Castro...

Castro has died!

So today was another day that I kept telling Lara about its importance. “Do you know Fidel Castro has died yesterday!” I exclaimed. Then I went on to explain who Castro was. “He was the ruler of Cuba who defied the United States and capitalism,” I said. I told her that there were no ads in Cuba. You weren't bombarded with “Buy me” “Try me” “Give me money” signs wherever you turned when driving on the roads. Your mind was not being hijacked and attacked by companies trying to sell you their products. The most you saw were revolutionary slogans. To me, it was nice. I enjoyed the bit of fresh air after the assault of ads on my senses whenever I went to the city.

On the other hand, I didn't know if it was good or bad. I didn't feel I had a right to comment on the goodness of this way of life as I wasn't living in the country and only Cubans could talk for themselves. I just knew that there were two sides of the coin. It was nice for me as an outsider, but people did not have the luxuries or even the basic commodities that capitalism provided and we took for granted. I knew that Castro had supporters as well as dissenters. It's the same all over the world for every ruler of course. However, Castro was a special case. As one Cuban, the 51 year-old Graciela Martinez said “For those who loved him, he was the greatest. For those who hated him, there was no one worse.”

Is he a revolutionary hero that you come across rarely or a ruthless despot as some see? That will be up to history to decide. Or perhaps even in the centuries to come, people will not be able to come to a consensus.

Castro was only the head of state of a small, okay rather a big island compared to the others in the Caribbean but still only a nation of 11 million people. Yet, he has gained international acclaim and importance.
       “If I am considered a myth, the United States deserves the credit,” Castro said. It is true.

Lara didn't seem to care much about Castro either. You know she is not interested in talking to people much even though now she is socializing more and learning manners. But the moment someone gives the signal they are ready to play with her, she starts chattering. Everybody has a button to turn them alive. Lara's is “Play play play...”