September 09, 2010
Fidel's back, and he has reentered Cuba's political sphere with a bang.
Since July 10, his first public appearance in four years, he has
dedicated himself to a most difficult task: preventing nuclear war.
His comments on the issue have included slamming the United States for
trying to enforce international sanctions against Iran over its nuclear
program, which he says would inevitably result in a nuclear war, and
attacking Washington for creating a "system that threatens the survival
of humanity."
He has reportedly even met with economists in Havana to ask them to
ponder creating a "new civilization" after the war.
"We have to mobilize the world to persuade Barack Obama, president of
the United States, to avoid a nuclear war. That is the only thing that
he can do or not do -- press the button," Castro said in an interview on
August 31 with Carmen Lira Saade, editor of Mexico's "La Jornada" newspaper.
Some might argue it felt more like Cuba -- with a little help from the
USSR -- had its finger on the "button" back in 1962 during the Missile
Crisis. But in a recent interview with "Atlantic Monthly" writer Jeffrey
Goldberg, Castro expressed regret for inviting Soviet leader Nikita
Khruschev to park nuclear missiles on Cuban soil.
"After I've seen what I've seen, and knowing what I know now, it wasn't
worth it all," he said.
He added: "The Iranian capacity to inflict damage is not appreciated.
Men think they can control themselves, but Obama could overreact and a
gradual escalation could become a nuclear war."
Castro may have the experience, and time may have given him the
perspective, to understand the corrupting influence of nuclear weapons
in a way that other leaders cannot.
Castro's comments appear to be part of an overall image he is presenting
to the public: contrition. A former dictator atoning for past mistakes.
Without formally apologizing – for most things, at least – he appears to
be trying to redeem himself to the international community. Could this
be Castro trying to leave the world with a positive impression before
bowing out of the public eye again, this time for good? Whether or not
his return to the limelight truly represents a return to health, the
84-year-old Castro's history of serious health problems likely means he
won't be around for too much longer.
Fidel has changed his tune on some other controversial topics as well,
including taking responsibility for the persecution of homosexuals after
the 1959 revolution.
In the 1960s and '70s, homophobia was rampant, with gays often accused
of being counterrevolutionaries and imprisoned or sent to labor camps.
These human rights abuses damaged the international image the regime was
attempting to build as a society where socialism functioned properly --
a society where all people were truly equal.
Since his reappearance, Castro has taken the blame for the
discrimination, saying in the interview with "La Jornada": "If anyone
was responsible, then it was me."
Castro has also spoken strongly about preventing climate change, one of
the issues he has praised Obama for taking a stand on.
But just when Castro's behavior appears to make some sort of sense,
"Granma," the state-run newspaper, printed a sufficiently bizarre
article to make one wonder if maybe he isn't just a bit senile after all.
On August 31, a front-page article ran with the headline "Fidel Makes a
Return Visit to the National Aquarium," apparently his favorite place to
relax when he's not working to prevent World War III. He brought along
several journalists and academics, including Goldberg.
The lucky visitors described the trip as a "unique experience,"
according to "Granma."
In a blog post published yesterday, Goldberg commented on "one of the
stranger days" he has ever experienced, a day in which Castro invited
him to view "the dolphin show." Castro then instructed him to ask the
director of the aquarium "good questions" about the dolphins, before
telling Goldberg the director didn't know much anyway, as he was a
nuclear physicist.
"We put him here to keep him from building nuclear bombs!" Castro
reportedly said, cracking himself up.
Goldberg acknowledged that the performance was actually pretty
fantastic, and said he had never seen anyone enjoy a dolphin show as
much as Fidel Castro.
-- Courtney Rose Brooks
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