Castro’s Resignation

Cuba’s future and

the United States’

open door

By: Dan Schultz

Edited by: Trisha VanKoughnett and Alexis Kowaleski

Fidel Castro, who ran Cuba for 49 years, certainly surprised people in his resignation letter posted at about 3.a.m on the website of the Communist Party daily Granma.

Castro in fact pointed out he had made hints in a December letter read on “Round Table”, a political discussion show:

“My elemental duty is not to cling to positions, much less to stand in the way of younger persons, but rather to contribute experience and ideas whose modest value comes from the exceptional era in which I lived.”

Castro is certainly ushering in a new era, and he is doing it under his standards.

“I think what’s most important was that he managed to leave on his own terms,” Joyce Baugh explained. Baugh, a political science professor at Central Michigan University was certainly surprised when she heard about Castro’s resignation.

“He’s lived through 10 (United States) presidents,” Baugh said.

Castro stepped down only after serving as the world's longest-ruling head of state outside of monarchs, according to reports by the LA Times.

Cuba’s new leader remains to be chosen, and Castro—who was expected to elect younger brother Raul—may actually favor a younger candidate.

“He's catching up to me in years, so it's also a generational problem,” Castro said of his brother in his autobiography, “Fidel Castro: My Life”.

A new leader affects the United States’ strained relationship with Cuba—a relationship that seems to be given a second chance.

“His resignation allows for a different face (in government) which could possibly give an opening for us (the U.S.) to talk,” Angela T. Haddad said. Haddad, a associate sociology, anthropology and social work professor, was optimistic.

“It’s a very important time for the U.S. to talk to Cuba.”

Talking could certainly iron out some differences—differences that Americans are hopeful to resolve.

“Certainly this is a step towards freedom and democracy for the Cuban people,” said Topinabee junior Dennis Lennox II. “It's time for the island to be liberated from the grips of tyranny and oppression.”