King Fidel's Cuba-Sized Ego
nay, not Cuba-Sized ... continent-sized, planet-sized, star-sized
in his February 18, 2008 letter published by the official Cuban press, King Fidel states that he won't accept his official title again (President of the Council of State -- though he retains the titles of First Secretary of the Cuban Communist Party and is still a member of the Council of Ministers).
He is, he states, too ill to fully carry on officially. Instead, he'll continue to exercise his power behind the scenes and publishing his regular essays in Cuba's official newspaper.
in so doing, King Fidel can't help but betray his magnificent ego and sense of self-importance. he writes:
"I always had the necessary prerequisites to carry the revolution's work forward with the support of the immense majority of the people." ("Siempre dispuse de las prerrogativas necesarias para llevar adelante la obra revolucionaria con el apoyo de la inmensa mayoría del pueblo.")
And what exactly are the prerequisites for a dictator who has ruled a one-party regime without free and open elections for 50 years? the ability to silence all opponents and jail unarmed dissidents after brief show trials. excellent skills to have, for a tyrant.
he goes on to write:
"Preparing [the Cuban people] for my absence, psychologically and politically, was my first obligation after so many years of struggle." ("Prepararlo para mi ausencia, sicológica y políticamente, era mi primera obligación después de tantos años de lucha.")
of course, he means "after so many years of oppression." Fifty years, to be precise.
let us repeat this and let it sink in. King Fidel has ruled Cuba without free and open elections for 50 years. And yet, he can say with a straight face that he has the support of the "immense" majority of the people.
the people have been not so much supportive as oppressed. and they are still oppressed by the machinery of the state, which will go on (for how long is the only question) after King Fidel dies.
they may celebrate wildly in the streets yet, when they are rid of Prince Regent Raul and all his instruments of repression.
you better believe they are "psychologically and politically" ready for the absence of the the tyrant, no matter what pretty words he uses to disguise his dictatorship
in his February 18, 2008 letter published by the official Cuban press, King Fidel states that he won't accept his official title again (President of the Council of State -- though he retains the titles of First Secretary of the Cuban Communist Party and is still a member of the Council of Ministers).
He is, he states, too ill to fully carry on officially. Instead, he'll continue to exercise his power behind the scenes and publishing his regular essays in Cuba's official newspaper.
in so doing, King Fidel can't help but betray his magnificent ego and sense of self-importance. he writes:
"I always had the necessary prerequisites to carry the revolution's work forward with the support of the immense majority of the people." ("Siempre dispuse de las prerrogativas necesarias para llevar adelante la obra revolucionaria con el apoyo de la inmensa mayoría del pueblo.")
And what exactly are the prerequisites for a dictator who has ruled a one-party regime without free and open elections for 50 years? the ability to silence all opponents and jail unarmed dissidents after brief show trials. excellent skills to have, for a tyrant.
he goes on to write:
"Preparing [the Cuban people] for my absence, psychologically and politically, was my first obligation after so many years of struggle." ("Prepararlo para mi ausencia, sicológica y políticamente, era mi primera obligación después de tantos años de lucha.")
of course, he means "after so many years of oppression." Fifty years, to be precise.
let us repeat this and let it sink in. King Fidel has ruled Cuba without free and open elections for 50 years. And yet, he can say with a straight face that he has the support of the "immense" majority of the people.
the people have been not so much supportive as oppressed. and they are still oppressed by the machinery of the state, which will go on (for how long is the only question) after King Fidel dies.
they may celebrate wildly in the streets yet, when they are rid of Prince Regent Raul and all his instruments of repression.
you better believe they are "psychologically and politically" ready for the absence of the the tyrant, no matter what pretty words he uses to disguise his dictatorship
posted by Yimboro | 12:33 PM
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