Numerous ethnic minorities have been part of our history because of their strategic thinking during a revolution or a war. However, Ernesto ‘che’ Guevara and Fidel Castro have arguably proven to be the ultimate icons of revolution among all ethnic minorities. They represented the symbols of rebellion, non-conformity and social inequality. Though their ideologies are a subject to fiery debates, it is evident that their impact during the revolution was extraordinary and it completely changed the future of Cuba. Historians have sort to explain types of revolution as to be coming either from above or below. Revolution above is explained as the type of revolution that is formed by the social elites in a society to the commoners, while the latter comes from the ordinary citizens who join together especially to fight social injustices caused by the elites or their rulers.
Initially, Fidel Castro and Che Guevara had viable common goals for their national Cuba. They were ready to face any form of torture, punishment or even death from the then Dictator-president Fulgencio Batista for the sake of their people. Fidel Castro is famously quoted in his book, History Will Absolve Me saying, “I know that imprisonment will be harder for me than it has ever been for anyone, filled with cowardly threats and hideous cruelty. But I do not fear prison, as I do not fear the fury of the miserable tyrant who took the lives of 70 of my comrades. Condemn me. It does not matter. History will absolve me.” Their main goals were to end the US dominance in Cuba, redistribute wealth, to impose moderate democratic reforms and most importantly to establish a Marxist regime. They derived their inspiration from Jose Marti who dedicated his whole life to the cause of Cuban independence and with a passion for democracy.
In conclusion, though the Fidel Castro and Che Guevara led the ‘Revolutions Above’ for a good cause to make equality prevail in Cuba, to some extent they did not perform up to their tasks. For example, Fidel Castro’s passion towards politics changed him to a dangerous character who forgot his main goals for fighting for liberation and ended up being a fiery dictator who imposed harsh policies and actions at will.
Bibliography
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Castro, Fidel. History Will Absolve Me. Secaucus, N.J.: Citadel Press, 1984.
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