The Russian jeep carrying the ashes of the late
Cuban leader Fidel Castro broke down and had to be pushed for a part of its journey to Castro's resting place
on Saturday.
(AP)
Though Cuban dictator Fidel Castro's ashes were interred in a private ceremony Sunday morning, after nine days of official mourning, the somber procession was interrupted by a mishap. The Russian-made jeep hauling the trailer carrying Castro's ashes broke
down. Soldiers had to be push it for part of the journey to the place where the ashes were interred.The breakdown of the jeep came in the midst of adoring crowds who chanted "Long live Fidel!" It provided a somewhat ironic glimpse of what was wrong and what was right with Castro's Cuba. While his legacy inspires some, especially rural populations in Cuba, the rest had to parse their grief with his legacy of autocratic (oppressive) government, inefficient (corrupt) bureaucracy, and stagnant (highly black market) economy.
May God have mercy on those who maintained or serviced the vehicle.
ReplyDeleteHistory will show that the reign of Fidel Castro was far worse than it appears. Thousands of dissidents and people of faith were imprisoned or executed over many decades. Not only did he ruin his country's economy and morale, but he set himself up as a self righteous dictator and major oppressor of the defenseless. Castro said, "Socialism or death." Now he is gone, but he left a cruel power structure in place. Perhaps, there can be hope, but only if the Cuban people have the will and the courage to change their government and purge communism.
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