WILL HISTORY ABSOLVE US?

Years ago, a young, unsuccessful artist sat in a German prison cell penning his autobiography. Things had not gone well for him. In his youth he wanted nothing more than to be admitted to the Kunst Academie in Vienna for painting. But his drawings were stilted and lacking in inspiration. The professors thought he would be much better suited for the School of Architecture. But he would have none of that. He grew bitter and fell in with the wrong crowd. In 1918 he decided that he would show them all. Maybe he didn't have the talent to be a painter, but he would never stop thinking of himself as an artist. In MEIN KAMPF he writes, "My fate became known to me. I decided to go into politics." and later in the book- "History will absolve me." We all know how that worked out.

Another politician who used that phrase in a very long and eloquent statement as he stood before his accusors in a pre-revolutionary Cuban court room was the young lawyer Fidel Castro. Who knows whether he lifted it from MEIN KAMPF. The judges were not impressed. Off to prison went Fidel. But he did not stay there long. Once out he traveled to Mexico, where along with Che, brother Raul and Camillo Cienfuegos, they plotted and carried out the 1959 New Year's Eve overthrow of the Batista government. For the past 50 years "El Comandante" and his brother have brought the revolution into the 21st century. Has history absolved them? The jury's still out.
In 2002 and again in 2003 I visited Cuba. On my first visit I lectured at ISA (the country club where Che and Fidel played golf and vowed to establish a world class art school). They did. And on my second visit I had my world product launch of Holy LGM water, cigars and honey under the big top on the outskirts of Havana. A burly, plain clothes Cuban security officer was so appalled that a capitalista gringo would attempt to sell products in Cuba he was speechless. After pleading ignorance of the Socialista system and handing him a box of fresh Cohiba cigars, with my Holy lgm band, he agreed to let me pass out all the swag for free. The circus could proceed. I was a hero to the kids sucking down the bottled honey and cocking their new baseball caps.
I love Cuba and all it's contradictions. One night I sat in the back seat of a 1959 Chevy that had had it's aging motor replaced with a Russian tractor engine. The cabby was proud of the rumbling beast. It was geared so low it barely went faster than 20 mph. We stopped at an intersection and a cop waved us over. I asked the cabby what was going on? He just pointed as a long line of Mercedes limos (all with their lights out) passed in front of us. "Fidel." he grumbled. Then he went on to tell me how he was arrested in the early 90's for having US dollars. At the time it was illegal for Cubans to have US money in their posession. He spent 5 years in prison. When they changed the law he was released. "Who will give me back those 5 years?" he asked. I gave him a $10 tip for a $5 ride. He cursed Fidel and thanked me for the generous tip. So much for the revolution in his eyes.
In less than a month the 44th president of the United States will be sworn into office. He inherits such a shit storm from his predecessors it's had to know where to begin to shovel it out. He better make a revolution or we're all doomed. Last night my Cuban friends lit cigars, ate grapes and tossed buckets of water out their doors. It's a new beginning. Shewho and I went to Slick's to party in the new year. Our lives are good. But at what price to the rest of the world? In the words of Homer Simpson "I resolve to be more fun." That can't hurt. HAPPY NEW YEAR!