It’s the start of a new year, and everyone is anxious to get started on their New Year’s resolution. But what Cuba got this week was a New Year’s revolution. The self-made dictator Fulgencio Batista, left the island for Spain, just on the first day of the new year. Che Guevara’s forces made it into Havana, Cuba. Once revolutionary forces made it into Havana, it was all over. The Regime was toppled and the rebels took over the city. Fidel himself is expected to be in Havana in just a few days, he gave a victory speech in Santiago De Cuba on the same day as forces closed into Havana. During his speech Castro mentioned: "This time the revolution will not be frustrated! This time, fortunately for Cuba, the revolution will achieve its true objective. It will not be like 1898, when the Americans came and made themselves masters of the country."It has been a good start for the revolutionary forces as the new year rolls in. The Batista Regime has been toppled, but what does this mean for the future of Cuba’s government? As Fidel is on his way to Havana, many seem to be celebrating without a doubt that Batista is gone. But beyond that, people may wonder what happens with Cuba next. Fidel said "Once we finish this war, the military commanders cannot occupy political positions. We have to remain the moral guardians of the revolution. Our duty is to ensure that the promises to the people are kept." This revolution worked great until now, but will Cuba go back to it’s democratic ways? Or will it be influenced other countries or the tide heating up between Communism and Democracy?
For one, the Batista Regime was corrupt. People in Cuba took note of that. The dictator himself disregarded the constitution of 1940. Batista stripped the Cuban people of their rights as citizens of the island. The revolution a reaction made by one man who knew what the right thing to do was, the people needed someone like that to start the revolution. Fidel might not want to have commanders to take positions in the government. But the people that were the ones doing the fighting are really the most suited for running the country, since it was Fidel’s men who took the responsibility of restoring the country in the first place. Of course, Fidel Castro has different ideas to run the country.
Whatever change they might be heading for, the Cubans have a lot of work ahead of them. Reconstruction of the island’s economic and political ideas are going to change. It is assured that right now they are in a rather neutral state. Neither an ally or enemy in the world ... yet.
