Serrano Praises Castro, Wants Embargo Lifted
Although some members of Congess were cautious about the significance of Fidel Castro's resignation this morning, Congressman Jose Serrano of the Bronx thinks that the U.S. should engage with his brother, Raul, who is now in power.
In a public statement, Serrano said, “now that he has voluntarily stepped aside and relinquished power, I wonder what twisted new rationale they will create to continue their failed policies. It is long past time to end the charade and begin dialogue and engagement with Cuba.”
Serrano went on to say, “It is time to recognize that Castro was a great leader for his people—and move toward engagement with his successor. It is time to put the past struggles behind us and move forward together.”
Serrano has long opposed the embargo and sought to "normalize" relations with Cuba.
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Rep Serrano has long been of that mindset, which is at odds with his choice for President, Sen. Hillary Clinton. Mr. Serrano believes in normalizing relations with the left regimes of Latin America. Fidel Castro and Hugo Chavez are the great leaders he admires most. He has hosted both men in the Bronx. The Bronx, in many ways, is as politically and economically dysfunctional as those "progressive" regimes. It's ironic that Fidel is passing the torch to his brother, Raul. There has been alot of similar torch passing in the Bronx.
Don't get me wrong. I believe that the 50 year embargo has been a grievous error. With free trade, the Castro regime would have fallen, much as the old Soviet Union eventually did. Florida would be a politically different state without the right-wing influence of the Cuban exile community. But I would not go as far as referring to Castro as a "great leader." There's something stultifying when a society has to make something out of nothing. Such societies are easily rallied around the belief that there is some outside force responsible for their misery. Unfortunately, that absolves the leadership of any responsibility. The Fidelistas will ignore the corruption, oppression and economic misery that the Cuban people have been forced to endure because the American government is entirely at fault.
Congressman Serrano is a man who know the pulse an beat of his district. To even suggest that the Serranos have anything to with the dysfunction in the Bronx shows a lack of understanding about the political scene there. His praise of Castro reflects many progessive latinos belief that the US has long need to re-evaulate its relationship with Latin AMerica and its leaders.