Ever since news broke that Cuba's ageing leader Fidel Castro was ill, there's been a media circus surrounding his every move - not least online.
And with diplomatic relations between the Carribean island and the US problematic to say the least, his health's been of huge interest to North America podders.
This week's Top of the Pods (it is 24 minutes into the show) - on Channel 4 News Radio's The Morning Report - took a look at what America's been saying about their old enemy.
He's the world leader who's defied the superpower that is the United States of America for almost 50 years. Fidel Castro is something of a mystery to most people.
There are those who imagine the romantic figure hiding in the Cuban hills, leading a revolution and smoking a cigar, and there are others who call him a dictator, and talk about repressive regimes.
The claim is that Castro has survived over 600 asassination attempts on his life so far - including wild plots like exploding cigars, dreamt up largely by the CIA.
So it's no surprise that there's been a lot of reaction in the US to the Cuban president's recent illness. The ABC News Exclusiva podcast chatted to American broadcaster Barbara Walters about her interviews with Castro.
Perhaps because Cuba appears indifferent to America's rejection, people are fascinated by the Carribean island. So it's easy to imagine that a curious journalist would go to any length to report from a country where his presence is strictly forbidden.
In the On The Media podcast one newspaper journalist explains what he got up to. With the anti-Castro Cuban exiles in Miami fuelling the media frenzy over the president's illness, it's hard for some outside of North America to align the evil Castro image with the revolutionary hero, and friend of Che Guevara.
Anti-Castro group Somos Cubanos are based in Canada and have this music video Hasta Cuando on YouTube. Lyrics include lines such as "how the Cuban people have suffered ... You promised power for the people, but the reality was a fantasy" and asks "how long" will Cuba have to put up with "this old man".
So as the world waits to see if Fidel Castro will make a full recovery from his operation, it's the Americans who are leading the media interest as the drama unfolds.
Listen to Top of the Pods here (it is 24 minutes into the show)
CUBA, I REMEMBER YOU/CUBA, TE RECUERDO
By OSCAR M. RAMÍREZ-ORBEA, PH.D.
Cuba, I Remember You is a book about family, love, relationships, and survival in difficult circumstances in Cuba's pre and post revolution of the 1950's and 60's that all readers will find to be a wonderful reading experience.
See more about the book at:
http://cubairememberyou.zoomshare.com/
CUBA, I REMEMBER YOU/CUBA, TE RECUERDO
A collection of 14 short stories, all in Spanish and English, based on the author’s experiences of childhood before and after the Communist revolution. Includes Appendix for educators wishing to use the book in Spanish or English foreign language classes. Lots of nostalgia for those who knew Cuba in the 50’s and 60’s and plenty of humor for readers in general. Includes also many period family photographs that illustrate the stories and bring them vividly to life!
About the Author
Dr. Oscar M. Ramírez-Orbea, was born in Camagüey, Cuba, in 1955. He emigrated with his family to the US in 1966, after completing elementary school in his home country. He longs one day to return to his native city of Camagüey and to all the fond memories it holds for him. CUBA, I REMEMBER YOU/CUBA, TE RECUERDO is Dr. Ramírez’s first narrative work.
Available now from Airleaf Publishing (www.airleaf.com) or call today to order your copy at 1-800-342–6068.
§ Product Details
§ Paperback: 392 pages
§ Publisher: Airleaf Publishing; 1st edition (January 10, 2006)
§ Language: English, Spanish
§ ISBN: 1594539553
New work by the same author, published and in bookstores by winter of 2007:
Cuba, Between History and Legend
A collection of short stories based on Cuban legends and unusual histories, all told in thoroughly original and creative ways. All stories are narrated in English and Spanish on facing pages. Includes also substantial background information on the actual events on which the stories are based, as well as references for follow-up reading, and historical illustrations for all the stories. For brief descriptions of the stories, go to www.cubairememberyou.zoomshare.com On the market by year’s end. Cuba … like you’ve never read it before!
Por el mismo autor:
Cuba, Entre la Historia y la Leyenda
Una colección de cuentos cortos basados en leyendas cubanas y en eventos insólitos de la historia de Cuba, todos narrados en un estilo originalísimo y de gran fantasía. Se narran todos los cuentos en inglés y en español, en páginas opuestas. Incluye considerable información adicional sobre el fondo histórico de cada cuento, al igual que sugerencias para otras lecturas sobre la misma temática, y se incluyen ilustraciones históricas de cada uno de los cuentos. Para leer breves descripciones de cada cuento, favor de dirgirse a www.cubairememberyou.zoomshare.com En venta hacia finales del año. Cuba ¡como nunca te la imaginaste!
Posted by: Will Scott | Sunday, 03 September 2006 at 04:34 AM