Heaven versus Hell in the Film Latin America since Independence

Thirty-seven years to the date April 20th, 2017, Fidel Castro enacted the policy of the Mariel boatlift, in which he’d allow Cubans seeking to emigrate to the United States to do so by departing at Mariel. This number would eventually eclipse 125,000 people seeking asylum and refuge from Cuba, and the regime in which at one point they felt represented or directly opposed their own viewpoints. The first wave of Cuban exiles being the extremely wealthy, in direct opposition to Fidel Castro’s regime for a race-less society, and a single-class economy, government, and social order. The ultimatum being set at you’re with the revolution or you’re not, this encouraged former supporters of the now ousted Batista, to seek refuge in the United States.

During the Cold War, relations between Cuba and the United States were icy. Cuba was allied with the USSR, America’s enemy, and was well within their sphere of influence. With events like the failed Bay of Pigs invasion and the Cuban Missile Crisis happening on their soil, Cuba was at the center of the Cold War. Between ideological differences and their alliance with Russia, Cuba became an enemy of America as well. It took the efforts of ten American presidents, six Popes, and countless other actors, but Cuba and America are finally in the process of normalizing relations. There is still work to be done, but the path is clear and the time is right. However, one cannot simply ignore the last fifty years. In that time, millions of lives were affected by the lack of social, economic, and political ties between the U.S. and Cuba. In this paper, I will analyze the last fifty years of U.S. - Cuban relations by looking at the involved actors, their means, and their values and interests through the lenses of two paradigms, realism and constructivism.

Cuba is merely one example of a society. Juan Cabrera is simply an ordinary example of an individual. What The Lonely Crossing of Juan Cabrera by J. Joaquin Fraxedas bring to light is the extraordinary effects of stepping outside the comfort zone of following the expectations of those that lead our governments. Although the situation was unlike our own it highlights what could very well could have

Patrick Symmes is a journalist whose work focuses on Latin America, particularly Cuba. He has published several books, is a regular contributor to Newsweek, and has also published articles in many occasions. Thirty Days as a Cuban was written in October 2010 as Symmes experienced life in Havana. Symmes explains how during his time living in Cuba, the degree of socio/economic inequality was relatively low. While some people were making more than others, the vast majority of Cubans were significantly poor and suffered from starvation in a daily basis. He informs the readers about the way citizens live under a dictatorship government that is literally killing them due to its arbitrary laws and unorganized economic system. The tone of this reading is informative, concise and clear. Furthermore, the author writing style helps to better understand how the dictatorship imposed in Cuba is affecting every citizen and not just a certain group. The way it’s just destroying people’s dreams and hopes of having a better future to offer to those future generations.

Castro’s immediate rise to power in Cuba was bothersome and concerning to the United States from the beginning. Although we were suspicious of his intentions, we were initially hopeful that the overthrow of Batista would bring positive changes to Cuba and her people. Nonetheless, Castro has shown us through his extreme socialist policies that he aligns more with communist policies than democratic ones. Indeed, his Revolutionary Forces have brought him full, unbridled control of the Cuban Government, including operations, law enforcement, utilities, labor unions, news outlets, and financial institutions. In fact, he is carrying out death trials and mass executions to this day.

At first glance, Cuba is a paradise, surrounded by green landscapes and shimmering oceans, yet internally the fight for power takes over the country. In the 19th century, many Cuban’s wanted to be in power, although all for different reasons. Fulgencio Batista was known as a dictator, seen as the enemy by many, but an ally to the United States. On the other hand, Fidel Castro was fighting against Batista -- opposing everything Batista fought for. These two leaders were conflicting, both in their goals for the country of Cuba, and their allies.

Response to Revolution, by Richard E. Welch Jr., is an honest and unbiased look at America’s policy towards Cuba during the Cuban Revolution. It covers the general history of and preconceived notions about the revolution in depth and gives ample attention to both sides of the relationship between the U.S. and Cuba. In addition to this Welch analyzes the reactions of America’s various factions during the early years of the revolution. Upon taking this into a change of the status quo, and of one that only played the international game of politics on its own terms.

