Recently, Fidel Castro’s retirement has made a buzz around future of Cuba, a communist country which has been imposed embargo on by the US. Analysts are meditating whether this event will open a new democratic era for Cuban political system and if Cuban commoners will benefit from this change or not. Besides, the ailing 81-year-old leader, who had stayed out of sight, too sick to venture out for 19 months, is being questioned by people about is he a tyrant or a national hero.
A national hero? Of course, it is undeniable that Fidel Castro is the founder of Cuba when he from Mexico launched the Cuban revolution half a century ago, in 1959, that overthrew the dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista. This miraculous accomplishment had become, in Latin American mythology, a unique act of successful liberation from the powers that be. He soon sworn in as the Prime Minister of Cuba and then the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba and led the transformation of Cuba into a one party-socialist republic. Furthermore, his half-century battle against US embargo also intensified his great image in minds of Cubans, or even people all over the world. His appeal is the same as that of Che Guevara, to whom so many Latin Americans have paid adolescent homage by wearing that iconic T-shirt which illustrates, in one powerful image, a utopian ideal and the region's soft spot for strongmen.
This charismatic leader, however, also is deemed by a great number of people anachronisms. A stalwart communist in an age of free markets and democracy, he ruled a Cuba largely cut off from a world prospering through international trade. These antiquated policies has made young and enthusiastic Cubans covet such things foreign peers often take for granted as: the freedom to travel abroad, unrestricted Internet access or enough disposable income to buy a cell phone or an iPod. People have to worry about too low salaries, lack of food production and dysfunctional distribution. "These young students are asking, 'Why are things banned, why are we not allowed to leave the island?'" noted a dissident who once held a high-level post in the Cuban Foreign Ministry. The distressed and constrained atmosphere is easily perceived here. Throngs gathered to protest for greater autonomy or people who expatriated either by hurling themselves into the sea on rafts or by arranging marriages of convenience with foreigners are vivid evidences of a multitude of malcontents.
To sum up, the controversy ex-president of Cuba, evoking both praise and condemnation at home and internationally, probably made many serious mistakes than achievements. Revolutionizing his beloved country with his immense abilities, making crucial changes in branches like public funded health care and education for his people, but then these factors were not worthy the exorbitant price Cubans had to paid for decades owing to his dogmatic decisions, including atrocious life conditions, infamous civil service system and violation in human rights.
References:
León Krauze , L (2008 03 03 ). Retire the revolutionary myth. From http://www.newsweek.com/id/114691
Joe Contreras, J (2008 03 03 ). Fidel’s children. From http://www.newsweek.com/id/114678
TIM PADGETT , T (2008 03 03 ). Cuba's Chance. From http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1715284,00.html
( 2008, 03 05 ) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fidel_castro
References:
León Krauze , L (2008 03 03 ). Retire the revolutionary myth. From http://www.newsweek.com/id/114691
Joe Contreras, J (2008 03 03 ). Fidel’s children. From http://www.newsweek.com/id/114678
TIM PADGETT , T (2008 03 03 ). Cuba's Chance. From http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1715284,00.html
( 2008, 03 05 ) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fidel_castro
