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Castro Dead: Revelry and Cheers in Miami
GOPUSA ^ | November 26, 2016

Posted on 11/26/2016 10:37:01 AM PST by Beautiful_Gracious_Skies

Within half an hour of the Cuban government’s official announcement that former President Fidel Castro had died, Miami’s Little Havana teemed with life – and cheers.

Thousands of people banged pots with spoons, waved Cuban flags in the air and whooped in jubilation on Calle Ocho – 8th Street, and the heart of the neighborhood – early Saturday. Honking and strains of salsa music from car stereos echoed against stucco buildings, and fireworks lit up the humid night sky. [snip]

Celebration, not grief, permeated the atmosphere. That was no surprise. Castro has cast a shadow over Miami for decades, and in many ways, his policy and his power have shaped the city and its inhabitants.

Cubans fled the island to Miami, Tampa, New Jersey and elsewhere after Castro took power in 1959. Some were loyalists of Fulgencio Batista, the president prior to Castro, while others left with the hope they would be able to return soon, after Castro was toppled. He never was.

Many others believed they would not be truly free under Castro and his communist regime. Thousands left behind their possessions, loved ones, and hard-earned educations and businesses, traveling to the U.S. by plane, boat or raft. Many Cubans died on the ocean trip to South Florida. And many never returned to see their childhood homes, their neighborhoods, their playgrounds, their businesses, their cousins and aunts and uncles, because Castro was still in power.

The ones that made it to Miami took a largely, and vehemently, anti-Castro stance.

On New Year’s Eve every year, Cubans in Miami utter a toast in Spanish as they hoist glasses of liquor: “Next year in Cuba.” But as the Cuban exiles aged, and as Castro outlived them, and as U.S. President Barack Obama eroded the embargo and younger Cubans returned to the island, the toast rang silent in many households.

In Miami, where Havana is closer both geographically and psychologically than Washington, the news of Castro’s death was long anticipated by the exiles who left after Castro took power, and in the decades since. Rumors have come and gone for decades, and Castro’s death had become something of a joke – mostly because it seemed to happen so frequently.

This time, though, it was real.

“We’re all celebrating, this is like a carnival,” said 72-year-old Jay Fernandez, who came to Miami when he was 18 in 1961. He and his wife and another woman held up a bilingual sign he’d made four years ago when Castro first became ill. “Satan, Fidel is now yours. Give him what he deserves. Don’t let him rest in peace.”

Several blocks away, at the Bay of Pigs Memorial, Antonio Hernandez, 76, rode his bicycle up in a light rain and stood at the eternal flame that honors the men who tried, and failed, to wrest Cuba from Castro’s grip in 1961. “Everybody’s happy. Now this guy won’t do any more damage,” said Hernandez, who came to Miami on the Mariel boat lift in 1980. “His brother will now go down, too. But the world has to pay attention to this, not just we Cubans.”

Wrote Valentin Prieto, a prominent Cuban-American blogger, on Facebook: “A few hours of sleep tonight is the very last thing fidel castro will ever rob me of.” In his writings on his blog, Prieto never capitalized Castro’s name.

Many Cubans made successful livings and raised families in Miami despite having to learn a new language and start their lives over. Exiles who arrived as teenagers with no money in their pockets became millionaires, political leaders, clergy members, teachers – influential members contributing to the sturdy fabric of American society.

Cemeteries in South Florida abound with the remains of those who fiercely wished Castro had died before them. Their children weep today because they could not see their parents and grandparents return to Cuba under a democratic regime, to see their homeland one more time.

Gabriel Morales, a 40-year-old financial executive, monitored social media early Saturday from his home in Miami. His parents both left Cuba decades ago. His father left Cuba before Castro took over, and then returned to visit during Castro’s regime. He vowed never to return until the regime changed, Morales said.

Morales’ mother left after Castro assumed power; her family had their property appropriated by the government, Morales said.

“Feels weird,” Morales said in a text message to an Associated Press reporter. “Been waiting to hear this news all my life. Seems unreal.”


TOPICS: Cuba; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Florida
KEYWORDS: castro; cuba; fideldead; miami
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On the eve of the presidential election under the constant drum beat of "Hope & Change" in 2008, a somber Cuban community continued to rally for John McCain until the very bitter end. There's a lot to be learned from Cuban exiles about the sorrowful life one lives under Communist rule. And most Americans never seem to appreciate what they have in relation to what complete government ownership means to the individual. To have everything you built, owned, worked and studied for - seized as government property, forever. Then, standing in line to get a small bar of soap meant to last a month for brushing teeth, washing hair and bathing. Hoarding food for fear of hunger the next week. It's everyone's worst nightmare.

