--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have real fears for Cuba based on the…" description: "\"I have real fears for Cuba based on the South American experience. Where you have had such a stern regime, as Fidel's [Castro], there is no culture of ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/59f/john-gimlette-11101_castro_i-have-real-fears-for-cuba-based-on-the_2889329.jpg" --- # I have real fears for Cuba based on the South American… ![“I have real fears for Cuba based on the South American experience. Where you have had such a stern regime, as Fidel's [Castro], there is no culture of politics.” quote by John Gimlette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/59f/john-gimlette-11101_castro_i-have-real-fears-for-cuba-based-on-the_2889329.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/59f/john-gimlette-11101_castro_i-have-real-fears-for-cuba-based-on-the_2889329.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/59f/john-gimlette-11101_castro_i-have-real-fears-for-cuba-based-on-the_2889329.jpg) > “I have real fears for Cuba based on the South American experience. Where you have had such a stern regime, as Fidel's \[Castro\], there is no culture of politics.” [John Gimlette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gimlette/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Political culture struggles to develop under oppressive regimes, as seen in Cuba, limiting civic engagement. **In simple terms:** Oppressive regimes hinder political culture development. Key Takeaway Recognize and support grassroots political expression. Themes politics authoritarianism civil society Mood critical hopeful Type analytical inspirational When to use this quote - human rights activism - policy analysis - education reform Key Concepts democracy political science Questions to Reflect On - What ways can citizens foster political culture under repression? - How can external actors responsibly support such societies? A Different Perspective Oppressive regimes may have hidden resilient subcultures. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Castro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/castro/) [Cuba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cuba/) [Cuba Based](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cuba-based-4048836/) [Culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culture/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Fears Cuba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fears-cuba-4048834/) [Fidel Castro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fidel-castro/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Real Fears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-fears-826239/) [Regime Fidel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regime-fidel-4048835/) [Regimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regimes/) [South](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/south/) ## Related quotes > [ I am no apologist for Fidel's \[Castro\] regime. It is, after all, a totalitarian regime. So I would like to see that change. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gimlette/i-am-no-apologist-for-fidel-s-castro-regime-it-is-after-all-a/) [John Gimlette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gimlette/) > [ I wouldn't like to see Cuba change in other ways. And the trouble is when Fidel \[Castro\] does go - I am sure he… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gimlette/i-wouldn-t-like-to-see-cuba-change-in-other-ways-and-the-trouble-is/) [John Gimlette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gimlette/) > [Fidel Castro was a revolutionary spirit from the practical spiritual side of it, but not with "religiosity"; not with prayer and fasting and charity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-farrakhan/fidel-castro-was-a-revolutionary-spirit-from-the-practical-spiritual/) [Louis Farrakhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-farrakhan/) > [Comandante Fidel Castro loves Cuba! But his love for humanity, if you'll pardon the expression, trumped his love for Cuba: He was universal; he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-farrakhan/comandante-fidel-castro-loves-cuba-but-his-love-for-humanity-if-you/) [Louis Farrakhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-farrakhan/) > [I don't profess to have any religion, but if I did, my God would be Fidel Castro. He is like a ship that knew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elian-gonzalez/i-don-t-profess-to-have-any-religion-but-if-i-did-my-god-would-be/) [Elian Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elian-gonzalez/) > [The death of Fidel Castro, of course, is not as significant when you first look at it, because Raul Castro, his brother, has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-klobuchar/the-death-of-fidel-castro-of-course-is-not-as-significant-when-you/) [Amy Klobuchar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-klobuchar/) > [Fidel Castro was loved and hated passionately.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-gjelten/fidel-castro-was-loved-and-hated-passionately/) [Tom Gjelten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-gjelten/) > [The Catholic Church spends a lot of time in very poor countries trying to recruit and spread the Gospel. Let me put it that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/the-catholic-church-spends-a-lot-of-time-in-very-poor-countries/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [That first play I did in New York, Rogelio Martinez's 'When It's Cocktail Time in Cuba,' I played a young Fidel Castro.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-isaac/that-first-play-i-did-in-new-york-rogelio-martinez-s-when-it-s/) [Oscar Isaac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-isaac/) > [Fidel Castro, whatever people may think of him, is a hero in Latin America, primarily because he stood up to the United States.