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Castro's system in Cuba
destined to fail
Posted on Sat, Jul. 16,
2005 in The
Miami Herald.
Below are excerpts from a July 4 speech
by James C. Cason, the outgoing chief of
the U.S. Interests Section in Havana, Cuba.
Despite my best efforts to prepare for
my job in Cuba, the island took me by surprise.
I arrived under the illusion that I might
be able to engage Cuban officials on issues
of mutual concern.
My initial dealings with the Cuban regime
quickly showed me that in Cuba appearances
are deceiving. Behind three blocks of the
main tourist thoroughfares, the shabbiness
and decay of reality becomes evident. If
you reach out to average Cubans, you will
understand what this place is all about.
And that is precisely what the Cuban regime
does not want us to do.
For a person who has not lived under totalitarian
rule, it is hard to grasp what life is like
when the state dominates all facets of society.
Understanding how a totalitarian regime
functions is not the same thing as seeing
people bound by its shackles.
My mission was to encourage Cubans to think
about ensuring that their country will someday
be democratic, free and prosperous. I also
wanted to find new ways to help Cuban pro-democracy
activists get themselves heard. We increased
the amount of uncensored information in
the form of books, magazines, newspapers,
the Internet and radios. Nothing will come
from being polite to a dictator. Castro
may have mismanaged Cuba's economy, saddled
Cubans with huge debts and become dependent
on foreign investments, but never doubt
his control over Cuba. He will allow nothing
to jeopardize his total control over all
aspects of life.
Castro often portrays his wrath against
the U.S. as a battle between a Cuban David
against an American Goliath. We at the Interests
Section are the David trying to face Castro's
repressive apparatus. I've certainly had
my share of frustrations during my time
here. I've found it difficult to get foreign
visitors to see that Castro is a cynical,
ruthless totalitarian.
I will leave Cuba with unforgettable images
of Cubans' desperation to leave their own
country, despite the island's beauty, the
warmth of its people and marvelous culture.
America's greatness has been the result
of immigrants from all over the world. Two
million Cubans have found refuge and success
in our country. Our gain has been Cuba's
loss. Think of what Cuba could have been
today if all the talent and energy that
went into making Miami what it is had remained
in Cuba.
Stay and be ready
But Castro's system cannot last long. Change
is inevitable. I'm confident that the Cuban
people will not be satisfied with a partial
economic opening, but will demand that Cuba
undergo a thorough democratic transition.
Don't abandon your patria, is my advice
to Cubans. Stay and be ready for when the
totalitarian regime withers away. Stay and
be ready to work for democratic change.
When that time comes, the U.S. and others
will be at your side to help you build a
country where all Cubans can realize their
dreams.
America's symbol of promise to its immigrants
is well known. What will be the symbol of
Cuba of the future remains to be seen. But
given the dynamism that a free Cuba will
unleash, I'm sure that its symbol will also
be powerfully compelling.
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