Democracy in Cuba? [Archives:2006/976/Letters to the Editor]

Paul Kokoski
[email protected]
The world will influence the transition Cuba will face when Fidel Castro's life and rule come to an end and it should be decidedly geared towards the implementation of a new democracy.

Cuba's present communist government falsely presents itself as the authentic spokesman for the aspirations of the people, and it claims to be able, though by recourse to violent means, to bring about radical changes which will put an end to the oppression and misery of people.

Marxist Communism, is characterized by the “class struggle” which implies that society is founded on violence. Within this perspective, any reference to ethical requirements calling for courageous and radical institutional and structural reforms makes no sense. In this system, every affirmation of faith or of theology is subordinated to a political criterion, which in turn depends on the class struggle, the driving force of history.

Participation in the class struggle is presented as a requirement of charity itself. The desire to love everyone here and now, despite his class, and to go out to meet him with the non-violent means of dialogue and persuasion, is denounced as counterproductive and opposed to love.

With the anticipated changing of the guard in Cuba, let us hope a new wave of freedom from the tyranny of communism is on the horizon.
——
[archive-e:976-v:14-y:2006-d:2006-08-28-p:letters]