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/fidel-castro-whatever-people-may-think-of-him-is-a-hero-in-latin/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [If you believe in justice, if you believe in democracy, if you believe in people's rights, if you believe in the harmony of all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-belafonte/if-you-believe-in-justice-if-you-believe-in-democracy-if-you-believe/) [Harry Belafonte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-belafonte/) > [My parents didn't agree with what was going on, you know, with the communists coming in, Fidel Castro. I didn't see the reason why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-palmeiro/my-parents-didn-t-agree-with-what-was-going-on-you-know-with-the/) [Rafael Palmeiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-palmeiro/) > [Fidel Castro outlasted U.S. presidents determined to overthrow him, survived the collapse of the communist bloc that sustained him and outlived many of those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-gjelten/fidel-castro-outlasted-u-s-presidents-determined-to-overthrow-him/) [Tom Gjelten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-gjelten/) > [ I cannot personally imagine any U.S. president normalizing relations with him \[Fidel Castro\], as opposed to his brother, but I may prove wrong on… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-falcoff/i-cannot-personally-imagine-any-u-s-president-normalizing-relations/) [Mark Falcoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-falcoff/) > [I was born in Cuba. At the age of 14 years of age I was involved in a revolution. We were suffering from a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/i-was-born-in-cuba-at-the-age-of-14-years-of-age-i-was-involved-in-a/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) ## More by John Gimlette > [I was talking to my publisher in Britain and was told here we are - we are sixty million people and we reckon only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gimlette/i-was-talking-to-my-publisher-in-britain-and-was-told-here-we-are-we/) [John Gimlette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gimlette/) > [ In both places \[Paraguay and Newfoundland\] people rise despite everything - both are pretty tough environments. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gimlette/in-both-places-paraguay-and-newfoundland-people-rise-despite/) [John Gimlette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gimlette/) > [Lawrence Millman is a favorite writer of mine. He did a travels on the trail of the Vikings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gimlette/lawrence-millman-is-a-favorite-writer-of-mine-he-did-a-travels-on-the/) [John Gimlette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gimlette/) > [American travel writing is very healthy. I'm always flicking through the reviews and I see plenty of travel writing - and an impressive line…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gimlette/american-travel-writing-is-very-healthy-i-m-always-flicking-through/) [John Gimlette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gimlette/) > [What's fascinating is where they come from in the world. People in Bangladesh, a chap in a fire-base in Tikrit in Iraq. Chap in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gimlette/what-s-fascinating-is-where-they-come-from-in-the-world-people-in/) [John Gimlette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gimlette/) > [The United Nations was the thing I wanted to work for. Like the United Nations Commission for Refugees is what I was interested in.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gimlette/the-united-nations-was-the-thing-i-wanted-to-work-for-like-the-united/) [John Gimlette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gimlette/) > [When McDonald's opened up in Moscow - I happened to be there when it opened and wandered in. And the Russians were queuing three…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gimlette/when-mcdonald-s-opened-up-in-moscow-i-happened-to-be-there-when-it/) [John Gimlette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gimlette/) > [People my age and younger do think much more towards Europe. We have to fill the gap sometime - we can't think we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gimlette/people-my-age-and-younger-do-think-much-more-towards-europe-we-have/) [John Gimlette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gimlette/) > [I slightly feel, having written Paraguay and Newfoundland - and both of them have developed eccentricities through isolation - I am quite relieved to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gimlette/i-slightly-feel-having-written-paraguay-and-newfoundland-and-both-of/) [John Gimlette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gimlette/) > [ Paraguayans have no Italian blood and are half Guarani \[Indian\] blood. And the Chileans call themselves "the English of South America," which actually couldn't… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gimlette/paraguayans-have-no-italian-blood-and-are-half-guarani-indian-blood/) [John Gimlette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gimlette/) > [I am sure you have met diplomats; they probably travel far less than you do. Okay, they get to know a place very intensely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gimlette/i-am-sure-you-have-met-diplomats-they-probably-travel-far-less-than/) [John Gimlette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gimlette/) > [Originally I wanted to be a diplomat, and by attrition I started giving up that idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gimlette/originally-i-wanted-to-be-a-diplomat-and-by-attrition-i-started/) [John Gimlette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gimlette/) > [ I wouldn't like to see Cuba change in other ways. And the trouble is when Fidel \[Castro\] does go - I am sure he… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gimlette/i-wouldn-t-like-to-see-cuba-change-in-other-ways-and-the-trouble-is/) [John Gimlette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gimlette/) > [I don't therefore know how to write for the big papers. It must be kids - students - and retired people. And the reality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gimlette/i-don-t-therefore-know-how-to-write-for-the-big-papers-it-must-be/) [John Gimlette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gimlette/) > [It is a gift, and you realize as soon as you cross the border into Paraguay, as I did, the first time in '82,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gimlette/it-is-a-gift-and-you-realize-as-soon-as-you-cross-the-border-into/) [John Gimlette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gimlette/) [Explore all 61 John Gimlette quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gimlette/) ## More Castro quotes > [I was born in Cuba. At the age of 14 years of age I was involved in a revolution. We were suffering from a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/i-was-born-in-cuba-at-the-age-of-14-years-of-age-i-was-involved-in-a/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [Some people call me the unofficial mayor of Castro Street.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-milk/some-people-call-me-the-unofficial-mayor-of-castro-street/) [Harvey Milk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-milk/) > [ I cannot personally imagine any U.S. president normalizing relations with him \[Fidel Castro\], as opposed to his brother, but I may prove wrong on… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-falcoff/i-cannot-personally-imagine-any-u-s-president-normalizing-relations/) [Mark Falcoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-falcoff/) > [Fidel Castro outlasted U.S. presidents determined to overthrow him, survived the collapse of the communist bloc that sustained him and outlived many of those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-gjelten/fidel-castro-outlasted-u-s-presidents-determined-to-overthrow-him/) [Tom Gjelten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-gjelten/) > [My parents didn't agree with what was going on, you know, with the communists coming in, Fidel Castro. I didn't see the reason why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-palmeiro/my-parents-didn-t-agree-with-what-was-going-on-you-know-with-the/) [Rafael Palmeiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-palmeiro/) > [If you believe in justice, if you believe in democracy, if you believe in people's rights, if you believe in the harmony of all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-belafonte/if-you-believe-in-justice-if-you-believe-in-democracy-if-you-believe/) [Harry Belafonte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-belafonte/) > [Fidel Castro, whatever people may think of him, is a hero in Latin America, primarily because he stood up to the United States.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/fidel-castro-whatever-people-may-think-of-him-is-a-hero-in-latin/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [That first play I did in New York, Rogelio Martinez's 'When It's Cocktail Time in Cuba,' I played a young Fidel Castro.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-isaac/that-first-play-i-did-in-new-york-rogelio-martinez-s-when-it-s/) [Oscar Isaac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-isaac/) > [ He \[Castro\] is a genius. We spoke about everything. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/he-castro-is-a-genius-we-spoke-about-everything/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [The Catholic Church spends a lot of time in very poor countries trying to recruit and spread the Gospel. Let me put it that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/the-catholic-church-spends-a-lot-of-time-in-very-poor-countries/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Today Obama was seen leaving the White House in a nurse's uniform on a flight to Cuba to smother Castro with a pillow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/today-obama-was-seen-leaving-the-white-house-in-a-nurse-s-uniform-on/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [The Communists in Cuba didn't assist Castro in his revolution. They weren't on the side of the students. They didn't do anything to help…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-day/the-communists-in-cuba-didn-t-assist-castro-in-his-revolution-they/) [Dorothy Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-day/) > [Fidel Castro was loved and hated passionately.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-gjelten/fidel-castro-was-loved-and-hated-passionately/) [Tom Gjelten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-gjelten/) > [Castro has lived almost his entire life as a clandestine revolutionary. To such figures, truth is always malleable, always subservient to political goals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-kinzer/castro-has-lived-almost-his-entire-life-as-a-clandestine/) [Stephen Kinzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-kinzer/) > [President Obama has thrown allies like Israel under the bus, even as he has relaxed sanctions on Castro's Cuba. He abandoned our friends in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/president-obama-has-thrown-allies-like-israel-under-the-bus-even-as/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) [Browse all 183 Castro quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/castro/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I have real fears for Cuba based on the South American experience. 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