I started hearing new
rumors of Fidel Castro’s death a few weeks ago, from friends in Venezuela and
the U.S., and even in Spain. Then newspaper articles started popping up. I thought it was amusing that the talk
was going on as I was preparing for my next trip to Cuba. I wondered what the people of Cuba
would say about it.
This past weekend, the
buzz has culminated with new “proof” that he is alive. The Associated Press has reported that
former Venezuelan Vice President Elias Jaua stated he met with Fidel for five
hours this weekend. He said Fidel even accompanied him to the Hotel Nacional on
Saturday. That is the hundred-year-old hotel with two towers that stands on a small
hill overlooking the Malecon in Havana. I was at that hotel for several hours on
Saturday. I wish I had seen the
duo. But actually, the article does not indicate Fidel got out of the van. And it says a hotel executive was in
the van for a photo. It seems to
me a little odd that he would go for an outing, remain in a van, invite hotel
personnel into the van to take photos, etc., etc. I also didn’t see a van, or
people getting in and out of a van, or anything else like that. Well, maybe
that is what happened. Who knows?
Who cares?
Reports state that the recent indications
that Fidel was gravely ill were raised by Jose Marquina, a Venezuelan doctor in
Naples, Fla. He has now been quoted
as saying he did not believe the story of the photograph in the van was
real.
Marquina is quoted as saying, "The
information that I have is that it was a maid who claimed to have seen him.
This is a fabrication. If you're going to believe the communists, who have been
lying forever, that's OK. I don't believe them."
Now I’m almost embarrassed
to be speculating and writing about whether he’s alive or not. Does it really
matter? I doubt it. Cubans have
told me that they believe Raul is just as bad as Fidel, and even though he has
been behind the recent improvements (improving socialism?), he is a dangerous
tyrant, and nothing will change if Fidel is dead.
At the same time that the
other discussions are going on, there have been news reports in Miami about
what would happen if Fidel dies.
In a 2007 article, a
Miami, Florida official was quoted as saying that when Fidel died, there revelers
would be herded to the Orange Bowl in order to contain their enthusiasm. A CNN article at the time, said, “A
Miami official said his idea of holding an event at the Orange Bowl when Fidel
Castro dies has been misconstrued. “It's not a party. It's not going to be a
conga line, I promise you," said Miami city commissioner Tomás Regalado.”
But that article was also
resurrected this week, with a new article: Mayor Tomas Regalado
Zings the Marlins On Rumors of Castro's Death
The article said, “Remember how the City
of Miami made some controversial plans to allow protesters to gather in the
Orange Bowl when Fidel Castro dies? Yeah, well, the city has never updated
those plans even though the Orange Bowl was demolished and replaced with the
Marlins Stadium.”
Regalado was asked
last week about the use of the new stadium that replaced the Orange Bowl, and
he reportedly told the Miami Herald, "I don't think the Marlins would want
that. Knowing them, they would charge to protest." I wonder if he’s made a new enemy, by
making such a statement about the Marlins.
The new article also
says, “With rumors of Castro's health problems swirling, Regalado says that the
city will update plans on how to deal with protesters in the event he finally
kicks the bucket.”
I have asked Cuban taxi
drivers and others what they think about whether Fidel is alive or dead. Some know of the rumors. They say such
rumors are nothing new. They shrug.
They don’t seem to think it would make any difference.
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