Castro steps down

posted by bleek on February 19th, 2008 filed in film, general, literature, theology

the man who took over the little island of Cuba (no bigger than NJ) is being taken over by age, sickness, and loss of charisma. while we rejoice that this signals a major shift in Cuban politics, we’ll probably have to wait it out even longer because of his brother, Raul. it’s just too bad that this transition wasn’t more chaotic. a smooth, clean transfer of power from one Castro to another ensures several more years of heartache for Cubans and Cuban-Americans. i know, because i spoke to one this morning. thankfully, the prospect of hope is greater than the disappointment that Castro merely stepped down, instead of being taken down.

i continue to marvel that so many embrace Che, Castro’s right-hand henchman, as a model for life, love, and the pursuit of revolution. do they have any idea what this guy was like? we see his likeness everywhere, and it’s truly disturbing. just recently, i was in Athens, walking down the street in the old city. i had just been to the Acropolis, the Agora, and Mars Hill, and Paul’s speech from Acts 17 (vv16-33) was rolling around in my brain. as i turned a corner, i saw a souvenir shop displaying scads of t-shirts for sale. front and center was one with Che’s signature visage. so proud. a city full of idols. still is.

if you want the real scoop on Cuba, you can’t even talk to the Cubans who live there. not because they don’t know the real story, or because they don’t want to tell you the real story, but because if they do, they risk everything. Castro required rallies that showed support for The Revolution. you had to attend. everything was about The Revolution. they even have a CDR on the corner of almost every block in Havana. Committee for the Defense of the Revolution. speak out against Castro, and it might be the last time you speak. almost certainly, you’ll lose your job. the one given to you by The Revolution. or your “house.” the one given to you by The Revolution. apparently, the people own everything, and nothing.

if you want the real scoop, i suggest two insider accounts:

Waiting for Snow in Havana: Confessions of a Cuban Boy by Carlos Eire

The Lost City, a film by Andy Garcia

allow me one small vignette. i know people who travel to Cuba on a semi-regular basis. that’s about all i can tell you, but suffice to say, they know the real story, too. on one particular trip, a good friend of mine entered a home to speak with a woman about Christ. behind her on the wall was a large picture of Castro. as my friend began to explain the Gospel, the need for salvation, and the joy available to her through faith, the woman replied, “I have no need for this Christ, I have Castro.”

as one of our own poets has done, “we’re taking it back.” just as Manson stole a song from the Beatles, so has Castro stolen a slogan from the people. we’re taking it back. Cuba Libre!