Anyway, the grand nephews of some those involved in the Bay of Pigs invasion had strung a giant 20' long banner across the auditorium at the University of Miami. It read, "CUBA GOT CHANGE IN 1959!" It was a warning for what was to come. A warning that's like way over the heads of most Americans who still 'don't get' what communist rule means.

The older Cubans were openly weeping and stating, "I risked my family, my life and gave up everything to escape Communism fifty years ago." and "Now it comes to us here?" (They turned & spit!) All were completely disillusioned and fearful of what was to come.

There was a great deal of anger and disbelief about the election of the president. One old man said, "But the country is not paying attention to this, it's just- we Cubans." And that's exactly how they felt, like no one else in America could see "Hope & Change" for what it was - a non-military coup of our Constitutional Republic.

And they were mainly correct. His administration was ushered in by the prior administration, as if it were normal. It was not, czars were appointed en masse, the military was purged of its noncompliant leaders, major industries were basically federalized, systematic race-baiting and divisive talk began. And the country still wasn't paying enough attention four years later. Quite frankly, it's amazing that we still have a country left. (I know he's not done yet.) Now we have the opportunity to bring ourselves back from where the country has been taken - Trillions of dollars in debt and billions of dollars missing and millions in the coffers of political friends.

The people finally started paying attention in 2016 thanks to Donald J. Trump. This man with his new administration is determined to return our country to greatness, and reverse the destruction. Hopefully some of these Cuban old timers who came in 1956 expecting a short exile lived another sixty years to celebrate Fidel Castro's death.

Let's Make America Great Again for all of us.

1 posted on 11/26/2016 10:37:01 AM PST by Beautiful_Gracious_Skies
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To: Beautiful_Gracious_Skies

Soros and Hillary are stealing the election and Trump and everyone is worried about Castro dying. Trump is tweeting about castro? He’s dead so what?

Soros and Hillary are recounting WI and will steal that and MI and PA and the election


2 posted on 11/26/2016 10:38:04 AM PST by rurgan (Soros & Hillary are stealing the election is Trump even aware of this?)
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To: Beautiful_Gracious_Skies

“Progressives” don’t mind making your life much worse if it will make their lives better. They call that “compassion.”


3 posted on 11/26/2016 10:38:53 AM PST by TBP (0bama lies, Granny dies.)
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To: Beautiful_Gracious_Skies

So much for redistributing the wealth. Jump To Fidel Castro’s Stats from 2012:

When Fidel Castro led the revolution against Cuba’s Fulgencio Batista liberating the Cuban people from his dictatorship in 1959, no one could have predicted he would eventually be one of the richest men in the world with an acquired wealth of $1,029,093,750.

As Cuba’s new socialist leader and political reformer, he has served as Prime Minister from 1959 to 1976, then he became President of the Council of State of Cuba and the President of the Council of Ministers of Cuba.


4 posted on 11/26/2016 10:39:48 AM PST by Beautiful_Gracious_Skies ('45 will be the best ever.)
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To: Beautiful_Gracious_Skies
in 2008, a somber Cuban community continued to rally for John McCain until the very bitter end.

Man. How sad.

That would be like being a passenger on The Titanic and being told The Lusitania is on its way to rescue you.

Or the other way around. I forget which happened first. It doesn't really matter. You know what I mean.

5 posted on 11/26/2016 10:40:41 AM PST by Texas Eagle (If it wasn't for double-standards, Liberals would have no standards at all -- Texas Eagle)
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To: Beautiful_Gracious_Skies

Are American democrats gonna “protest”?

I’m SURE they don’t LIKE this ‘result’...


6 posted on 11/26/2016 10:44:17 AM PST by joethedrummer
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To: Beautiful_Gracious_Skies

First Obama/Hillary, then Castro!

Freedom is on the march!


7 posted on 11/26/2016 10:44:34 AM PST by UnwashedPeasant (I told you so)
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To: UnwashedPeasant

Not to mention one of Hugo Chavez’s cronies died yesterday or today.


8 posted on 11/26/2016 10:45:23 AM PST by Texas Eagle (If it wasn't for double-standards, Liberals would have no standards at all -- Texas Eagle)
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To: Beautiful_Gracious_Skies

When the wicked rule the people groan. Prov. 29:2.


