February 19, 2008
Another Must Read
From good friend and Babalu contributor Marc Masferrer, at Uncommon Sense:
Fidel Castro "retires"Fidel Castro has retired after more than 49 years as one of history's most brutal dictators.
He leaves a legacy that once he and his co-conspirators and successors are retired biologically, hopefully will not take as long to erase.
Executions.
Exile.
Exercise of absolute power, for the benefit of a few, and the detriment of a nation.
The official announcement culminates a process that began almost 18 months ago, when Fidel fell ill and "temporarily" handed over power to little brother Raúl.
From that moment, the dictatorship has followed a detailed script designed to keep it in power.
Raúl goes through the motions of talking about reform; he even releases a few political prisoners. Younger leaders take more prominent roles; some develop reputations as "moderates." Fidel, his health apparently stabilized, takes on a the role as a senior statesman; maybe he, too, will now start a blog to remain part of the discussion of Cuba's future.
An unfortunate consequence of that hand-over, reinforced by Fidel's "retirement," is that the dictatorship survives.
A face, presumably Raúl's — I haven't seen the script — will be placed at the top of the flow chart, come Sunday.
But the dictatorship survives.
The secret police. The Committees in Defense of the Revolution. The gulag.
The dictatorship survives.
The poor health care. The poor housing. The poor.
The dictatorship survives.
No free speech. No free press. No free elections.
The dictatorship survives.
Fidel's "retirement" is not a moment to celebrate. Unfortuntely, his legacy will survive his life's work, and his life. It is a historical moment to note but nothing more.
And it means little to this son of former Cuban refugees. Maybe it would be different if this morning we were reading his obituary, but consider me underwhelmed. I won't be breaking out the champagne, and I won't be driving to Miami for the party.
Part of Fidel's legacy is that millions of Cubans have come to America, to save and improve their lives, and to better a nation. That is something to celebrate, and we do each day.
The transfer of power from one dictator to another, won't change that.
And neither will it better the the existence of Cubans struggling to survive with their own lives, and their own dignities. Nothing has changed during the "transition" of the past 18 months.
Most Cubans remain hungry.
Most Cubans remain poor.
And Cubans who dare to speak out against tyranny, are harrassed, threatened and jailed.
Unless Raúl is determined to reverse all of Fidel's legacy — and his own, considering he was the No. 2 for all of those 49-plus years — he is not a reformer. But that is not his role in the tragedy that is Cuba.
His role, which he has filled perfectly during his tryout period, is to ensure that the dictatorship survives, whatever it takes.
Repressing free speech and assemply.
Jailing dissidents.
Holding sham elections.
Maintaining absolute power, absolutely.
Talking a good game about the need for "change."
Raul's done all of that, and 18 months after Fidel, and biology, put the wheels in motion, the dictatorship survives.
That is the only thing to remember today when considering the importance of Fidel's "retirement."
The dictatorship — his dictatorship — survives.
Posted by Val Prieto at February 19, 2008 05:42 PM
Comments
Here is an interesting historical aspect that no one has noticed or given significance yet. Castro believes in numerology and has toyed a lot with the number 26. He has stated that he was born in 1926, Batista seized power in 1952 (26 + 26), and Castro attacked the Moncada barracks when he was 26 years old. Etc, etc.
Castro officially ruled Cuba for 49 years and 49 days. In the charada china 49 is drunkard, which is his replacement Raul Castro.
Posted by: delacova ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.babalublog.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at February 19, 2008 05:58 PM
First of all what must people have missed is , Fidel resigned to the presidency and commander in chief.
But he has not resigned as First secretary of the Communist Party.
According to the Cuban Communist Constitution , the communist Party of Cuba supersedes the presidency and government institutions including the armed forces.
So has he resigned to his power over everyone ? NOT!
I believe it is all a ploy to get must governments to accept Raul and do business with Cuba.
Posted by: Peter Perez at February 19, 2008 08:58 PM
Seguro que si -
And as for numerology, la China went Communista in 1949, and the "trine" of new Chinese TV Channel for CUBA, the SECOND NATION IN THE WORLD TO GET COLOR TV. Good going for quarenta y nueve anos of running "una economica emborrachada!" -S-
Posted by: Dr.Shalit at February 19, 2008 09:04 PM
I believe more in Biblical Numerology.
40 is trial or probration.
9 is Judgement.
So one can interpret God placed Fidel to try and Judge the cuban People, he failed now is time to go to hell.
Posted by: Peter Perez at February 19, 2008 09:21 PM
fidel castro is a believer of the Yoruba religion, and has always had a fixation with the number 3 and the number 13.
He was born on 8/13/1926. (13 +13 = 26)
Attack on Moncada Barracks – 7/26/1953 (13 + 13 = 26) Year ends on a #3
Tugboat “13 de Marzo” massacre on July 13 1994 (9 + 4 = 13)
He resigned the “presidency” of Cuba on a Tuesday, 49 years (4 + 9 = 13) and 49 days (4 + 9 = 13) since his robolution.
Elian Gonzalez was born on 12/6/1993 - The year ends on #3 and the total sum of Elian’s birth numbers = 31 (1+ 2+ 6+ 1+ 9+ 9+ 3 = 31).
Note: In the Yoruba religion Eleggua “is the Orisha of doorways and crossroads. He is one of the warriors, with Chango, Ogun, Ochosi, and Osun, and one of the Seven African powers.
Eleggua's colors are red and black. Eleggua is the mediator between humans and all of the other Orishas, and in this respect, has been compared to Hermes of the Greeks. Eleggua is the keeper of the gateway between the divine and material worlds.
Eleggua is the trickster, a force of chaos and entropy who serves to shake off stagnancy.”
Eleggua’s number is the #3. His days are Mondays and Tuesdays and all dates ending in 3. He is celebrated on June 13.
Posted by: Firefly at February 20, 2008 07:44 AM