Cuba is a bit of an enigma to the average American. The only time we really learn about it in our history classes are when its mentioned as a prize in the Spanish-American War, and then about 60 years
Cuban President Fulgencio Batista-1938 |
Fidel Castro Prime Minister of Cuba following the revolution |
“Both in Cuba and in the United States, the
word 'freedom' comes up frequently in describing Cuba's history and current
realities. It's a word that incorporates many different meanings. US policy
makers tend to use it to refer to freedom for private enterprise, while for
Cuban policymakers it generally means freedom from U.S interference.”
(Chomsky, 1998)
In 1956, Castro
returned to Cuba aboard the yacht Granma with 82 other Cubans, exiled
for communist activities. Two years later, Batista was deposed and exiled to
the island of Madeira in Portugal and a provisional government was formed with
Castro as Prime Minister.
“The 26th of July Movement is the revolutionary
organization of the humble, by the humble, for the humble. The 26th July
Movement is the hope of redemption for the Cuban working class, who can hope
for nothing from the political cliques; it is the hope of land for the peasants
who live like pariahs in the country whose freedom their grandfathers won; it
is the hope of going back home for the emigres who had to leave their country,
here they could not live or work, and it is the hope of daily bread for the
hungry and of justice for the forgotten.” (Castro,1959)
“I am not a dictator, and I do not think I will
become one. I will not maintain power with a machine gun.” (Castro, 1959)
It was the prerogative of Castro to forego diplomatic ties with the United States in favor of creating ties to the Soviet Union and China. Khrushchev, the chairman of the Soviet party at the time, announced
that he and the Soviet Union would defend Cuba against American aggression in response to comments made by then New York Governor, Nelson Rockefeller. “For our part, we shall do everything to support Cuba and her courageous people in their struggle for the freedom and national independence which they have won under the leadership of their national leader, Fidel Castro. The socialist states and all peoples who stand for peace will support the Cuban people in their just struggle and no one will succeed in enslaving the Cubans.” (Khrushchev, 1960) All of this came to a head in 1962 during the infamous event known as the Cuban Missile Crisis.President Miguel Diaz-Canel |
In the world of today, Cuban politics have shifted slightly. Thanks to the efforts of President Barack Obama and President Raul Castro, diplomatic ties have been reestablished and the United States Government is no longer barring citizens from traveling to Cuba. The current President of Cuba is President Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez and with the reestablishment of the office of Prime Minister in 2019, the Government is led by Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz.
Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz |
References
“26th Of July Movement.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 19 Sept. 2019, www.britannica.com/topic/26th-of-July-Movement.
Castro, Fidel. “Statements by Major Fidel Castro Ruz, Prime Minister of the Revolutionary Government.” Latin American Network Information Center. Trial of Former Major Huber Matos, 14 Dec. 1959, Ciudad Libertad, lanic.utexas.edu/project/castro/db/1959/19591214.html.
Chomsky, Aviva, and Aldo Lauria-Santiago. Identity and Struggle at the Margins of the Nation-State: the Laboring Peoples of Central America and the Hispanic Caribbean. Duke University Press, 1998.
“Cuban Revolution.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 19 July 2020, www.britannica.com/event/Cuban-Revolution.
Khrushchev, Nikita. “Khrushchev Promises to Defend Cuba.” 1960, Moscow.
Ramirez, Roberto. “Man behind Castro's Granma Yacht Lost for Words over Death.” Reuters, Thomson Reuters, 27 Nov. 2016, www.reuters.com/article/us-cuba-castro-granma/man-behind-castros-granma-yacht-lost-for-words-over-death-idUSKBN13M007.
“The World Factbook: Cuba.” Central Intelligence Agency, Central Intelligence Agency, 1 Feb. 2018, www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/cu.html.
You did good on aligning your images, responding to content, college level grammar, listing your sources and meeting the word count. The only feedback I have is, it was a little distracting for the quotes to be in Italic. Good job
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