The Cuban Revolution of 1959, at a time when the United States and the Soviet Union were competing for world power, brought the communist threat within ninety miles of the American mainland (Castro, 110). Up to this point, American interaction with its southern counterparts in Latin America had been characterized by the Monroe Doctrine, the foreign policies of the first Roosevelt presidency, and later on, the Good Neighbor Policy. The first two approaches asserted that the United States had hegemonic power over the western hemisphere and reserved the right to intervene in its own backyard in defense of its own interest.
[...] In his speech, Castro speaks highly of revolution and of people rejoicing over the changes. However, today Cuba remains an undeveloped and poor country in which many of its citizens are virtually captives of the communist government. Instead of making progress, Castro's communist regime has pushed many to leave Cuba and head towards the United States in search of freedom. He seems almost naïve when he states that “what was yesterday a hopeless land is gradually becoming one of the most enlightened and advance and developed peoples of the continent” (Castro 112). [...]
[...] According to Castro, at that time the Cuban revolutionaries “weren't 150 percent communists” and were still offering to pay for the lands they had confiscated. In addition, Castro assures that Cuba had not yet exchanged correspondence with Nikita Khrushchev, the first secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. Once again, Fidel Castro points to the U.S. is leaving him no choice but to turn to the U.S.S.R.; thus, apologizes to no for the reforms he had to institute in order for Cuba to be able to take first tottering step toward development” (Castro 111). [...]
[...] The revolution was necessary to correct all the wrongs of the Batista regime and since the American government had supported the previous rule of corruption, it was also blameworthy. Castro also condemns the U.S. in his speech for demanding immediate payments for the land expropriated. Castro's argument here is that Cuba was in no economic condition to pay the large sums mandated. The Americans offered no support or compassion to the agrarian cause and instead were only concerned with money. [...]
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