Fidel Castro Dies, Mixed Response Indicates Controversial Legacy
Fidel Castro, the long-time Communist leader of Cuba, died at night on November 25th, 2016. Raul Castro, the former dictator’s brother and current President of Cuba, announced the death on Cuba’s state-run television.
The response to Mr. Castro’s death was almost irreconcilably diverse. In Miami, which has a very significant Cuban-American population, celebrations took place, as many in the city believe that Fidel Castro’s death could potentially mean a new era of libertad, which means freedom, in Cuba and was shouted on the streets.
President Barack Obama gave a very measured response to Fidel Castro’s death, withholding any subjective assessment of the former Cuban leader. He said, “History will record and judge the enormous impact of this singular figure on the people and world around him.” Mr. Obama’s response comes in the context of his policy of easing relations with Cuba. President-elect Donald Trump’s response to Mr. Castro’s death was an indictment, striking a contrast with Mr. Obama’s statement. Mr. Trump summed up the Communist leader’s legacy by saying, “Fidel Castro’s legacy is one of firing squads, theft, unimaginable suffering, poverty and the denial of fundamental human rights.”
President Obama’s response garnered criticism from Republican Senator Marco Rubio of Florida. Mr. Rubio’s parents are Cuban immigrants to the United States and he deemed Mr. Obama’s response “pathetic” for not acknowledging the human rights abuses of the Castro regime. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau offered a statement that was less neutral than President Obama’s and seemed fairly positive; Senator Rubio condemned Mr. Trudeau’s response as well, calling it “shameful and embarrassing”. In part, Mr. Trudeau indicated in his statement that he found it clear that Mr. Castro felt deep passion for his own country.
Sources:
http://www.biography.com/people/fidel-castro-9241487#synopsis
https://www.bostonglobe.com/news/world/2016/11/26/cuban-president-raul-castro-announces-death-his-brother-fidel-castro/BiQICXAsVKOzVXPYTKAIhK/story.html#comments
http://www.cnn.com/2016/11/26/us/miami-fidel-castro-death-reaction/
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/nov/26/fidel-castro-death-obama-trump-response
http://thehill.com/business-a-lobbying/307601-rubio-obamas-response-to-castro-death-pathetic
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/ted-cruz-justin-trudeau-castro_us_583a000ce4b09b605600b793
