Cuban Martyr...Not Really

As it turns out, Fidel was right, after all. A few days ago, he stated that the recently-deceased prisoner many claimed was a "dissident" was, in fact, a common criminal, jailed for domestic violence. Now, the guy's widow has admitted precisely that. Of course, she has downplayed the incident that gave rise to her husband's incarceration, but the basic facts are the same. The man was no dissident; he chose to label himself as such and go on a hunger strike, to manipulate public opinion in his favor, but he had no record of being in the opposition to the regime. He just wanted to get out of jail, and thought that strategy would work.

So, now, those that rushed to hail him as a martyr are left with egg on their faces, and in the uncomfortable position of having to defend an opportunistic wife-beater, just to continue to demonize Fidel and the Cuban government.

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