The news out of Havana this morning is something that Cuban expatriates in south Florida have been dreaming of for years: Fidel Castro has resigned. The reaction in south Florida seems to be muted thus far…and probably with good reason. It’s far to soon to know, of course, but it seems highly unlikely that anything will change except the person at the top. If Fidel’s brother, Raul, ends up as El Jefe’s permanent replacement, Cuba will likely continue marching to the same beat. You’ll have to pardon me if don’t go all weak in the knees over the news that Fidel Castro will reject a new term, but after generations of a repressive Communist regime 90 miles off Key West, FL, I’m going to wait and see what happens. It would be nice to think that the departure of El Jefe will bring the freedom that Cubans deserve, but it seems unlikely that anything substantive will change. No, the end result will undoubtedly be a different face as the supreme leader of Cuba, but the same old repressive, authoritarian regime will remain firmly in place.
Same as it ever was….
