Castro After 50 Years - "Viva La Revolucion?" By Andrew L. Jaffee, July 28, 2003	Home   Search   Forum   Terms

You say you want a revolution, well, you know
We all wanna change the world

You tell me that its evolution, well, you know
We all wanna change the world

But when you talk about destruction
Don't you know that you can count me out...

You say you've got a real solution, well, you know
We'd all love to see the plan...

But if you goin' carrying pictures of Chairman Mao
You ain't gonna make it with anyone anyhow...

- John Lennon

I wonder if Fidel Castro ever listened to the Beatles. Think he ever listened to Revolution? How about Back in the U.S.S.R.? If he did, he didn't get it... or didn't like what he heard. Cuba officially celebrated 50 years of Castro's rule on Saturday. So what's to celebrate? If Cuba were such a "paradise," then why do thousands of its people risk their lives every year to flee to the United States?

The "communist" Cuban economy is a disaster, and has lost the artificial subsidies of the disintegrated Soviet bloc. Cuba is one of the poorest countries in the Americas. If not for tourism and money sent by Cuban expatriates, there would be complete economic collapse. Just as Castro insists on keeping stifling control of his peoples' economy, he also insists on suppressing their political activities.

Castro executed three Cubans for trying to escape their "worker's paradise" in April. El Jefe ("the chief," a.k.a., Fidel) jailed 75 poets, journalists, economists and other dissidents recently because they dared to express political opposition. These moves have sparked worldwide condemnation of Castro, even from left-leaning groups like Amensty International, who said:

The increasing number of people jailed for peacefully exercising their rights to freedom of expression, clearly demonstrates the level to which the government will go in order to weaken the political opposition and suppress dissidents.

Despite all the evidence of Castro's megalomania, he has his limousine-liberal defenders like Hollywood actor Danny Glover ("Intellectuals rally behind Cuba"). The European Union (EU) has long been sympathetic to Castro and an "economic lifeline" to Cuba. But Castro is so arrogant that he bites the hand that feeds his people. This is what he said about the EU on Saturday:

Cuba does not need the help of the European Union to survive... [The EU is] A group of old colonial powers historically responsible for slave trafficking, looting and even the extermination of entire peoples.

Castro is one of those people who just doesn't get it. He'll see his own people suffer rather than giving up power. Hopefully the future holds better things for the Cuban people. "Viva La Revolucion?"