Cuba’s former president Fidel Castro, one of the world’s longest-serving and most iconic leaders, has died aged 90. The news was announced on state television by the former presidents brother Raul Castro. In 1959, Fidel Castro led a coup, toppling the then government and introduced a Communist revolution. His critics viewed him as a dictator and America’s worst nightmare. His supporters, the Cuban people, saw him as their hero, one who gave back Cuba to the people. However, some Cuban exiles said Castro had left a “legacy of intolerance” and had set up a “vicious totalitarian regime”. Under the leadership of Raul, there will be no significant change as his brother continues, leading the atheist country and its one Communist Party.
Castro has now deceased but goes on to meet an ever- living God. China’s response to Castro’s death is that he will ever live on, which is true, but the question is where.
Cuba’s revolutionary slogan was ‘ever onward to victory ‘. Whilst the slogan is heroic, and stirs the followers to continuously pursue victory, victory always comes at a cost and always asks questions ‘what was the outcome of my victory?’ If victory transfers oppression to oppression then it is duplicitous as those affected remain suppressed. Castro stood up for the rights of the people but only time will tell if it had the wrong outcome.
Decades after the Cuban revolt the world has changed. Governments, societies, people and religions have all changed in their thinking and actions. What is interesting is how Cuba will change in the passing and the legacy of its revolutionary father.
Shannon Alders states, ‘Carve your name on hearts, not tombstones. A legacy is etched into the minds of others and the stories they share about you.’
As we reflect upon the legacy we leave behind, the greatest legacy that exists without a tombstone is the legacy of Jesus that has affected our hearts today.
The legacy Jesus left behind can be clearly found in John 14:27 ~ ‘Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you: not as the world gives, give I to you. Let not your heart be troubled…’
Remember, we are writing our own legacy today; with our living we prepare our eulogy for tomorrow.