AS THE CONCH BLOWS: So Fidel Castro is dead. Now…Cuba what?

There was much cheering and celebration in Little Habana, though not much in Key West, but that’s another story. Many families, including mine, that were a part of that diaspora, suffered much economic, spiritual, and physical loss–in some instances life itself; it’s not easy to forget or forgive. Fidel’s death will bring a sense of justice to some, but it will not change Cuba. He has not been at the helm for a long time and his brother Raul has proven he’s more of an opportunist, than a Marxist-Leninist. The Cuba of today bears little resemblance to the early years post Revolution. The changes since Obama opened the door to capitalism have been dramatic. What will continue to change Cuba is for Americans, including Cuban Americans, to continue to spend money there. It’s great to say we want Cuba to be a democracy but unless we continue to promote capitalism, there won’t be any further positive change. Hopefully Trump will continue with the progressive, realistic and courageous Cuba policies that President Obama initiated. When I visited last year I spoke to many Cubans from all walks of life and the overwhelming majority did not want to migrate to the US, they just want the opportunity to be capitalists.

The Cuban people suffered for many decades and are now beginning to have hope. There is an obvious dichotomy for Cubans on the island; they do not want to revert to the old days of the Revolution and yet there was a somber mood following Fidel’s death; many still revere him because, as history shows, his predecessor Batista was no picnic; in 1959 Cuba had one of the lowest literacy rates in the Western Hemisphere and an acute shortage of medical care; both of which have turned 180 degrees since then. Yet, as we well know, Communism does not work, and so here we are. Cubans want capitalism, and entrepreneurship and, yes, freedom of the: press, assembly, expression, religion, etc. But they strongly believe, as do I, that path is achievable only thru further dialogue, trade and travel, and ultimately thru the realization that we must end the 50 plus year embargo which only serves as a selfish, and ideological throwback to the U.S. doctrines that dictated “our way or the highway”, and whose only result has been to make the lives of the average Cuban much worse.

Now, Cuba’s future is in the hands of the United States. I understand that as a sovereign people they get to decide their future, that’s the best we can hope for. However, that said, it is the American tourist, more specifically American dollars, that will bring back Cuba to its former place as our closest ally–culturally and politically– in the Caribbean. As a dear one friend once told me, “The best cure for Communism is a well marketed cheeseburger!”

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