New Faces in Cuba's Future?

Admittedly, I threw a bit of a hissy fit yesterday because of the kid glove treatment that the MSM gives the Cuban Regime.

I’m not asking for an agenda driven yellow journalistic campaign against the Castro’s Regime, I just wish the truth would be reported raw and objectively, not fluffed up and sugar coated.

But it wasn’t always like that. Read how an MSM with a true social conscience used to cover atrocities in this post by Ziva at Babalu.

Just when I start to feel I went a little overboard, I come across this article from the Christian Science Monitor via Z Net. Obscene and offensive in its apologist tone that conveniently glosses over the atrocities committed by Castro and his “revolution”, it is incredibly informative in signaling what Raul’s plans are for Cuba.

In the last month, we saw the thrusting of Mariela Castro Espin in to the limelight. She was chosen by her father to proclaim that even though her famous uncle Fidel wanted to go back to work, the family was urging him to take it easy and that even if he came back, it would be in an honorary or advisor capacity.

This article confirms that she is being groomed for an influential position in her father’s turn at dynastical dictatorial rule:

In a country that is in the process of bidding a long farewell to its ageing revolutionaries, Mariela Castro brings an expectation of change along with an air of youthful passion. As the director of Cenesex (the National Sex Education Center) Ms. Castro is eager to consider where Cuba should go in a postrevolutionary era.

The article points out two more obvious communist who they feel will take on leadership roles in a post-Fide Cuba.

"The transition in Cuba has already taken place" and this new generation has a key role to play, says Richard Gott, a Latin American analyst and former foreign correspondent for the London-based The Guardian newspaper. "Carlos Lage (L) will be the brains behind the new government. He, together with Julio Soberon(R) at the central bank, will seek to chart a new economic course."

Gott, the Latin American analyst, says :

"Mariela Castro is a more than competent member of the Castro clan - she will have an important role in social affairs," he says. "The genial Abel Prieto might well be promoted from the culture ministry to something more taxing."

Cuban writer and culture minister Abel Prieto has also emerged as an influential power broker in a changing Cuba. Since joining the state bureaucracy and the politburo, the long-haired, middle-aged minister still exudes a passion for culture and a common touch.

In response to a question about the conflict of interest between writers and the state, Mr. Prieto laughs, saying that, "sometimes I feel like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, but I hope that artists and writers feel that I am still one of them."

Jekyll and Hyde? More like a hypocrite maybe, Abel?

Unlike many members of the government, Prieto is very candid as he speaks about allegations that the Cuban government censors political websites.

Allegations?!?

"It would be a delusion to think we could hide that torrent of information," he nsists, referring to anti-Castro websites. "The only possibility is to beat them with a better concept of life."

Go for it, Mullett Boy.

Prieto, because of a moment on Cuban television five years ago, is known as one of the few Cabinet ministers who has ever dared to challenge the president. Cubans recall a news segment in which Castro and Prieto appeared together.

After Castro blamed his minister for the fact that so many artists were leaving the country to work abroad, Prieto defended himself.

Millions watched as their supreme leader accepted his error and apologized to Abel Prieto.

Few interesting things:

Cubans within the regime only get into the limelight when they’re chosen to be in the limelight. So these are the rising stars of Raul’s dictatorship.

Raul is already making his own transition plans to hand the reigns of power over to the sons and daughters of the revolutionaries, thus declaring the revolution over.

Roque and Alarcon , noticeably absent.

Abel Prieto admits that the "torrent of information" on anti-Castro websites is impossible to "hide." (pat yourselves on the back, bloogers!).

Unfortunately, what is possible is to restrict access to the truth. (as well as fluffing it up and sugar coating it)