Some people, like me, discovered them soon. It took a long time for others to realize the fraud. On January of 1959, Castro had 99% of the population with him. He stayed very popular for many years. I bet you that today he cannot count on even 10% of the population. But, sadly, most of the people that had changed lately have not done so for political reasons but for hunger.
Sooner or later, Castro's stympathizers started to desert his ranks, tired of his lies. He had to suspend his annual interminable speeches at the Plaza de la Revolución because very few people were attending them. Nobody does "voluntary" work anymore. The more they believed and defended him, the more they hate him now.
When a person dies in Cuba, it has always been customary to erect a cross, the symbol of Christianity, at the head of the tomb. Would you believe that when these communists are buried they still put that cross in their graves? Are they really atheists? No, they have never been true communists, but Fidelistas. And when Castro dies, their unwavering devotion to the system will also die.
On August 15 of 1994, something incredible happened in Havana, but was unknown to the rest of the world. Some Havana residents finally became fed up and started to assemble along the Avenida del Puerto, in the Habana Vieja district. This was not organized by anybody or group. It was an unpremeditated, unplanned outburst of people that were disgusted with the system. In a few hours, thousands of protesters filled the streets and started to march along the Malecón, with yells of "Libertad! Libertad!" As the mass of dissidents progressed along the wide boulevard, more and more spectators joined them, all united in one sole purpose: to dispose of communism once and for all. The policemen watching the huge horde didn't know what to do, afraid for their lives.
It was estimated that more than 100,000 people participated in the spontaneous march. Finally, Fidel gave the order to disperse the march and the hated Brigadas de Respuesta Rápida (Brigades of Fast Response, which is nothing else but military men dressed as civilians) together with the police, attacked the unarmed and peaceful crowd and, in a few hours, it disintegrated.
The attempt for freedom failed for two reasons: First, it was not organized and didn't have a single, strong leader; secondly, since the radio and TV stations (all controlled by the government) did not relate the event at all, the rest of the city and the country did not find out about it until it was too late.
But it proved a point: that the Cuban people were tired of the system and were not afraid anymore. They have completely lost their faith in Fidel and are now more open and daring. They don't have anything else to lose and, therefore, don't even care about a jail sentence. There wouldn't be room for so many dissidents anyway.
Too bad that there is nobody capable right now to organize a national strike. It would probably cost some lives but, like the one in Romania, would finally succed in getting rid of the tyrant.
The Cuban nightmare has served, if nothing else, to prove the failure and obsolescence of the communist doctrine. Castro's intransigent stance has cost not only an enormous loss of money, but also of human lives.
But I think that the most appalling and miserable effect of the Cuban revolution is the separation of the families. The suffering and anguish that Castro's obstinate ego inflicted on the families defies explanation. This is the crime for which he will never be able to pay, not even if we hang him from his genitals.
I suffered on my own flesh the consequences of exile from my country. First, my wife had to wait eight months to join me. I had to wait nineteen long years to finally be allowed to go back and visit my family. I saw my mother, on that occasion, for only a couple of days and my father for just two hous. Others had it much worse. Innocent children that left their homeland never to see their parents again. Men that drowned in the Gulf of Mexico leaving the rest of their families behind. Whole families that have been shot down by Cuban patrol boats trying to escape. Each case is a denouncing testimonial to my homeland's agony.
We Cubans, primarily the ones back home, have suffered through five decades of misery and grief. At last, a brighter and happier future is on the horizon. I just pray to God that I can see it before I die.
These are excerpts from my book "PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE. A personal reflection on the Island of Cuba." E-mail me at alvarcorp@msn.com for details.
No comments:
Post a Comment