Dancing on Castro’s grave is not only unseemly; it's also premature!

Though not surprised, I was stupefied by Cuban Americans who danced in the streets yesterday after reports that Fidel Castro was forced to transfer power to his brother Raul before undergoing surgery a few days ago. After all, their celebration not only betrayed their naiveté about the implications of this transfer but also indicated how much wasted emotion and misspent resources they have vested in this man’s eventual death.

Of course, most of us in the Americas are acutely aware that Exhibit A for the patent double standards in U.S. foreign policy is not America’s relationship with Palestine; it's America’s relationship with Cuba. Moreover, all fair-minded and progressive thinking Americans lament that – for almost 45 years – U.S. foreign policy throughout this region has paid undue deference to a cabal of Cuban exiles in Miami whose political sensibilities are guided by nothing more than their visceral, vindictive and, ultimately, self-defeating hatred of Fidel Castro.

Although, to hear them fulminate against Castro, one might think these Cuban immigrants have greater regard for the founding principle of this country – “that all men are created equal…” – than native-born Americans. But I know too many Haitian immigrants living in their midst to think so. Indeed, it constitutes an ironic racial symmetry that “white” Cubans in Miami discriminate against black Haitians, just as their grandparents back in Cuba discriminated against black Cubans before fleeing Castro’s “socialist” revolution.

Let me hasten to clarify, however, that I am not in the least bit enamored of Fidel Castro. After all, I am mindful that the people who have suffered most under his dictatorship are fellow blacks who – like black Americans too poor to escape Hurricane Katrina - did not have the means to flee the revolution. And my assertion in this regard is informed, inter alia, by the testimonials of black athletes whose escape in recent years was orchestrated, invariably, by white Cuban agents hoping to make a fast buck by selling them to professional sport teams in the U.S.

Indeed, it is a damning indictment of not only Castro’s leadership but also the political sense of anyone who glorifies him that the vast majority of black Cubans live in more squalid conditions today – 47 years into his socialist revolution – than they did under the Apartheid-style dictatorship of the man Castro overthrew, Fulgencio Batista.

When you say there’s racial discrimination in Cuba, you’re told there’s not. Yes, there is! When you go looking for work...they’re looking to see whether you’re black or white…Ever since television reached Cuba 40 years ago, the image projected has been overwhelmingly white. [Alden White, a 59-year-old black unemployable actor]

However, it is precisely because poor blacks in Cuba have suffered most from America’s 44-year embargo against Cuba that I condemn Miami Cubans for using their considerable political power and influence to keep it in place. And, if anyone doubts my characterization of these Cuban exiles as a bunch of hopelessly misguided zealots, consider the following:

They are celebrating, prematurely, the demise of Fidel Castro; even though Fidel will be succeeded by his brother Raul who – all reports indicate - will be a more ruthless, even if less vain, dictator . In fact, I predict that the pragmatic Raul Castro will emulate his new Chinese patrons by pursuing liberal economic polices under strict political and military control. And I fully expect him to solicit foreign direct investments from friendly nations like China and Venezuela (although Canada and EU countries seem eager to oblige) to improve Cuba’s economic welfare, whilst continuing to groom Fidel’s hand-picked protégés to lead the next generation of the revolution.

Meanwhile, it's a testament to the conceit and arrogance of Miami Cubans that they firmly believe that - once the Castro brothers die off - they will be able to return to Cuba to inherit the political power and social privileges abdicated by their ancestors decades ago. And this, of course, without any regard for the young Cubans who have been toiling at home, waiting for their opportunity to govern their country.

But who knows, given Castro’s longevity, chances are that a well-indoctrinated Elian Gonzalez will be Cuban dictator before Miami Cubans are disabused of their antic pining for their paradise lost....

NOTE: Click here to read why – given his abysmal failures in the Middle East – I argued sometime ago that President George W. Bush should seal his legacy by lifting the embargo against Cuba.

Fidel Castro Cuba