i did not know that castro is is seen as an icon because of his historic visit with Malcolm X in 1960 at the Hotel Theresa?
here is some information about fidel castro, notice the word “change” even though years ago and his economic bs...sounds familiar, or my foil may need new wrapping;)
The workers came out on strike and the military were forced to accept the people's desire for change. (there is that word again)
Castro marched into Havana on January 9,1959, and became Cuba's new leader.
In its first hundred days in office Castro's government passed several new laws. Rents were cut by up to 50 per cent for low wage earners; property owned by Batista and his ministers was confiscated; the telephone company was nationalized and the rates were reduced by 50 per cent; land was redistributed amongst the peasants (and that pesky redistribution word too)
In the three years that followed the revolution, 250,000 Cubans out of a population of six million left the country. Most of these were from the upper and middle-classes who were financially worse off as a result of Castro's policies.
Of those who stayed, 90 per cent of the population, according to public opinion polls, supported Castro.
However, Castro did not keep his promise of holding free elections. Castro claimed the national unity that had been created would be destroyed by the competing political parties in an election.(obama and his mandate, unity....)
Castro was also becoming less tolerant towards people who disagreed with him. Ministers who questioned the wisdom of his policies were sacked and replaced by people who had proved their loyalty to him. (sound familiar?)
Politicians who publicly disagreed with him faced the possibility of being arrested. Writers who expressed dissenting views and people he considered deviants such as homosexuals were also imprisoned. (not imprisoned yet, but we have joe the plumber, radio stations and newspapers being pummeled for daring to speak out)
here is a book by castro (2001?) sound familiar? War, Racism and Economic Injustice: The Global Ravages of Capitalism (Paperback) maybe like ayers, obama....... http://www.amazon.co.uk/War-Racism-Economic-Injustice-Capitalism/dp/1876175478