The Death of Fidel Castro

I read on another blog that you should blog about your life.  Well, my life is set in Miami-Dade county where more than 34% of the population is Cuban.  On our street, of the people I know, it is probably about that percentage too.  So Cuba is all around me.  My next door neighbor was born in Cuba and came here as a young adult, and - kind of unusually, because this has not happened to me before - she is somewhat isolated at home with 2 small children.  I am the adult she interacts with the most during the day.  And I've found that we have a lot in common - maybe that is because we are in similar life stages, but that's ok.  I like her.

So when I found out Fidel Castro had died (btw, I think Americans call him "Castro", but Cubans call him "Fidel"), I couldn't wait to talk to her about it.  If you have seen the news, you have to notice the complete opposite reaction in Miami to the reaction in Havana.  In Cuba they are crying, in Miami they are throwing a party.  My friend said two things I think are notable - 1.  She was glad, but would have been more relieved if Raul had died!  2.  Most people in Cuba are glad he died, but are afraid to show it.  Political dissent is just not tolerated there. 

The thing is, the news did a couple of days about Castro's death and I'm sure it will pop back up again when his funeral happens, but I can't think that most of America gives half a thought to Cuba.  I know I never did until I moved to Miami.  When someone told me there was a large Hispanic population in Miami, I assumed it was a Mexican population  (about 2%).  I understand its significant location in regards to national security, and I believe people care (or would care if they knew) that our neighbors live with such fear, but I think people are overwhelmed with suffering on the news and can only really care about so much - so I think it's significant for me that I have someone in my life who I care about who has lived there.  All the news from places I've never been about people I've never met usually just interests me for a moment, but when I heard this news I couldn't help but feel glad - even though his passing doesn't change anything, he is a symbol of something that has hurt my neighbor and I hope that someday soon the people in Cuba can be free.