[Newsbot]

<strong>Filibuster Cartoon</strong>
<strong>Title: </strong> <a href="http://www.filibustercartoons.com/archive.php?id=20080222" target="_blank">Castro\'s Legacy</a> (click to view)
<strong>Date: </strong> February 22, 2008

So Fidel Castro officially stepped down as President of Cuba on Thursday, meaning little brother Raoul will now assume sole control over the Communist island. <br> <br>No one saw this coming. If any leader had the words \"will rule for life\" stamped all over his face it was Castro. For him to go out this way is just the latest surprise in a long and wacky reign. <br> <br>Castro\'s formal resignation has spawned a great deal of optimistic hope that perhaps the new President Castro will finally begin some serious reforms, now that he is free of his brother\'s shadow. Economic, democratic, social whatever. Cuba could use anything at this point, really.

[EmperorLiam]

My money is on 'not a whole lot changing.'

[Voyager]

Who knows if he's even still alive. I would almost put even money on Castro being officially alive 50-100 years from now; he's simply to good an institution to let "die".

[sasquatch2]

As long as Fidel lives Raul will not stray too far...

[Anansy]

I really am looking forward to Fidel being enbalmed upon his death and put in a glass mausoleum as was the fad in the last century in communist states.

(I, for one, have a fond memory of swearing loyalty to the communist party at the ripe age of 7 in front of Lenin's mausoleum)

I also think if they do put him in the glass case, the SFSS should sponsor MAWO members to go to pilgrimages to Cuba to bow before the grave of the Great Modern Socialist Leader:)

[sasquatch2]

Sorta like they have 24/7 guards on Truedoughs grave because the smell of urine was making the neighbours complain?

[JJ]

Anna, as much as I am enjoying the fact that you are participating in my forum, you must realize that few people outside BC (or even inside BC, for that matter) will understand your passing references to the SFSS and MAWO.

[Anansy]

I think, JJ, one can understand out of the context of my reply that they are both rather silly organizations with inevitable middle class socialist tendencies.

[Voyager]

Oh don't worry too much; that's what Wikipedia's for. Simon Fraser Student Society by any chance? MAWO seems to now be listed, though.

Admittedly, a Leninesque funeral for Castro would be rather ironic. As the relics flow the myrrh.

[CanadianJeff]

Honestly there may be some democratic change but Cuba is defined in part by it's relations with the US. I don't think a lot's going to change. Expect the same nation 10 years from now. Frankly Cuba is just too Cuba without another drastic revolution to get too much change.