Contact		- Add to Favorites		Comment - Bottom of article
TWRToday Facebook & TWRToday Myspace accounts.
TWRToday Supports These Sites: Bambooo - Genesis Radio - Ligali

Fidel Castro Steps Down

The name Fidel Castro is simply not just a name anymore. It signifies revolution, bravery, and a David V Goliath story. He is loved,hated, as well as revered for his stance against capitalism and free markets. Still his 49 year reign on Cuba in his mind is for the benefit of the people and is striving for equality. Still many people in Cuba are feeling disgruntled even as he stepped down as President after such a long stay. He outstayed nine American presidents and survived many assassination attempts. He is admired for running a country relatively well, with Embargos from the US. The old 1950s early 60?s cars on the island is testimony to this blockage, yet the country is still getting by. He is loved by many and commended for being the reason why Cuba is exporting thousands of doctors to help other countries. At the same time he is hated for preventing the Cubans from leaving Cuba as well as keeping them poor. Many people in Cuba will give their earnings to the state. Some Cubans hate this, which is why many risk their lives by fleeing to Florida (USA) for a 'better' life.

Fidel Castro recently stepped down as president and his younger 76 year old brother Raul is now in charge of the country. This is not to say that the whole Cuban politics will be turned on its head as Fidel's legacy will live on for a while yet. I suppose people will see this as big news and an opportunity, non more so than the US who will see this as an chance for bringing Democracy on the island at last, which they were crying for since 'the bay of Pigs 1961'. Since Castro took power some 49 years ago, it is said that the American government tried to get rid of him by poison among other failed ventures. After so many years the ex Cuban president still seem to be nothing more than an In-Fidel to the US government's eyes. Democracy bells are now ringing in and outside of Cuba, still the one party system in Cuba doesn't seem as if it will come to an end very soon. While many are calling for freedom in Cuba, many will still embrace Communism as most Cubans knows no other form of government.

If democracy is to rule in Cuba, I believe it will cost a lot of lives. I fear another bloody war would start again risking the lives of innocent people over some Ideologies that turns out to be the same thing. We do not want to see another Iraq situation. That country is now a democracy all of sudden so it is not impossible for troops to be heading to Cuba to overthrow Castro's younger brother and take over the country.

The American dream is looking more and more enticing with free markets and capitalism and multi party systems. Some of us may argue that Cubans in Florida are living it, Why not all Cubans? Democracy is good, stilll like with any good thing has its faults. I believe this is what Castro believes as he ran his country to benefit everyone in theory. However this never really happens as their are people who cannot wait for the day when Cuba has a multi party system.

There is a 98 percent literacy rate in Cuba and the country has more doctors per capita than any other. Still I say a Communist government is not the best form of government without endorsing the alternative. I say this because democracy too has its problems. Cuba's government has upheld such burden on its people such as watching them with agents like clockwork. At the moment time we have the same problem in Western democratic societies so what is the difference between these two forms of government? I would say not much.

At the moment Cuba seems to be doing much, much better than some democracies apart from the G8 (the 8 richest countries in the world). Cuba also seems to be a very safe place to live. The country is a great tourist destination and it has so many doctors and other professionals that Cuba is now exporting them to help third world democratic countries. All these achievements without the help of the US, I believe is a great accomplishment for such a small country with all the opposition they encounter. Although many people will be glad to see the back of him, I can logically look and say that Fidel Castro is Integral for keeping Cuba 'stable' without any civil wars like the current Kenya situation. I'm not in favour of communism, however when compared to some third world democracies it just make you wonder. Without a doubt Fidel Castro is a legendary figure and Cuba wouldn't be what it is now without him.

Send in your views to TWRToday Here