'Fidel Castro: My Life' Los Angeles Times Castro dishes up 736 pages of self-serving "history."
Brand Cuba Wall Street Journal Tropical dictator or marketing genius? You decide.
Cuba studies travel rules change BBC News Residents of the islands may get more leeway to travel abroad.
Cuban farmers can now buy supplies United Press International Brother Raul makes it a little easier for farmers to survive.
In an effort to police almost all speech, political correctness has become what it was supposed to remedy.
April 11, 2008
You and I may think the big question for Cuba is: "What will happen when Castro dies?" But for a surprisingly large band of Cuban exiles, hardcore conservatives and assorted skeptics, it's: "What will happen when the public finds out Castro has been dead for ages and the government has been one big cover-up ever since?"
El Presidente's recent retirement has ratcheted up the "Fidel is really dead" rumors yet again, revealing a zesty blend of conspiracy theorizing, wishful thinking and sub-prime logic. The basic tenet is that the Supreme Leader kicked it some time ago, and the government has been faking it ever since to avoid insurrection and chaos. This "fact" is backed with photos, novel interpretations of recent events, and all manner of pseudo-evidence.
The last big boom in "Fidel is Dead!" reports was in August 2007, when celebrity gossip hound Perez Hilton and other verification-challenged sources cited the following to bolster their contention that El Jefe was muerto: A) Florida government agencies were stockpiling food and water and putting law endforcement on alert. B) Buses in Havana weren't running.
Most such reports, circulated by Cuban exile sites such as Babalu, seem to stem from a basic failure to distinguish between truth and "I would really like it if..." A certain laxity in verification helps in advancing these stories. Witness Jawa Report's semi-explanation of Castro's stubborn refusal to die as reported. "Just remember that one of these days my unreliable Cuban sources will be right. He aint getting any younger."
There's also a persistent "That's just the kind of thing Castro/his government would do" argument, which Canadian columnist Les MacPherson nicely articulates: "Better for him (Fidel's brother, Raul) and his gang to conceal Fidel's death, at least until Raul is firmly established as the new El Comandante."
Specious reasoning also comes into play, as in this 1+1 = 27 conclusion from Fark's Drew Curtis: "The only valid reason to make an announcement like that (Fidel's resignation) at 3 a.m. was that the government was in a hurry. Something happened in the middle of the night to make them move up the timetable. I'm going to go out on a limb and speculate that Castro is dead."
To others, it may be more about sheer incredulity that anyone could survive the 638 individual assassination plots laid upon Fidel's increasingly shiny head. (Our favorites from that noble list? We've got a soft spot for the exploding conch shells and a lethal version of itching powder in his diving wetsuit, both rumored of course to be a courtesy of the CIA.)
More venial motives include the desire to wreak havoc with your computer, as would a computer bug that spreads by posing as a link to a video of a dead Fidel, accompanied by a grieving Hugo Chavez. And there's our favorite, the astrological explanation, which reasons that Castro must be dead by now given the horrid relative positioning of Saturn and the Sun in his house.
Lessons to be learned? The absense of facts, often means there are no facts.
A little media literacy goes a long way. Like...devaluing sources identified only as "people we know in Cuba." And assuming a wee bit of bias for outlets with names such as Kill Castro! And honoring Occam's Razor -- roughly "All other things being equal, the simplest solution is the best." -- even if you really prefer a more complicated answer.
Share the Eye:
Adios, Castro The Independent Don't let the door hit you on the way out.
Consumerism, Castro style Child of the Revolution Someday, all Cubans will have toasters.
Michael Eastman - Cuba Euphoria Striking photos of the elegant decay that is Cuba.
To rings90 & ExPat:
Thanks for the smiles!
Everyone, have a great weekend!
Apr. 11, 2008 5:30 PM
What is Cuba's greatest contribution to the world?
50% 0% 19% 0% 31%
an Å’conomist said...
Our Top Story Tonight: Generalissimo Francisco Franco Is Still Dead
Chevy Chase's career is still dead.
an Å’conomist said...
What? Chevy Chase? After his triumphant voice work as Cho-Cho in Karate Dog (2004)?
I was stunned when the press was reporting that Raul took over Cuba & Cuba was at peace.
If you had asked me last year what I thought was going to happen when Casto died I would have answered A Revolution.
And for that reason I don't believe that Castro has died ~ We are looking at a country where the "Revolutionaries" have had almost 50 years to plan a coup in anticipation of the time where Castro finally leaves.
I can't imagine them being afraid of taking control from Raul. (yes I know he is Cuba's version of Beria) Although maybe they are.
All I can say is that I don't know if Castro is Dead or Alive my bets are that he is just a breathing shell at the moment & The Goverment is trying to figure how to preserve themselves during this time & for when he finally does pass away.
Of course if he is dead & "The Revolutionaries" have done nothing to take over ~ I can only laugh at their lack of planning.
I also can't really feel bad when a country's Revolutionists had almost 50 years to plan on what to do when a crack in the goverment FINALLY happens & does not take advantage of it.
Ok....let me get this straight....
Castro is dead, and Elvis is alive!?!
Of Course Elvis is a alive ~
He's been in Havanna all along.
Hey, go easy on Elvis. I competed in the L.A. Marathon this year and Elvis actually passed me at about mile 12. Very depressing considering the years he's been "dead". He was running in his white 1970's disco outfit. He still has great hair and sideburns. There was also a man dressed as Marilyn Monroe (from "Some Like It Hot"). I think we lost Elvis somewhere near a Burger King......and "Marilyn"? I'm not sure I want to know.
This is L.A. what do you expect!
Didn't see Castro. Maybe next time.
To rings90 & ExPat:
more on the honor rollThanks for the smiles!
Everyone, have a great weekend!
To La Donna:
Your welcome! Have a great weekend!