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Fresh Prince

Joined: 05 Dec 2006 Location: The glorious nation of Korea
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Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008 1:18 am Post subject: Breaking News: Castro officially resigned today |
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http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/americas/02/19/castro/index.html
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Fidel Castro announced his resignation as president of Cuba and commander-in-chief of Cuba's military on Tuesday, according to a letter published in the state-run newspaper, Granma.
Ailing Cuban leader Fidel Castro was seen on Cuban television in September 2007.
Castro, 81, temporarily handed power to his younger brother Raul Castro in July 2006 after undergoing intestinal surgery. He hasn't been seen in public since his surgery, but he has appeared in numerous videos and photos in state media.
In December 2007, a Cuban television news anchor read a letter reportedly written by Fidel Castro promising he would not "cling to office" or be an impediment to rising young leaders.
Castro took power in Cuba in 1959 and has ruled the island nation ever since, governing the first communist nation in the Western Hemisphere.
Fidel Castro captured the world's attention and imagination at 32 when the bearded revolutionary led a band of guerillas that overthrew a corrupt dictatorship -- and then became an irritating thorn in Washington's paw by embracing communism and cozying up to the Soviet Union.
For the next 47 years, Castro reigned in Havana with an iron hand, outlasting nine American presidents and defying a punishing U.S. economic embargo designed to dislodge him. |
Does this mean anything? Or is Raul really in charge now? |
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Zebra12
Joined: 18 Jan 2006 Location: Ottawa
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Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008 5:27 am Post subject: Post-Castro regime in the cards... |
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The Castro regime is just about at the end of its rope...soon to be transformed by a new agenda, one that reflects the collective desires of the Cuban people to achieve a higher degree of prosperity and independence from the doctrines of tyranny. Raul Castro's bland personality (and ruthless behavior in the past), will simply assist (or accelerate) this process of change...as he does not have the charismatic appeal of his brother, or the will (might I say "stamina") to carry the communist ideal forward. The youth of the nation--clearly understand that the 'revolutionary dreams' of the past no longer fit the demands of living in an increasingly electronic global village of the 21st century. They were not a part of the revolution in 1959, and after almost 50 years of repressive actions on the part of the regime...the youth are increasingly demanding change. This process will unfold much as it did in Russia during the late 1980s...leading to a complete paradigm-shift in the thinking of the community as a whole.
In Cuba, the people are stealing many things from the government just to stay alive (i.e., materials; tools; gas etc.)...and it's the black market which really helps maintain the stability of the Cuban economy as a whole. Cuba is not at all like North Korea...in Cuban society the young people (generation XYZ) are alert to the rising tide of the digital culture...and are very informed about everything that's going on in the world. Cuban timba music [for example] is the new voice of the people in La Havana...a volatile current that is also supported by other contemporary art forms etc. Music is an important medium through which people exchange new ideas in Cuba (this is especially so in Havana). They would, of course, prefer a peaceful transition of state power: rather than one that heralds the use of molotovs; disrupted communications; and the burning of buildings. The United States, Canada, Mexico, and Europe, will play an important role in the new Cuba, a new political triad will undoubtedly emerge over the next few years.
I have a computer system set up at our home in Cuba...actually had the Internet connection established by members of the local secret police (!)...only to have it shut down after a few months of operation...no reprecussions (we access other lines)...fascinating times...many properties changing hands...millions of dollars ready to flow into the country once a free-market system is established. The Cuban people are anxious to build a socialist state that's more along the lines of Canada and Europe...flexible socialism with a mixed capitalist economy.
My thoughts on the topic. I believe that today's annoucement was happily received by millions of Cubans as a symbol of the profound change that lies ahead. Oh yeah...there will be a big "porco asado" feast after Castro is six feet under...and though they will shed tears for the despot...they will be thinking about the ideas of the real national hero: Jose Marti.
Anything that drives a wedge between people, clasifies them, isolates them or confines them is a sin against humanity. The Fatherland demand sacrifices. It is an alter, not a pedestal. Jose Marti
In contrast, Fidel Catsro used the nation as a pedestal...and lacked the intellectual capacity to understand Jose Marti's poetic genius. There is more to history than a dialectic of materialism...something that Castro failed to understand. |
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Czarjorge

Joined: 01 May 2007 Location: I now have the same moustache, and it is glorious.
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Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008 5:38 am Post subject: |
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Avoid duplicate threads. |
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Fresh Prince

Joined: 05 Dec 2006 Location: The glorious nation of Korea
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Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008 2:19 pm Post subject: |
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Ahh duplicate--I didn't see any but it must have been in the works while making this one.
Here's the link to the first thread:
http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=114033
Thanks Zebra12: That was really informative-Hopefully everything will work out smoothly. |
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