It is weird as you grow older and things begin to change. This was really brought to light for me when Pope John Paul II died. The media pointed out that because John Paul had been the pope for almost 27 years, many young adults had never known anyone else as pope.
And now, something similar is happening to me. I do not know life without Fidel Castro as the president of Cuba. All these years, he has been a feared presence, someone so close, yet so far away from our lifestyle and culture. The failed Bay of Pigs invasion took place before I was born, yet I have heard about it most of my life. It was the attempt by Cuban exiles (planned and funded by the United States) to take over Cuba and overthrow Castro. Then there was the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962, where the Soviets placed nuclear missiles in Cuba to prevent another attack by the U.S. and those ousted by Castro. Obviously, both incidents only helped deteriorate the relationship between the U.S. and Castro’s Cuba. As a child of the Cold War, Cuba scared the heck out of me. Small thought it was (smaller than Pennsylvania), I grew up fearing its power and its leader, Fidel Castro. He always looked so angry and militant, always dressed in his military uniform and chomping on a big, fat Cuban cigar.
But now, it seems like it might be an end of an era, albeit a scary one. Castro’s health has been deteriorating for the past year or so and now, U.S. intelligence sources believe he has terminal cancer and will not live through 2007. This past year, he had intestinal surgery and his brother, Vice President Raul Castro, took over his duties. He was supposed to return to his post in December, but now that does not seem like it will happen. Our officials think he has stomach, colon, or pancreas cancer. Recent photos show a weak and thin Castro, but the country still plans to celebrate his 80th birthday next month. He was born August 13th, but due to illness, the celebration was postponed.
So now I am a bit torn. For 43 years, I have feared this man and now, he is old, weak, and feeble and it appears the end is near. And for some reason, I feel a bit sorry for him. I am sure the “Castro Death Watch” will continue until he does die, and although it may be expected, it will be in headlines all over the world.