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As you may have heard by now, the big news this week is Fidel Castro’s resignation as leader of Cuba. Castro has been in power since 1959 (we’ve had ten presidents since then!), and many thought he would continue to rule until he passed away, rather than ever resigning.
America has cut off all contact with Cuba since Castro’s rise to power, which means his announcement is a huge turning point for a country that once almost brought us to the brink of nuclear war with the Soviet Union.
Beginning in 1953, Castro led a guerrilla movement against the Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista, who at the time was using violence to suppress a rapidly-growing resistance made up primarily of students and other middle and upper class Cubans. Batista had begun to suspend certain constitutional rights and censor the media, even closing the strongly anti-Batista University of Havana in 1956.
Castro, along with his brother Raul and other revolutionaries such as Ernesto “Che” Guevara, finally overthrew Batista in 1959. Castro took over and promised a constitution and democratic elections, but soon began to practice his own form of communist dictatorship, straining Cuba’s already tenuous relationship with the US.
Castro started to get cozy with the Soviet Union, a major US enemy at the time, so President Eisenhower officially broke off relations with Cuba in 1961 by establishing an embargo, which basically meant that Americans couldn’t do any business with Cuba at all.
After Cuba allowed the Soviet Unionto build missile launching sites just 90 miles off the coast of America (known as the Cuban Missile Crisis), President Kennedy expanded the embargo, going so far as to prevent Americans from traveling to Cuba. The majority of this embargo is still in effect today–as American citizens we are technically allowed to travel to
Cuba under the modified embargo, but can not legally spend any money there (kind of hard to do on a vacation…)
Many people (including Cuban exiles) see Castro as a terrible dictator, no better than his predecessor Batista. However, many Cubans see him as a charismatic leader who gave them
universal health care and other quality-of-life improvements.
The American embargo actually strengthened his cause in many ways–any problems in Cuba could be conveniently blamed on the unfair treatment of Cuba by those awful American capitalists, allowing Castro to avoid taking responsibility.
The end of Castro’s era could be a major turning point in Cuba’s history, and has the potential to alter America’s long-standing relationship with the country. However, it has been announced that Fidel’s brother Raul (you may remember him from the original Cuban
revolution) will be taking over, a move which many people see as a way for Fidel to continue leading the country from behind the scenes, in spite of his ailing health.
Only time will tell what happens post-Fidel–some think Raul will attempt to mimic the Chinese practice of state-sponsored Capitalism, while others think that he lacks the charisma of his brother and will have to make major changes to avoid another uprising.
Either way, this is an important story to keep an eye on in the upcoming months.
8 Comments
Many people see Castro as a dependable ruler and the U.S has left out a lot of its own questionable activities towards Cuba when it speaks of “terrible dictators”. Like every government there are positive and negative things that emerge from policy. At least Cuba elected Castro, continually, as opposed to Bush who didn’t even win the U.S. elections. Before blaming everything on Castro look at the positive things he has done for the country. Cuba produces more doctors every year then any other Latin American nation. It has the healthiest economy, the best health care system in the Western Hemisphere and an advanced education system that rivals Canada’s and the United States.
“At least Cuba elected Castro, continually…” That is, by far, the most ignorant comment I have ever heard made on Cuban politics. I am a 20 year old Cuban-American from Miami, having been educated in the best institution in South Florida and by a deeply politically aware family I know this to be totally false. How can any self-proclaimed “politically minded” person ever utter such blasphemy? Fidel Castro is a cruel and hateful tyrant. His rule in Cuba is not one that was democratically achieved, rather taken un-justly! The people of Cuba have suffered more than any of you can imagine. You will never understand what it is like to have your home, your work, your LIFE taken from you from one day to the next. Not even I can, and my family LIVED it. It is disgusting to see such ignorance rampant in the world about Fidel, Che Guevara and communism. It’s very easy to live in a free country, and play the part of a revolutionary (as so many like to come off as with their Che Guevara t shirts). Do you even know what Che Guvera, Fidel and communism stand for? It isn’t possible, because if you did, you stand for murder, hatred and the deprivation of humanity. Do a little research, speak to the REAL Cubans and then maybe can you give an informed opinion.
healthiest economy???
oh ok i see… of course, so that’s why cubans espace from cuba and risk their lives coming in a boat all the way to miami right?? because of cuba’s healthy economy… right becayse you know, that’s what any normal human being would do, escape from a country with a healthy economy… hahahah OMG… igorance is taking all over the world…
and.. what about the doctors.. so here is the deal, cuban doctors are emmigrating to Venezuela, and let me tell you, as someone who has actually BEEN to a cuban doctor… their education is not the best, and they are certainly not well prepared! There have been lots of patients in Venezuela who have died because of the inexperience of the doctors that came from Cuba… Not trying to offend here, just sayin’ that the situation their country is going through is not the best, and I certainly hope that they soon establish a democracy and have the freedom to choose their leaders!!!
oh, and I suppoert EVERY SINGLE WORD Frances Hassun said… This new generation of american citizens NEEDS to get some facts straight, do some research, study, get involved and actually INFORM yourself before making such ignorant statements… oh and BTW: STOP WEARING CHE GUEVARA SHIRTS!!! Because even if you actually knew a lot about him supported his crimes and the numerous muerders he ruthlessly committed, you’d know that he’d feel offended having his face plastered on a shirt that is being bought and sold all over the world… he was a little anti-capitalism… remember?
*murders
I understand that you may not feel the same way as I do, and I’m sorry if you were insulted by my opinions. However, they are my opinions and I stand by them. Yes I have been to Cuba and I have friends in Cuba. I have seen Cuban doctors, and I have spoken to real Cubans. Don’t assume just because I don’t think Castro is a murdering dictator that I think he is the be all end all of leaders. As for being educated, and being ignorant, I do take offense to that. I’m in University, I’m the same age as you and I have been taking Latin American classes for three years now. Many of the problems with Cuba have been contributed to by intervention FROM the United States, and that is something we cannot deny. Check the released CIA files and you will see what kind of nice, activities we Americans have been carrying out to “help out”.
By the way, I don’t own a Che Guevera t-shirt.
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