I think it is perfectly fitting that the photograph of the innovative Cubans trying to escape (pointed to by Jerry in the previous post) would come the week of the 50th anniversary of the revolution in Cuba, the revolution which brought Castro to power. July 26th is the date, to be exact.

Brian Latell of The Washington Post has a good piece up at the moment, entitled "Revolution in Ruins". (I have room in my heart to be grateful that the word 'ruins' is not in scare quotes!)

It may be a cliche that nature abhors a vacuum, but it is a cliche because cliches are often quite true. What will happen when Castro, clearly ill, clearly on a physical decline, passes on? What or who will fill the power vacuum? Who exactly is LEFT? Castro has imprisoned everyone, the intelligentsia are either under lock and key, or they have long since fled to greener freer pastures. Who remains who has any brains at all, who is not just a nodding yes-man to Castro?

Latell writes:

But Castro's greatest concern, and a major source of his wrath, is that over the past few years a large and determined pacifist opposition has developed on the island. The Varela Project, operating entirely within Cuban law, gathered more than 11,000 signatures on petitions seeking democratic opening. Many of its leaders are now serving long prison sentences.

Now the Valera Project. Let's talk more about that. These people are brave souls.

Here's the Valera Project's mission statement.

A couple of key excerpts from this document:

With the approval of this petition we can reach a bigger participation of all citizens in the task of satisfying the needs for a property and service to the population, freeing the human capacity by working to upgrade the level and quality of life, the freedom of people and families and to contribute to the development of a nation.

Also:

...there is also the need of a society to have organizations that are independent, no matter if they are temporary or permanent, to be able to give citizens the opportunity to defend their interests, to form part of the State decisions and to contribute in every social aspect and contributing their efforts and initiatives in every field.

So simple, right? But this is an impossibility in Cuba, the land of perpetual revolution. Revolution by decree.

Latell writes in his WP piece about Castro vs. the non-violent and imprisoned opposition in Cuba, (and this one simple sentence reveals the character of Castro more so than any 350 page dissertation ever could):

It is their persistence and spiritual detachment in the face of repression that especially angers Castro. But most of all he fears that the leaders of a democratic Cuba will emerge from this new opposition after he departs.

Aha. So "spiritual detachment" angers Castro. Anyone who does not succumb, who questions him, who has an alternating viewpoint. Also: if the Valera Project is able to get 11,000 signatures ... then perhaps they have a shot at taking over when I am dead? And THIS MUST NOT BE. (Temper tantrum to follow, Castro thrashing about in his office.)

So typical, right? So typical of any murderous power-hungry dictator. "Okay, so I'm going to die? And my legacy may not live on? All right then, I'm gonna take down the rest of the country with me. Screw THEM." This is not rocket-science, I am not saying anything original. Castro does not have the interests of the Cuban people in his heart. He cares about himself, and about power. That's it.

I'll close this with a statement from the Valera Project's "Underlying Principles" (I've added emphasis in the text below, sentences which leapt out at me):

By answering these proposals the people gives to themselves the legal instruments to, through the exercise of their rights, practice solidarity and to comply with their duties by having a more full participation in the decisions that affects them, in determining the direction our Nation will take and by creating a better society.

With these foundations it is the nation itself who decides if there should be any changes or not, who will carry out the changes as player and subject of its own history.

We are not offering a project or a perfect model for a society, we are trying to present for consideration the first step to create new and better conditions to a right we all have. This way amongst all Cubans they believe and develop their own project of society according to their sovereign will, commencing with the spiritual values of our Nation and this experience in history and be able to confront the challenges raised by the arrival of the new millennium.

Signing this petition does not mean, in any way, to be in favor or to be associated with any enterprise or group and also does not determine any kind of compromise with the people who wrote it and present it for consideration. When a Cuban signs this petition for a general consensus is exercising one of the rights the present Constitution grants him to request a petition and contribute for a free and solidarity way to improve our society, to seek a solution to the problems our nation is having and to prepare a better future to our children, here, in our own country.

What is especially striking to me in this extraordinary document is its rejection of any kind of utopia. One of the recurrent refrains in my own political standpoint is: REJECT utopias, and RUN for your freakin' LIFE if anyone ever says to you: "I have an idea for a perfect society." Anyone who says that should make you tremble in your shoes. He is a Robespierre in the making.

John Adams said time and time again, "We must have a rule of LAWS, not a rule of MEN."

Man is fallible. Man is ultimately corruptible. But LAW. Now there is another story. That is what I hear in the Valera Project's mission statement.

They have been living in a country where it is rule of MAN. Rule of ONE man. It is time to implement the rule of law.