9 posted on 11/26/2016 10:46:44 AM PST by lurk (TEat)
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To: TBP

Progressives bury their heads in the sand when presented with the facts.

2006-
Castro was ranked No. 7 on the Forbes list, right behind Prince Albert, whose fortune is estimated at $1 billion. Ahead of them both are five Arab Gulf kings and sheiks.

Apparently, in addition to all the property Fidel stole from his fellow countrymen, he also enriched himself through the sale of pharmaceuticals.


10 posted on 11/26/2016 10:50:28 AM PST by Beautiful_Gracious_Skies ('45 will be the best ever.)
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To: Beautiful_Gracious_Skies

In memory of the man Elian Gonzalez could have become.


11 posted on 11/26/2016 10:59:33 AM PST by Lauren BaRecall (-: President-Elect Trump :-)
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To: Beautiful_Gracious_Skies

My wife and I were in Prague about ten years ago,and we saw a huge anti-Castro rally in the old city. It was heart warming to see all those people, people who knew all to well about life under communism, carrying Cuban flags that contained the words “Cuba Libre.”


12 posted on 11/26/2016 11:02:28 AM PST by Daveinyork
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To: Lauren BaRecall

IS HE DEAD? Perhaps HE DID DECOME A GOOD MAN.


13 posted on 11/26/2016 11:05:37 AM PST by midlander
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To: Beautiful_Gracious_Skies
He clicked his boots together three times Wizard of Oz photo: whiz wiz_c011cp.jpg and now he's home in Hell with his amigo. tickle me Che photo: Tickle Me Che Che.gif
14 posted on 11/26/2016 11:08:17 AM PST by tumblindice (America's founding fathers, all armed conservatives)
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To: Texas Eagle

It was somber -outside- the event, where many understood the consequences of what the nation was on the verge of putting into office. The polls had changed after Soros or whomever brought on the financial crash. Obama was heavily favored by all but Karl Rowe. Inside the arena was a packed raucous party held at midnight -election eve.

“Standing before thousands of screaming supporters at a midnight rally here, GOP presidential nominee John McCain said he’s learned the secret to successful campaigning with just one day until the election: “We’ve got to have all of the rallies at this time of night, I’m telling ya.”

“My friends, we’ve got one day left, one day left until we take America in a new direction,” he said, as they cheered. “With your help, I will win.”

“This is the kind of intensity, this is the kind of momentum, that we will win Florida and we will win the election,” ...

and one of the handmade, bedsheet banners declared,

“In 1959 Cuba got ‘Change.’ In 2008, Vote for McCain.”

“John McCain, U.S.A!” the crowd chanted as he left the stage.


15 posted on 11/26/2016 11:11:04 AM PST by Beautiful_Gracious_Skies ('45 will be the best ever.)
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To: Beautiful_Gracious_Skies

16 posted on 11/26/2016 11:14:33 AM PST by Grampa Dave (Hey, whining losers,Trump will just go ahead & make things better for us without you!!!!")
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To: midlander

He is a Cuban revolutionary who spews against the US.


17 posted on 11/26/2016 11:15:33 AM PST by Lauren BaRecall (-: President-Elect Trump :-)
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To: rurgan

-—Soros and Hillary are recounting WI and will steal that and MI and PA and the election-—

Not hardly...they need to flip all three...not going to happen
..


18 posted on 11/26/2016 11:17:30 AM PST by Popman
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To: Beautiful_Gracious_Skies

Your words are eloquent. Thank you.
Now the question is, will Trump reverse Obama and slam the door shut again on trade?
If there’s an opportunity we can sell stuff to Cuba, and make deals beneficial to the US first and Cuba too, Trump will likely make those deals.
In process, he’ll drive the last nail into Castro’s coffin.
Capitalism is galloping back in Cuba.
The light will be shone on Castro’s human rights abuses; the stories will be told in books that our home-grown communists will never read.


19 posted on 11/26/2016 11:19:44 AM PST by mumblypeg (They've summoned up a thundercloud/ and they're going to hear from me. (Anthem-Leonard Cohen))
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To: rurgan

Trump tweeted four words -Fidel Castro is dead! That’s not worrying.

Everyone is celebrating the death of a man who brought great misery and destruction and alienation for many families and their homeland.


The recount, I think we should ask to recount NH since it has a Republican legislature. And they should count it real slow so the deadline expires and the NH legislature votes its 6 EV -> TRUMP.


20 posted on 11/26/2016 11:20:25 AM PST by Beautiful_Gracious_Skies ('45 will be the best ever.)
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