It is not a hoax this time. Ex-President and co-founder of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro, died yesterday on the 25th of November, 2016, at age 90. 

Millions are morning a black sheep who challenged against all odds traditional world powers at the heart of the Cold War and beyond. Many also credit him for pushing back cross-border “viruses”, such as Operation Condor.

Here are six bullet point pillars essential to comprehending pro-Castrismo:

6 PRO-CASTRO ARGUMENTS:

Certain “humanitarian” endeavors have earned the Castrista governments credit across many parts of the developing world. Photo (c) ABC 2015

ECONOMY: Castro Cuba was socio-economically resilient. With  Cold War (i.e.: Russia and China) and Pink Tide (i.e.: Venezuela) economic and political aid, it survived 50 years of US embargo.

LEADERSHIP PROFILE: Castro was also personally resilient. He survived over 600 CIA assassination attempts, from poisoned chocolate milk and cigars to an attempt on a state visit to Panama. He was also the 20th century’s  longest serving non-royal leader

EDUCATION: Castro governance emphasized popular education. By the end of his rule in 2007, Cuba had reached a 99.7% literacy rate, according to the United Nations. It is ranked among Scandinavian countries. In comparison, the US maintains an 86% literacy rate.

HEALTH: Healthcare is 100% free, compared to predominantly private health institutions under predecessor Dictator Fulgencio Bautista. The number of doctors also increased dramatically, and have been sent on humanitarian missions across the Americas and world, providing more medical aid than all G8 countries combined – aka “Cuban medical internationalism”. Such endeavors have earned the Castrista governments credit across many parts of the developing world.

POLITICS: Castro supported his brother, Raul Castro’s, normalization of US relations in 2015, claiming that times were changing, and Cuba needed to change, too.

STRATEGY: Castro represented an alternative political pole to US, NATO, IMF and World Bank-backed association – aka the “Non-Aligned Movement” – within Latin America, and beyond. He was a life-long icon of anti-imperialism, socialism, and to some, humanitarianism…for better or for worse.

CONCLUSION:

During his time in power, as well as after resigning to his brother, Fidel met hundreds of heads of state and religion. Many are long passed, some expected – such as Khrushchev, Pope John Paul II, Garcia Marquez, Reagan, Peron, Arbenz, Bautista, Allende, Kennedy, and Guevara – and others Fidel expressed surprise to have physically outlived – specifically Chavez.

All named individuals have the commonality of a legacy that outlived their bodies.

Fidel Castro’s legacy – via political, cultural, economic, health, development, strategy, leadership tactics, security, education and other aspects – will undoubtedly continue to influence his country, people and predecessors for decades to come.