically, today USA decides how much and when Cubans in the island eats, dress or take medicines.
But countries like this don't stand a chance. If they don't fall in line they will be starved and humiliated politically and economically until they play ball. Fidel gets credit for refusing the US hegemonic goals for so many years but at what cost.
Cuba will eventually open up and become a clone of Dominican Republic and Panama. A corrupt country with no identity and/or pride.
So Ms. Sanchez, be careful what you wish for. This freedom of expression and economic gain you are looking for will come with a heavy price.
Castro was a product of a different time, but he helped end the world system of white supremacy and colonialism. Cuba is sovereign and can hardly be blamed that the larger world it inhabits still runs of capitalism. No, Cuba doesn't exist in outer space. Yes, Castro should have passed on executive powers ages ago. But no — he's not a goon or a tyrant or corrupt.
And I thank him for his good works. Too bad the history of the USA trying to assassinate him isn't mentioned, or the continual war, sabotage, terrorism that Cuba has been subjected to for the crime of tossing out the pimps and American mafia.
History has already absolved Fidel.
Castro is a white supremacist that never allowed a black Cuban into the power circle he created and kept Cubans prisons full of black Cubans and created the bigger black opposition ever a Cuban regime had. Today 90% of regime's opposites are black people.
Castro is the worst goon and the bloodiest tyrant ever our country met, he has hold the power killing tens of thousands, incarcerating hundreds of thousands and making millions emigrants.
No one has tried to "assassinate" castro but many Cubans have tried to make justice by killing him.
Burn all of the Christmas cards from FARC.
Put a bullet in the head of any prisoners that may tarnish his image.
Burn all records that may tarnish his image.
Pass down the for profit tourist industry he created to his family.
Have all of that moneyhe stole and hid in Switzerland sent back
to distribute to his family.
Farewell and good riddance to a thieving ,murderous despot!!! If there was any justice in the world, he would be stood up against a post and shot, just like the tens of thousands of people he murdered over the years. They could also just throw him into a dank prison cell and deny him any treatment until he dies, it worked well for him over the years.
Because he copied the “absolution” thing from hitler????
It was hitler the first that used the sentence “history will absolve me…… castro, as good fascist, just copied the sentence and even copied the moment to speak it out: a trial where he was accused for a criminal deed.
History in castors case is still going on. He still has the power of add some criminal deeds more to his huge collection. Everyone can be sure that history will classify castro just as he is: a criminal second class tyrant that used the power of imperialism to size the power and the terror of state to keep it. There is too much killing in castro’s records (a lot more than in batista’s and Pinochet’s records together) as to history absolve him …….. one thing is sure: fascism lovers in the world will continue worshiping bloody fascists as castro or hitler but Cubans will condemn him for ever after his regime pass away for good., in same way Spaniards condemn Franco and Italians Mussolini.
Should it be
"Fidel Castro... Managing His Own Farewell"
or
Fidel Castro... Good Riddance!
R/ PRONESE