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Exit Stage Left
After nearly 50 years in power, Fidel Castro has resigned as dictator of Cuba, at least in the official sense, to be replaced by his brother Raul. Here in the United States, when an outgoing President of one party is replaced by an incoming President of the opposing party, pundits often speak of the peaceful transition of power that has marked American presidential succession for over 200 years. The message of Cuba and the Castros: peaceful transition of power is only one among many potential indicators of a free society — a symptom rather than an outright indicator.
On January 1, 1959, Fidel Castro came to power promising democracy, prosperity, and an end to the oppression of the dictator he deposed. He kept his promise on one of three, and only to a certain extent: no longer were the Cuban people oppressed by Fulgencio Batista and his cronyism; rather, they were to be even more brutally oppressed by Messrs. Castro, Castro, Guevara, and others. The new Communist regime replaced cronyism with Communism; instead of bellying up to the bar with businesses, drinks in hand, to be bribed in return for largesse, the government broke down doors with guns, appropriated those businesses in the name of "the people", and jailed (or killed) anyone who might have the nerve to believe that his land or enterprise actually belonged to him and his family and not to the Communist elite.
Over the 49 years of Communist rule by Castro and his murderous thugs, countless journalists, academics, and other dissidents have been jailed, executed, or risked their lives to find freedom and liberty in other places, particularly in southern Florida. Rarely, if ever, has anyone been documented risking his life to enter Cuba. Is there any single concept that illustrates the folly of government-enforced collectivism and the nobility of liberty any more than that fact?
Along the way, the dictator Castro and his "revolutionary" henchman Che Guevara have found themselves toasted by leftists elitists in Hollywood and the United Nations. Ironic, considering that such people would be natural targets were they to actually reside in Cuba. Film maker Michael Moore famously went to Cuba with American patients to acquire medical treatment for them, criticizing the American government for not having a Cuba-esque national health care system. The Americans received fine medical care; yet Moore omitted the fact (or perhaps was duped enough not to know it — the quintessential "useful idiot") that not all Cubans qualify for such care — one must be one of the Communist elite. Even in a society "without class", some people are more equal than others in an Animal Farm kinda way. Yet Moore came back to America and suffered no beating, harassment, or other duress from the government he criticizes. Were he a Cuban citizen making similarly focused films in that country, does he really not realize what terrors he would face?
Supporters of the Castro regime point to its relative affluence compared to other Caribbean countries; however, to do so ignores the fact that Cuba has always been more affluent, and its relative affluence has dropped relative to its peers during the Communist rule. Cuban people are industrious, as seen by the success of Cuban immigrants in Miami and elsewhere. Yet Communism does not reward industriousness and enterprise; rather, it punishes (harshly, severely) the free thinking that is the fount of such endeavors.
Is the change in power merely symbolic, as many believe, or is Raul truly being handed the reigns of the Cuban government? Regardless of the answer, it would appear that no significant change is to be expected. Meet the new brutal Cuban dictator named Castro, same as the old brutal Cuban dictator named Castro. Neither has ever been elected to power, and Raul Castro has shown himself to be a faithful servant to Fidel Castro's authoritarianism for 59 years. One can always hope that an old dog can learn new tricks, even one that is 76 years old. Perhaps reason will seep into his thoughts and he will realize his place in history if he were to forsake Communism and set his people free — would that not tickle one's ego? But that would require humanity and rational thought. Neither Castro has shown himself possessive of either.
Perhaps the best one can say of leaving behind Fidel Castro and moving forward with his younger brother: one down, one to go. May they both exit stage left; may we all toast a free and prosperous Cuba.
On January 1, 1959, Fidel Castro came to power promising democracy, prosperity, and an end to the oppression of the dictator he deposed. He kept his promise on one of three, and only to a certain extent: no longer were the Cuban people oppressed by Fulgencio Batista and his cronyism; rather, they were to be even more brutally oppressed by Messrs. Castro, Castro, Guevara, and others. The new Communist regime replaced cronyism with Communism; instead of bellying up to the bar with businesses, drinks in hand, to be bribed in return for largesse, the government broke down doors with guns, appropriated those businesses in the name of "the people", and jailed (or killed) anyone who might have the nerve to believe that his land or enterprise actually belonged to him and his family and not to the Communist elite.
Over the 49 years of Communist rule by Castro and his murderous thugs, countless journalists, academics, and other dissidents have been jailed, executed, or risked their lives to find freedom and liberty in other places, particularly in southern Florida. Rarely, if ever, has anyone been documented risking his life to enter Cuba. Is there any single concept that illustrates the folly of government-enforced collectivism and the nobility of liberty any more than that fact?
Along the way, the dictator Castro and his "revolutionary" henchman Che Guevara have found themselves toasted by leftists elitists in Hollywood and the United Nations. Ironic, considering that such people would be natural targets were they to actually reside in Cuba. Film maker Michael Moore famously went to Cuba with American patients to acquire medical treatment for them, criticizing the American government for not having a Cuba-esque national health care system. The Americans received fine medical care; yet Moore omitted the fact (or perhaps was duped enough not to know it — the quintessential "useful idiot") that not all Cubans qualify for such care — one must be one of the Communist elite. Even in a society "without class", some people are more equal than others in an Animal Farm kinda way. Yet Moore came back to America and suffered no beating, harassment, or other duress from the government he criticizes. Were he a Cuban citizen making similarly focused films in that country, does he really not realize what terrors he would face?
Supporters of the Castro regime point to its relative affluence compared to other Caribbean countries; however, to do so ignores the fact that Cuba has always been more affluent, and its relative affluence has dropped relative to its peers during the Communist rule. Cuban people are industrious, as seen by the success of Cuban immigrants in Miami and elsewhere. Yet Communism does not reward industriousness and enterprise; rather, it punishes (harshly, severely) the free thinking that is the fount of such endeavors.
Is the change in power merely symbolic, as many believe, or is Raul truly being handed the reigns of the Cuban government? Regardless of the answer, it would appear that no significant change is to be expected. Meet the new brutal Cuban dictator named Castro, same as the old brutal Cuban dictator named Castro. Neither has ever been elected to power, and Raul Castro has shown himself to be a faithful servant to Fidel Castro's authoritarianism for 59 years. One can always hope that an old dog can learn new tricks, even one that is 76 years old. Perhaps reason will seep into his thoughts and he will realize his place in history if he were to forsake Communism and set his people free — would that not tickle one's ego? But that would require humanity and rational thought. Neither Castro has shown himself possessive of either.
Perhaps the best one can say of leaving behind Fidel Castro and moving forward with his younger brother: one down, one to go. May they both exit stage left; may we all toast a free and prosperous Cuba.
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