From the outside, particularly from the United States, Fidel Castro's Cuba often is seen as a nation of hardship and poverty with its people cowed into submission by Communist oppression. .
Inside Cuba, another view emerges. .
It is true that tough Communist control directs virtually every segment of Cuban life and shows no sign of easing. .
It also is true that about 1 million Cubans have fled since Castro seized power in early 1959 and that up to 500,000 more would leave the island if given the chance. Yet most of the nearly 10 million Cubans know no rule but Communism. They support and admire Castro. And, with their living standard improving, it seems apparent to a reporter who has covered Cuba since prerevolutionary days that they will continue to do so. .
For a closer on-the-scene look at life in Communist Cuba today-- .
Living Standards: On the Rise .
Even the most skeptical foreign residents of Havana admit that life today for the average Cuban is better than when Castro took over. Luxuries may be few, but the state satisfies the basic needs of the people for food, clothing, housing, education, medical care and jobs. .
The quality of daily life is rising slowly, although Cubans still must queue up to board crowded buses or to enjoy restaurant meals that are better and more varied than their rationed fare at home. .
The government operates 750 nonration supermarkets where Cubans can purchase better-quality local goods and imported consumer products--at higher prices. "I paid 120 pesos (U.S. $140) for a pair of shoes," says one Cuban. "That's tough because my husband and I each earn only 130 pesos a month." .
A senior Cuban official claims that the purchasing power of the people is "high and rising." He reports that 2.9 million Cubans, 40 percent of them women, have jobs. In some families where several persons work, pesos are available to buy better-quality goods. .
In a major revision of economic policy, the government has abandoned the Communist tenet that all citizens should share equally for their labors.
Fidel Castro Fidel Castro has been the dictator of Cuba since 1959. ... Castro was born in Biran, near Mayari, Cuba. His given and family name was Fidel Castro Ruz. ... Afterwards, Castro opened a law office in Havana. ... I think that Fidel Castro is a very powerful and respectful leader. ...
Fidel Castro Some say he is a great leader, but others believe he is a bully and a true oppressor. Regardless, in order to stay in power for as long as he has, he must have all the qualities of a great leader. ... Castro then married Mirta Diaz Balart. ... Castro then went into exile. ... Castro was able to consolidate his Power. ...
Fidel overthrew the last leader Batista and was sworn in as the prime minister until 1976 when he became president of Cuba. ... Castro & 150 other members first attempt to overthrow Batista failed, which led to the capture & 15 year sentence to Castro. ... Castro didn't become prime minister until Cardona resigned. Castro's control over the government and economy was one of a communist. ... Roselli was convinced by Maheu that Castro's removal was the answer to their problems. ...
Leonard expressed in his book Castro and the Cuban Revolution, " Castro tightened his grip on the nation. ... A leader that could provide strong opposition to Batista and rally the support of the country behind them was needed, and Fidel Castro was to be that leader. ... A publicity campaign was designed to make it appear as if an army uprising by pro- Ortodoxo leaders was occurring. ... Although the attack itself was a failure, it served an important purpose in catapulting Castro into the public eye as a potential leader. ... Castro ended by saying, "Condemn me. ...
Castro was always plotting against Batista's government. ... Here Castro healed his wounds. ... They also protected them against the Batistan military, traveled to the cities to obtain information, and directed those who wanted to become rebels to the leader himself. ... It was now Castro's time to become the maximum leader and to reform the land that he had fought so relentlessly for. ... The United States belief that the, "Cuban leader had allowed his country to become a Soviet satellite, and that Castro's regime might produce a spate of revolutions throughout Latin Am...
He became a democratic leader during a military overthrow after a period of violent political unrest. ... Fidel took advantage of the situation and tried in every way to make himself look like the leader's natural successor. ... So many people hated Batista that Cuba became unified against him and Fidel became the leader of the resistance to Batista's government. ... The Eisenhower administration's refusal to buy Cuban sugar just pushed Fidel Castro closer and closer to the Soviet Union and by September 1960 he and Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev became buddies and decided to...
Revolution was organized from top to bottom; Revolution had a hero who was the leader of the revolution, Leaders such as Fidel Castro who led the revolution against Batista and Vincent Oge who led the affranchise. ... (Video: Castro's Cuba",CBC News in Review, April1996) Second of all, slaves stood behind the revolutionist leaders and supported them in the fight for freedom, slaves became the soldiers and they looked at them selves as patriots. ... To conclude, revolution had a leader, supporters and strategy for it to be successful. When you look at resistance it's totally diffe...
Fidel Castro Ruz was born on January 13, 1926. ... Fidel joined with rival MSR leaders in the Cayo Confites campaign to overthrow the dictator Generalissimo Rafael Trujillo in 1947. ... The court rejected Castro's petition. ... Castro and his brother Raul managed to escape. ... It was obviously a humiliating defeat for Castro....
Fidel Castro Ruz was born on August 13, 1926 on a farm in Mayari, Province of Oriente. ... Two years before he graduated, in 1948 Fidel Castro married Mirta Diaz-Balart. ... In 1952, after Fulgencio Bastista y Zald'var seized control of the Cuban government, Castro became the leader. ... Cuban exiles tried to overthrow Castro in 1961, now known as The Bay of Pigs. ... Castro was to spend 15 years in prison. ...
