It took too-long for millions of Caribbean citizens and their descendants. Fidel Castro has died.
He survived many years longer than his contemporaries. He was also socking away hundreds of millions of dollars which he stole from his countrymen, but because he controlled the military, the radio/TV, the legislature (in 'elections,' he 'won' 100% of the vote), and the economy, he was able to continue his behavior as-long as he did, until he stepped-back, and his brother Raul took-over, continuing the oppression. There is no freedom of speech since Castro ascended to power.
If you know anyone who lived under his Communist dictatorship, you will soon find-out why people gave up everything to leave the island. People died trying to leave, the less-fortunate in the waters of the Florida Straits, and others by the thousands who were killed because they were perceived as a threat to Castro's iron-grip. He abolished the Roman Catholic Church until in the twilight of his control he agreed to a visit by the Pope.
He confiscated billions in assets of USA companies, and more from the Cubans who owned anything of value. ITT, Ford, Sears, Mobil, ESSO, Coca-Cola, banks, IBM, GE, the list of those who have filed claims against Cuba goes on and on. https://www.bostonglobe.com/ideas/2...Bx24TuzQyBNO/igraphic.html?p1=Article_Graphic
Living in south Florida, I know many Cubans, and having heard their stories of what they went through is heart-breaking. I don't know if I have the resolve they have demonstrated to start-over elsewhere, and to prosper. While some may offer the excuse, "he gave the poor medical care," and the oft-repeated, "highest rate of literacy," there is little in the way of medicine to provide to the population, unless you are considered 'in good standing' as a supporter of the Communist regime. As for education, what better way to indoctrinate the people, than to teach them Communism from the time they enter school, and by eliminating God, by banning the practice of religion? Castro himself was a privileged son of a wealthy family, who was educated by Jesuits, and who went to law school. Isn't it ironic that he should ban the practice of religion, including killing priests, and closing the churches for decades?
As for his close relationship with Che Guevara, he feared that the Argentinean who had studied medicine was more-popular than he was, so he sent him to foster 'revolution' in Bolivia, where he was sold-out as to his location, and he died in a battle with the military, thus giving Castro two valuable things: a 'martyr for the cause,' and the elimination of someone whose popularity might eclipse his own. The value of Che Guevara as a dead 'hero of the revolution' was far greater than any successes he had as a living revolutionary. A sociopath on a motorcycle ("The Motorcycle Diaries") is still a sociopath.
When you've heard first-hand stories about children separated from their families for years because they weren't allowed to leave Cuba together, when those left behind lost their homes, their jobs, their life savings, and all their possessions before they were removed from the country, where their relatives who were priests were shot, you have to realize what a dangerous man this egomaniacal despot was.
The fact that so-many Cubans were able to begin again in other countries, and to be professional successes, after being forced to leave in pursuit of freedom, then you may begin to understand their drive and motivation to succeed.
Cuba has a long way to go before its people can enjoy a democracy, but the death of this enduring despot is one long-awaited step along that path.
http://content.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1223316,00.html
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/artic...rty-claims-seen-as-yielding-pennies-on-dollar
http://pedropan.org/category/history
He survived many years longer than his contemporaries. He was also socking away hundreds of millions of dollars which he stole from his countrymen, but because he controlled the military, the radio/TV, the legislature (in 'elections,' he 'won' 100% of the vote), and the economy, he was able to continue his behavior as-long as he did, until he stepped-back, and his brother Raul took-over, continuing the oppression. There is no freedom of speech since Castro ascended to power.
If you know anyone who lived under his Communist dictatorship, you will soon find-out why people gave up everything to leave the island. People died trying to leave, the less-fortunate in the waters of the Florida Straits, and others by the thousands who were killed because they were perceived as a threat to Castro's iron-grip. He abolished the Roman Catholic Church until in the twilight of his control he agreed to a visit by the Pope.
He confiscated billions in assets of USA companies, and more from the Cubans who owned anything of value. ITT, Ford, Sears, Mobil, ESSO, Coca-Cola, banks, IBM, GE, the list of those who have filed claims against Cuba goes on and on. https://www.bostonglobe.com/ideas/2...Bx24TuzQyBNO/igraphic.html?p1=Article_Graphic
Living in south Florida, I know many Cubans, and having heard their stories of what they went through is heart-breaking. I don't know if I have the resolve they have demonstrated to start-over elsewhere, and to prosper. While some may offer the excuse, "he gave the poor medical care," and the oft-repeated, "highest rate of literacy," there is little in the way of medicine to provide to the population, unless you are considered 'in good standing' as a supporter of the Communist regime. As for education, what better way to indoctrinate the people, than to teach them Communism from the time they enter school, and by eliminating God, by banning the practice of religion? Castro himself was a privileged son of a wealthy family, who was educated by Jesuits, and who went to law school. Isn't it ironic that he should ban the practice of religion, including killing priests, and closing the churches for decades?
As for his close relationship with Che Guevara, he feared that the Argentinean who had studied medicine was more-popular than he was, so he sent him to foster 'revolution' in Bolivia, where he was sold-out as to his location, and he died in a battle with the military, thus giving Castro two valuable things: a 'martyr for the cause,' and the elimination of someone whose popularity might eclipse his own. The value of Che Guevara as a dead 'hero of the revolution' was far greater than any successes he had as a living revolutionary. A sociopath on a motorcycle ("The Motorcycle Diaries") is still a sociopath.
When you've heard first-hand stories about children separated from their families for years because they weren't allowed to leave Cuba together, when those left behind lost their homes, their jobs, their life savings, and all their possessions before they were removed from the country, where their relatives who were priests were shot, you have to realize what a dangerous man this egomaniacal despot was.
The fact that so-many Cubans were able to begin again in other countries, and to be professional successes, after being forced to leave in pursuit of freedom, then you may begin to understand their drive and motivation to succeed.
Cuba has a long way to go before its people can enjoy a democracy, but the death of this enduring despot is one long-awaited step along that path.
http://content.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1223316,00.html
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/artic...rty-claims-seen-as-yielding-pennies-on-dollar
http://pedropan.org/category/history
