¿Por qué no te mueres? (Why don't you die?)

None other than Fidel Castro himself –the quasi-mummified Cuban dictator who was supposed to had retired from Cuba's political scene due to a great intestinal ailment– greets China's Number Two communist, Wu Bangguo.

Ironically, the picture of both men embracing in Castro's garden is very symbolic and telling: Bangguo looks youthful, fit, wearing a nice business suit in tune with China's status as a booming economic 'miracle' (in spite of its totalitarian regime) and as an emerging world power. Castro, on the other hand looks tired, bedraggled, poorly attired and old –though better than in recent photos– very much along the same lines as Cuba's stagnant, antiquated and crumbling economic and social fabric.

(In mentioning the word 'crumbling' I cannot help but notice Castro's pristine, modern and well maintained, comfortable surroundings while the rest of Cuba's infrastructure crumbles from years of failed urban policies, economic mismanagement, misappropriation of the national patrimony by government officials, neglect and socio-political immobility).

Let's just hope that the Comandante is just rehearsing the rites of his upcoming grand state funeral. I don't usually wish anyone dead nor is it very Christian to do so, but in his case, I make what I believe to be a very justifiable exception.

Please, God, forgive me for this transgression and take Fidel with you into the Kingdom of Heaven since I hear the Devil himself turned down his petition for permanent residence in the Kingdom of Hell.