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Cubans in Miami Cheer Castro's Illness
Cuban immigrants in Miami celebrate in the streets after hearing that Cuban leader Fidel Castro was hospitalized and had temporarily ceded power.
(By Al Diaz -- Miami Herald)
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Jaime Suchlicki, director of the Institute for Cuban and Cuban American studies at the University of Miami, predicted that some of those celebrating may be surprised at how long any transition to democracy lasts. Should Raul Castro eventually take over for his brother permanently, Suchlicki said he may prove to be a more formidable leader than others predict.
Though many Cubans here consider themselves to be "exiles," many surveys have shown that few plan on permanently returning, even if Castro falls.
Miami pollster Sergio Bendixen has surveyed the Cuban population regularly over the past decade and found that 20 percent or fewer would return.
"That number is a great surprise to many people, particularly those who consider themselves political refugees who would go back when Castro falls," Bendixen said.
A recent poll put the number at 17 percent, but Bendixen said he suspects the real number is even lower because it is "politically correct" for a Cuban immigrant to say he or she will return once Castro falls.
"Their lives are here now," Bendixen said. "It's been too long -- what, 45 years?"
Indeed, few people interviewed Tuesday indicated they would leave their Miami lives for a return to Cuba.
"To tell you the truth, until four or five years ago, my dream was to die in Cuba," said Oscar Reguera, 75, among the dozens of men clinking tiles at Domino Park in Calle Ocho. "But I have 10 children and 23 grandchildren now. So, what am I going to do in Cuba?
