Interesting that you don't see the contradiction of these two sentances.
Castro has a free people, as long as they vote the way he wants them to.
Yes, we are free to do what we want, but we are not free of consequences. There is no such thing as a life without consequences. If you live according to what God wants, you probably won't get AIDS. I say "probably", because the story of Job comes to mind. However, Job didn't die because God wouldn't let Satan kill him. He said that Satan could harm him in any way, but couldn't take his life. This was all to test Job's dedication to God.
Read the story, or continue to be ignorant, either way it's your choice. If you read the Bible and then choose to not follow God, at least you'll be making an informed decision. You are free to choose God or to turn away from him. Both decisions have consequences. You may not realize the consequences until after you die, but they are waiting for you.
Ultimately, God is in control.