My response to friends wanting my perspective

Some friends asked me why Cubans are so happy about this news since raul may be worse and fidel's not dead. This was my response:

Three family members (my mom's first cousin, who is like a sister to her and I've spent my whole life hearing stories about her) "escaped" Cuba last month. I've had about 15 family members "escape" Cuba in the last 12 years or so. Most have flown to South America and fenagled their way here, but I have heard stories of rafts - including one that broke apart and a fellow rafter being eaten by a shark. Just last week, my grandfather's brother, who never left Cuba save for 2 or 3 Miami visits, died - choosing to hang himself instead of living his last cancer-filled days on that shit-hole island, suffering away from his brother.

I know about the suffering and atrocities well...

castro has been ill and has been operated on before and never ceded power. This is the first time fidel's shadow hasn't directly darkened the island from his perch at the top. Yes, raul may be known for being a drunk, homosexual, sadist (some compare him to che in his ruthlessness) who was a communist before even fidel, but ANY change is good. ANY change means hope. ANY change means the possibility of a new revolution, of a coup, of sudden instability that could possibily force the international community to get involved. Who knows? But the fact remains: this is the greatest sliver of hope Cubans have had in almost 50 years.