COMA ANDANTE
Anyone who speaks Spanish might be able to understand the double entendre in today’s title. This joke was made by a Cuban, and that they joke is noteworthy in itself – signifying that the population is healthier than one might think, and perhaps when Fidel does die, the world here will not come to an end, as Americans predict. Things are certain to change, but don’t be surprised if the changes are smaller than you might expect.
Castro’s disappearance, now almost in it’s sixth month, is beginning to take on Howard Hughes proportions. He has passed up many opportune times to show himself, which could just be waving from a balcony. But nothing. The people don’t know what is going on, where he is, if he is alive or dead, in a coma, or cryogenically frozen. The reports I’ve read in US newspapers are even further off. Logically, one of the following must be true:
1. He is dead. But, he has spoken to people on the phone. Chavez might be down to pretend, and perhaps his impersonator fooled the Chinese leader on the telephone. But the Panamanian president has spoken to him, and others. The photos of him show a sick, old man. Because he is shown like this makes me think they are not trying to cover something up. And what would they gain? Perhaps Raul knows he cannot rule without Fidel behind him, so he is faking it, but how long can this last? Could you really pull off Weekend at Bernies with the leader of a country?
2. He is alive, but the doctors will not let him out. But who could keep him in bed if he wanted to get up? And could he be too incapacitated to even wave from a balcony, or make a television appearance. Or a radio broadcast? Photo updates? This choice seems impossible.
3. He is alive, but truly too sick. He is really too sick to do anything, including waving at the crowd. This means he would have to be bedridden, on the brink of death, for six months. It’s a long time, but perhaps possible. A Spanish doctor recently came to check on him, and said he has necrotic intestines, but not cancer, like the US papers were reporting. When we report these sort of rumors, the Cubans translate it to threats, fueling the divide.
4. Political play. Albeit far-fetched, this is my own conspiracy theory: Castro wants his final move to be bridging the US and Cuba. He wants this because he knows the people here are suffering, that it will happen eventually, so why not make it his swan-song. Maybe he has softened a bit in his old age and brush with death. Fidel knows the US will never change with him in power, so he has transferred it to Raul, so if the US wants to change they have a small loophole. He did not appear at the non-aligned summit or the parade because these events bolster his anti-imperialist stance,. Raul has shown a softer face to the USA, even requesting to end the blockade. If this happens, Fidel will reappear, and hold a honorary position, making sure the Cubans and Americans interact without losing the vision of the revolution.