The Cuban Exodus–a Taste of Freedom

An exodus is not yet a revolution. In the case of Cuba, it comes as evidence of desperation and geographical convenience. Where the Hungarians and Czechs had to face Russian tanks, the Cuban escapees face Castro’s wrath, hazardous waters in less-than-reliable craft, gougers, and a government welcome to these shores that blows hot and cold.

The few of us who were at the small gathering that was addressed by Huber Matos, reported briefly in the last Dissent, were deeply impressed. He spoke quietly and gravely about widespread disaffection in Cuba. Matos is hardly the sort to make wild guesses about impending revolution. Yet, he spoke of hundreds of thousands who were fed up with political repression, economic chaos. But “believing is seeing,” and in the last few weeks we have been seeing it for real, beyond anything he said.

What began as a small surge to get out has swelled to an immense, almost frantic, mass movement. Castro and his Russian masters ha...