Change is inevitable.

James C. Cason, the outgoing chief of the U.S. Interests Section in Havana, gave an excellent speech on the 4th of July.

Here are some highlights:

But Castro's system cannot last long. Change is inevitable.

Nothing will come from being polite to a dictator.

For a person who has not lived under totalitarian rule, it is hard to grasp what life is like when the state dominates all facets of society.

Don't abandon your patria, is my advice to Cubans. Stay and be ready for when the totalitarian regime withers away. Stay and be ready to work for democratic change.

And my personal favorite:

America's symbol of promise to its immigrants is well known. What will be the symbol of Cuba of the future remains to be seen. But given the dynamism that a free Cuba will unleash, I'm sure that its symbol will also be powerfully compelling.

Change is inevitable. I believe we are all aware that the beast is only human and will die. Yet, what will a free Cuba unleash?

If the US will forever be a symbol of promise for its immigrants, what potential symbol can Cuba become? And how can we as a people who desire freedom and an end to oppression work towards that?

Any ideas?