Everything Ready for Fidel Castro’s Funeral

Everything Ready for Fidel Castro's Funeral / Juan Juan Almeida
Posted on July 21, 2013

A group of Cuban-American congressional representatives has formally
requested that Washington deny a visa to Fidel Castro's heir, Antonio
Castro Soto del Valle. Rather than being concerned about the son's entry
to the United States, the island's government seems more focused on his
father's exit from this world.

Yes, the father's farewell. The former Commander-in-Chief's curious
fascination with death and funerary trappings has reached such a level
of outrageousness that some time ago he ordered the creation of a
special commission (obviously headed by himself) to organize and
supervise the perfect execution of what will be his funeral.

Though only in the planning stage, this adiós is already enough to
satisfy the voracious appetite of even Francois Rabelais' fictional
giant, Pantagruel. Communism's dying superstar loves to
compartmentalize. As a security measure the various parties involved
have not yet been allowed to meet to design what the deceased-to-be
foresees as a ceremony replete with the solemnity and precision of a
Swiss watch.

The key military component seems more than ready. The same goes for the
twenty-one gun salute, the eulogies, the mournful ceremony, and the
band fully outfitted with conductor and musicians, some of whom will be
dressed in black while others will be in military fatigues.

Of course, as in any other official parade, popular participation will
be obligatory and massive. On this occasion, however, there is sure to
be a formidable contingent of mimes serving as portrait bearers,
mourners and weepers who, between sobs, will be sure to spontaneously
chant the characteristic slogans we must not forget. These include: Cuba
yes, Yankees no; Long live Fidel; Fatherland or death; Socialism or
death; The ten million will…* no, sorry, probably not that one.

To avoid surprises and keep the machine well-oiled, the Ministry of the
Interior, the Revolutionary Armed Forces and the Committees for the
Defense of the Revolution regularly review two chapters of a plan whose
titles share a certain association with combat missions: "Actions to
Safeguard the Physical Integrity of the Nation" and "Preserving Order."

The author of Reflections has expended so much energy on this mega
madness — one we hope will be his last — that Saturday, July 13 and
today, Monday, July 14 he attempted to immortalize the spot once used as
his speaking platform by closing the entrances to the José Martí
Memorial in the Plaza of the Revolution to the public to carry out a
pair of rehearsals for the Pharaonic entombment. This was done in spite
of the fact that children's activities had previously been scheduled to
take place there the entire summer. In addition to reviewing details for
the ill-fated ceremony, the not-yet-deceased sought to analyze, select
and personally authorize the various pieces of film footage on his life
and work to be broadcast on Cuban television during the period of
national mourning.

What remains unclear is the proximity of the guests to the coffin. Every
time there is a new rehearsal, he changes the arrangement — crowned
heads, heads of state and heads of government — breaking all the rules
of protocol, making adjustments based solely on the way that, according
to the prophet, each will behave.

The gentleman designated to carry out the plan noted in a jocular and
somewhat theatrical way that so much of the decision-making has been
concentrated in the hands of the soon-to-be deceased himself that it was
hindering his ability to respond to changes which — due to paranoia,
superstition, belief or bi-polar disorder — have evolved from embalming
to burial to that Olympian bonfire, cremation.

*Translator's note: The Harvest of Ten Million was a failed 1970
campaign which marshalled all the island's resources in an effort to
produce ten million tons of sugar.

19 July 2013

Source: "Everything Ready for Fidel Castro's Funeral / Juan Juan Almeida
| Translating Cuba" -
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