Cuba libre? If we’re talking about Bacardi and Coke, it’s been pouring freely in Miami since the announcement of Fidel Castro’s death late in the evening of Nov. 25. If we’re talking about freedom for Cuba, however, that is still a dream of hope because Cuba is still firmly in the grip of yet another Castro dictator, his brother Raul.
But Bacardi and Coke is not pouring freely in Havana. Cuba has been under a state imposed nine-day mourning period. Cuban citizens have been told not to listen to music and to stay indoors. Alcohol is not served anywhere and people have been coerced into signing up to attend Fidel’s memorial ceremonies.
Cuban police arrested dissident artist Danilo “El Sexto” Maldonado after he made a video celebrating the death of Fidel Castro and asking people to “come out to the streets … and ask for liberty.” It doesn’t appear Cuba is on a fast track to freedom yet.
So why all the euphoria in Miami? Because the tyrant is finally dead. I wish my father, my grandparents and many other hard working, decent Cubans had been alive to witness the end of the man who caused them so much suffering and pain. The cost of his tyranny on the Cuban people can’t be measured, but we can be certain there isn’t a single freedom enjoyed by democratic and civilized countries around the world that Fidel Castro did not violate. His death is symbolic, and feels as if a curse has been lifted.
Violence and human-rights abuses were abundant from the start of Castro’s revolution. First were the executions, without trials, of people who were part of the Batista government that Castro overthrew. Later on his violence turned on counter-revolutionaries, many of whom had fought at Castro’s side to overthrow Batista, who had become disillusioned when faced with the reality that Castro’s revolution had very little to do with ending dictatorship.
Castro’s firing squads executed more than 18,000 Cubans in the first few years of the revolution. Many others were brutally tortured and sent to prisons indefinitely. Many others died trying to flee the island. Families were torn apart, properties were confiscated and oppression took root.
The terror unleashed by Castro’s brutality laid the groundwork for the regime’s machinery of repression. Unconditional obedience was achieved through fear. People who disagreed with Castro’s doctrine were sent to labor camps for “reeducation.”
In one of the most incredible feats of our time, Castro successfully painted himself as the champion of the oppressed around the world, while simultaneously trampling on the rights of oppressed Cubans. Incredibly, his apologists and admirers around the world have chosen to ignore his abuses and somehow justify his deeds.
To praise Fidel Castro’s deeds is not only extremely misinformed, but is incredibly offensive. For those considering buying t-shirts with Fidel’s image, ask yourself if you’d also be okay wearing images of Hitler or Stalin. Eulogizing Fidel Castro is exactly on the same level as eulogizing Hitler or Stalin.
Fidel Castro has died without being brought to justice for his crimes against his people and his ashes will be buried near Cuban Patriot Jose Martí’s resting place in Santiago de Cuba, an honor Castro does not deserve. This is, however, a moment to celebrate a future for Cuba without the shadow of Fidel Castro, and the prospect that Cubans may someday again enjoy the same freedom we do.
Maybe, now that the tyrant is dead and with new leadership in our country, we can progress toward balanced normalization between the United States and Cuba for the sake of all Cubans.
Cuba libre? Yes, please.
• Uchytil is a Cuban-born Juneau resident.