Many of the Cubans who remained on the communist island also became disillusioned by the revolution, and this followed with several emigration waves. The largest of these emigration waves was the Mariel boatlift of 1980, which resulted in 125,000 Cubans seeking refuge in the United States. The massive emigration waves do not only represent discontent with the revolution, they also represent the struggle between communism and democracy. Cuba: In the Shadow of Doubt intricately connects a variety of themes to characterize the first twenty-five years of Castro’s

The end of 2016 brought shocking news that left many people around the world stunned, when the announcement of former Cuban leader, Fidel Castro, was declared dead. As soon as the news erupted, Miami was filled with people celebrating Castro’s death, and majority of Cubans living in the United States were filled with happiness. Many Cubans risked their lives and left everything behind to leave their country under Castro’s ruling, so to them this was the beginning a new Cuba. However, what did this mean for the people in Cuba? Fidel Castro’s brother, Raul Castro, had been in office since 2008, so did Fidel’s death really signify the end of an era and the start of a new and better Cuba? Many were left pondering of what this meant for the future

In 1959, Cuban leaders echoed similar sentiments. A revolution on one island? The actions of guerrillas of the mountains and the underground were rooted in a larger revolutionary context, one supplied by Bolívar, O’Higgins, and the other Latin American liberators. Cuba began to “export” revolution— at least ideas—to Caribbean islands and to the South and Central American countries as well. By 1960, given the predictable response of Washington to any sort of disobedience, Cuba had taken its first steps toward partnership with the no longer revolutionary Soviet Union. In doing so, it got caught in the seamy fabric of the cold war. Fidel learned of the revolution’s “junior” status during the 1962 missile crisis, when Soviet Premier Khrushchev

In October of 1992, the US congress passed the Cuban Democracy Act which would prohibit U.S foreign subsidiaries to trade with Cuba, impede ships carrying Cuban goods from entering U.S ports, and stop all commercial sales of food and medicine to Cuba unless Cuba holds free and fair elections (USITC, 2004). This law was later enhanced in 1996 by the passing of the Helms-Burton Act which allowed for U.S nationals to file suit in U.S court against foreign nationals that benefit or profit from expropriated U.S. property in Cuba (USITC, 2004). Even though these two laws defined US-Cuban relations for the next couple of years, they were not enough to oust the Castro leadership from Cuba’s government. Later on, the two laws were rescinded at the request and concerns of the European Union who had interests in dissolving several enactments from the Helms-Burton Act of 1996 (USITC, 2004). In the end, there are several unanswered questions that come about as to the reason why the fall of the USSR, the added constraints from the United States, and the internal hardships from pro democratic movements were not enough in being able to overthrow the Cuban government. To understand the factors that sustained the Castro leadership throughout these tumultuous years, it is important to look into the ways the Cuban economic system was reconstructed and influenced by the same neoliberal forces that sought to disposed the communist government at the

The movie “Cuba and the Cameraman” was genuinely a remarkable documentary. It was so fascinating to me for several reasons, but the aspect of the movie that I believe made it most successful was how it did not lay out a specific agenda rather it allowed people to make a choice based on the stories that Jon Alpert presented. These stories however, not only consist of normal everyday Cubans but also the story of Fidel Castro himself.

The Cuban Revolution began on July 26, 1953 with the intent to remove General Batista from power. General Batista was a cruel dictator, and under his rule, Cuba experienced many hardships and Cubans lost their democratic rights. Many CUbans looked towards the revolution as a salvation from all of the cruelties they had to endure under Batista’s rule. In 1959, Fidel Castro was declared leader and declared it his intention to transform Cuba into a functioning socialist country. Although the Cuban Revolution managed to establish free health care and education for everyone in Cuba, it ultimately failed in improving the life of Cuba’s citizens because the revolution failed to establish a successful economy, and under Fidel, many citizens had to

Wright speaks about governments of the time blaming Castro for the political revolts in their countries and for the large part they were correct, “Castro mounted invasions, trained guerrillas, sent propaganda and money to fidelista groups, and occasionally dispatched arms and even personnel to support guerrilla activities” (Wright, p.40). The model of the Cuban Revolution, interpreted into fidelismo, was the motivating force of political destabilization throughout Latin America. The revolution in Cuba also had immediate affects to the political and economic relations it had with the U.S. There was also serious blow to the economic and strategic interests the U.S. had in Latin America. One factor that terminally severed the U.S. – Cuba relations was Castro’s embracing communism and aligning with Soviet Union. Wright states that, “the U.S. believed that communism was incompatible with the institutions and way of life the Western Hemisphere” (p.57). In conclusion, by establishing a socialist economy and an alliance with the Soviet Union, Castro cut a breach in the U.S. supremacy over the Western Hemisphere. (Wright.

In 1940 to 1944, communist Fulgencio Batista withheld power as the president of Cuba and then from 1952 to 1959, United States backed dictator until fleeing Cuba because of Fidel Castro’s 26th of July Movement. Socialist Fidel Castro governed the Republic of Cuba as Prime Minister from 1959 to 1976 and then as President from 1976 to 2008. Fidel Castro’s intent was to provide Cuba with an honest democratic government by diminishing the corrupt way in which the country was run, the large role the United States played in the running of Cuba as well as the poor treatment & the living conditions of the lower class.