¡Party in Little Havana!

Since I live in Miami, the local news stations actually scooped CNN and even reports on the internet. I was watching the event unfold before my very eyes.

Word that Fidel Castro is to undergo intestinal surgery and “provisionally hand over power” to his brother reached the first Miami news station around 9:30 PM. Within a matter of minutes, Cubans in Little Havana started flooding the streets and began what can only be described as a celebration. By 10:30, the scene in Little Havana was being compared by various accounts to the Miami Heat victory. I found that amusing. This is how we celebrate in Miami; we go out on the streets, wave flags, scream in jubilation, and honk our horns. Rock on.

Castro isn’t even dead yet, but word that the end is near was enough to send Miami (or at least the predominantly Cuban portions) into a frenzy. On the news and the radio, they were actually telling people to remain calm. Yeah…that’ll work. When Miamians want to celebrate, there’s no stopping us! I found that move a little disappointing though; Miamian Cubans have been waiting decades for any change in Cuba. Many plan on returning once the totalitarian regime topples (which it inevitably will). They want to rebuild Cuba, to rebuild their home. It’s an exciting, and rather emotional concept. Let the people celebrate. Encourage it. It’s not like they are going to hurt anything, they’re just happy!

It was a pretty funny sight to see. People were making the gesture where you slice your neck with your index finger to represent death… with smiles beaming. There seemed to be a sort of “ding dong, the evil-totalitarian-who-ruined-our-country is (almost) dead!” vibe.

I must admit that I agree with people when they point out that the celebration is premature. He’s not dead; he’s just going into surgery. He’s not even out of power; he is just temporarily transferring it to his little brother. The totalitarian regime is still in place, and will technically still be in place if Fidel Castro dies, because his brother, Raul Castro, will take over.

But in all honesty, Fidel Castro is almost 80, and Raul Castro isn’t exactly a spring chicken (he’s 75). They are just humans, old humans, and their bodies are deteriorating. It will be hard (and hopefully impossible) to find someone as charismatic as Castro to be able to maintain the same system that Castro set up.

I understand the Cuban-Americans’ excitement. This signals the beginning of the end, the dawn of a new era. They have been waiting so long for the end of Castro’s regime, and any inkling of change is encouraging. Finally they have something to give them hope.

Sources: Local Miami news stations’ coverage (UPN and ABC) and my own general knowledge. Read more about the situation in Cuba here.