He led his people for 50 years

The Cuban leader Fidel Castro has died at age 90. He was the reason we built the bunkers during the Kennedy Administration to safeguard our leaders. America has feared Castro for 50 years. Cuba had ties with the Soviet Union and had access to their nuclear might. Before Castro Cuba was America’s wonderful playground. The days of I love Lucy where Americans would take a short cruise from Miami to Cuba and drink and shimmy to salsa music all the way there and back. Everyone hated Castro but he sure was respected and outlasted 11 American Administrations.

He was born in 1926. In 1960 not long after he took power the Trade Embargo began. The poor people of Cuba are still driving cars from 1960 since it was the last year they have been allowed to receive new items. Things got worse. In 1961 we had the failed “Bay of Pigs’ invasion. It was our failed attempt to over through Castro. Tensions increased with the Cuban Missile Crisis with a nuclear bomb standoff between the United States and the Soviet Union. We as children then were told to hide under our desks in case of a nuclear attack meanwhile as you can read in yesterday’s blog post our government was building bunkers with five feet of protective walls for their safety. I have only known the days of not so good U.S. and Cuba relations.

In 1980, 125,000 Cubans flee to Florida that was known as The Mariel Boat Lift. During the Bush Administration tensions still remained high with the opening of the Guantanamo Prison Camp housing our most dangerous terrorists. Castro’s rule has spanned throughout 7 decades. So now that he is dead are we free of his iron fist in Cuba?  The Obama Administration is the only one of our 11 past Presidents to open friendly relations with Cuba. Our College Baseball students are going to Cuba now to participate in a friendly baseball game series in Cuba. It is amazing how Castro and his iron fist of thinking has outlived so many Presidents?

Castro has to be given credit for being the major leader of his land for so long and being able to keep America on edge for so many decades. Only a cleaver leader can do that and he did till his death. American world leaders don’t last to be 90 years old.  Now more than ever the American Cubans want to help their families in Cuba who are in desperate need of modernization. What step will Donald Trump take? He has already threatened them if they do not cooperate with us that he will take action. The bully he is wants to start a fight. He already has 75 pending lawsuits against him. What is just more suits? He has already picked lawyer Donald McGahn               White House Counsil.

Castro’s remains will be cremated and his brother will remain as leader. For older Cubans Castro is bitterness for separating them from their families. For  younger Americans, Cuba is an untapped paradise of clean waters and beautiful beaches just waiting for their next party.