Summary:
The author of my newspaper article, which is taken from the new york times on 20th february is antony depalma.The title is:castro quits one role, but may not ne done yet. It talks about Fidel Castro who made his announcement of the resignation in a letter published on the website of the Cuban Communist Party's newspaper Granma in the middle of the night.
He said he would not accept another five-year term as president when the National Assembly met on Sunday. Mr Castro also stated he had not stepped down after undergoing emergency intestinal surgery in 2006 because he had had a duty to the Cuban people to prepare them for his absence. Now he is prepared, but he is not saying goodbay completely- to that fact contribuite also his words in resignation letter: “I only wish to fight as a soldier of ideas”.
In article is written, that Cuba's new parliament will meet on Sunday to elect a new president. But especially because of the reason that The
National Assembly is schedule to select 31-member council of state
(without elections)-it is widely expected to select Raul Castro, 76, as
Fidel's successor, which has already mooted some major economic reforms and "structural changes". Raul Castro has worked to ensure a smooth political transition, keeping the army loyal to the regime and strengthening the Communist Party's hold by introducing reforms and weeding out corrupt officials.
Furthermore Washington has called for Cuba to hold free elections, and said its decades-long embargo would remain. President George W Bush said the US was ready to help the "people of Cuba realise the blessings of liberty".
In the article, there are also reports from Havana that most Cubans will be saddened by news of their leader's retirement, but many of them hope the political transition will bring economic improvements. Other opinions are that he leaves his country with universal free healthcare and a muchadmired education system, which has produced doctors for the developing world, but also a failing economy.
Discussion/arguments/questions:
1. How do different generations of Cubans feel about the regime change?
Does the view of the younger generation differ from the view of the older?

However, members of a younger generation who had grown tired of what they saw as promises for a better life that never materialized, said they hoped there might be significant change, although their hopes were based more on wishful thinking than on a realistic view of the political situation. Youth esspecialy like Fidel, because he has a sensation dealing with them, and he probably got that from his students years, when he was very involved in students politics affairs.
Bering in mind that 70% Cubans were born durring the Fidel castro regime, he remainds fairly popular in Cuba. Many Cubans seemed to benefit from the redistribution, education and health policies of his regime. Those who opposed Castro often tried to flee the country for the
United States before the regime could arrest them.
2. Is there a possibility that Castro is still around - pulling the strings from the background?
You mean if the slum is getting a new landlord?
Not really. The world has seen little of Fidel since 2006, when he turned the day-to-day task of running Cuba over to his brother, Raul. Get the pattern: Bashir Assad followed his father, and Kim Jong Il got North
Korea from his dad. Hereditary fascism and communism -- keep it all in the family, and blame America in the process.
It is important fact that The National Assembly selects 31 members ob council state including the president. Although Castro has never held an open election, many scholars argue that during the early years of his regime, he could have won one. (at least)
Opinion of the Experts on Cuban politics is that the decision on a successor remains in the hands of the Castro brothers and their inner circle, many of whom hold cabinet positions.so …it’s prepared in advance and Fidely is probably still pulling the strings from the background.
Also After Fidel Castro dies, Raúl Castro, as president, would still find himself under tremendous pressure to sustain his brother’s legacy.
3. Are the brothers Castro in any way similar or are they different? how will this affect the future governing of Cuba?
Raul Castro lacks his brother's charisma and pizzazz. (attractive combination of energy and style) He isn't a personality capable of jiving mass audiences with the rhetoric of "hope" and utopianism. Raul, in fact, has the dull snake eyes of a secret policeman who gets his jollies with a truncheon.

There's a reason for that. During his brother's five decades of rule, Raul has bossed Cuba's "security apparatus" (i.e., the secret police). Fidel handled the media and manifestoes; Raul commanded the thugs and kept the crumbling jail of an island locked tight.
In trying to asse ss the future, political analysts pointed to signs that Raúl
Castro had a pragmatic streak. As acting president, he has encouraged more debate about Cuba’s economic woes, sponsoring a series of townhall-style meetings last fall to allow people to speak freely about their economic woes and the limits on their rights to travel.
He has also brought up issues his brother never addressed. He has lambasted farmers for being inefficient. He has criticized the high cost of milk. He has acknowledged that the salaries the Cuban government pays are woefully low and do not meet the minimum needs of a family. He has criticized corruption, even letting state-controlled newspapers publish investigative articles about the looting and bad management practices at many state-controlled companies.
The younger Mr. Castro also has a reputation as a manager who demands results from his cabinet members. Unlike Fidel, who liked to manage every detail of government himself, Raúl has delegated authority and held his cabinet ministers accountable.