pith…

As a third generation Cuban American, I have mixed emotions on the Cuban Revolution. To see the footage of Fidel Castro parading through the streets of Havana with overwhelming approval on January 1, 1959, is bittersweet. I suspect I, like many Cuban Americans, have a love/hate relationship with Castro and his Revolution.

On one side, I have sympathy for Castro’s revolution. He inspires the underdog mentality; he beckons the idealism and imagination of youth rebellion. Pulling me away from this, however, is Castro’s stiff control of the Cuban people – inhibiting the rights of free speech, free press and other liberties that we in America sometimes take for granted.

It cannot be denied that Castro has forced unhappy people to risk their lives in makeshift boats in order to get to the United States. Cuban families have been torn apart for not agreeing with his intense socialist ideologies. He has repressed many people’s lives by taking away some of their basic civil rights. But Fidel Castro has at least two sides to his very complex persona, and one must take the ugly with the honorable.

On a positive note, Castro reformed Cuba’s education system, with Cuba still having one of the highest literacy rates in the Americas. His Cuba is known for their universal healthcare system – renowned for medical advancements, patient treatment and a lower infant mortality rate than the United States. Furthermore, he has fought for his ideals and he believes strongly in his country’s volunteerism (Cuba has one of the highest percentages of volunteerism – with many Cubans lending a helping hand to people in countries whom are worse off than themselves).

The “real” Fidel Castro will always be an enigma – a man who keeps his private life and thoughts out of the public eye. He will always have a multitude of sides to his very complicated character. He has been admonished by America, but praised by other third world counties. He has been accused of crimes against humanity, but was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2001 for his work supporting the needs of developing nations. Castro has been in many ways, a walking contradiction.

No matter your personal opinion of Fidel Castro, he has remained a significant figure in the world for over 50 years. He has spurred revolutions in Latin America, fought for peace in Angola and has had his life threatened by 638 assassination attempts. His life is enough to interest his enemies and allies alike.

With new leadership in Washington, we may finally see the senseless embargo lifted. As Americans we must continue to ask ourselves: Why do we still have this embargo? If we have it to spite Cuban leadership (which we do), we do not have it for the right reasons.

With Castro still ailing, we may find out relatively soon the answer to his famous utterance: “Condemn me, it does not matter, history will absolve me.”