Fidel Castro

limerickman

Fidel Castro turned 80 last week.

Anyone here have any thoughts/opinions about the man and his role in Cuba?

I've read quite a bit about him and his governing of Cuba.
The Cuban Missile Crisis probably defines him in many peoples eyes (either pro/anti).

But beyond that he seemed to reach power on the understanding that he would create a socialist state.
The fall of the Iron Curtain prompted those in the anti Castro to say that Cuba and the Castro goverment would die a death.
17 years later Castro and Cuba are still operating.

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morelike hypocrisy.

willocrew

The man is a dinosaur..

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stevebaby

Castro will be remembered for the Missile Crisis but I would prefer to remember his role in reducing the child mortality rate in Cuba to one of the lowest in the world.
Before Castro came to power Cuba was an impoverished third-world colony of the US run by a corrupt and brutal dictator for the benefit of the Mob.
The child mortality rate is now lower in Cuba than the US.

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nns1400

What about the mortality rate for political (or any kind of) dissenters?

How is Fidel Castro not a corrupt and brutal dictator for the benefit of himself?

nns1400

The Cuban Missile Crisis? Like, 40 years ago? Have you ever heard of Florida? Where anyone with an innertube and some duct tape will STILL try to get to escape that man? We've had people in prison who have begged to stay incarcerated here rather than be "free" in Cuba (I guess they didn't know about the child mortality rate). Do you not know the difference between socialism and communism? Bashing the US govt is one thing, but good God, if you and stevebaby would be apologists for someone like the great humanitarian Fidel Castro, I think I'd better leave the bloody soap box before I puke.

stevebaby

Cuba can't be that bad or the US Coastguard wouldn't be sending people back there when they are intercepted on the high seas.

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nns1400

Tell me you're joking.

stevebaby

"Wet foot/dry foot" law.
See link.
http://www.olemiss.edu/orgs/SGLC/MS...g/26.1cuban.htm
Federal Court Rules for Cuban Refugees

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limerickman

Florida ?

I was there once - my brother in law got married there.
Nice place it was too. Lot of old people though there - reminescing about what might have been.
Not that there is anything wrong with remeniscing - except that they were fantasists.
Ex-mafia types : missing the casinos and gin joints and what might have been.
Have to say it left me rather cold listening to the waffle.
These types are the problem.

As for Castro : literacy rates are high, Cuba has a superb medical school.
Ireland and Cuba have a greet affinity.
The Lord Mayor of Limerick lectured Clinton about the US embargo when he (BC) was here in 1998 on a State visit.
Quite right too.

__________________
.."But finally the last thing I’ll say to the people who don’t believe in cycling, the cynics and the sceptics. I'm sorry for you. I’m sorry that you can’t dream big. [I]I'm sorry you don't believe in miracles. You should believe in these athletes, and you should believe in these people. I'll be a fan of the Tour de France for as long as I live. And there are no secrets" - this is a hard sporting event and hard work wins it - Armstrong 2005 TDF
morelike hypocrisy.

nns1400

Hmmm, where to start? Lim's been to Florida and chatted up some New Jersey retirees, managing to avoid the entire Spanish speaking population. I guess that makes you an expert then. Then you say, "these types are the problem." ??? The problem in Florida? The problem in Cuba? What is the relevance of that comment?

Next point: learn how to spell reminiscing. Or at least stick to one version of misspelling.

As for Castro: clearly you are delusional. The only thing Ireland and Cuba have in common is large numbers of emigres to the US. Oh, but wait. People can't emigrate from Cuba; they have to escape. Your points in favor of the utopian paradise in Cuba are a medical school and literacy. I believe America has plenty of superb medical schools, yet that does not stop you and stevebaby from assigning the US as the embodiment of Evil Incarnate in the world today.

As for literacy, what exactly are they allowed to read, Lim? Other than yours and steveo's posts? I assume our friend Steve is, in fact, a columnist for the Cuban state newspaper. Otherwise, they pretty much don't get to use their awesome literacy powers on anything like political freedom, academic freedom, religious freedom, freedom of the press, freedom of assembly, economic freedom, personal freedom or any other sort of freedom. In other words, they don't get to sit smugly in comfortable free democracies, spewing whatever opinions they choose on the Internet, whilst shitting all over the pain and suffering of oppressed people in Communist regimes.

Now you guys can get all huffy about other oppressed people, and blame America, and totally ignore everything I just stated.

BTW, I'm sure an American president was quite keen on the opinion of an Irish county mayor on US relations with Cuba.

stevebaby

Why does the US coastguard fire on them and send them back?

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nns1400

About "Cuba can't be that bad." Just why are there Cuban refugees in the first place? And why did federal courts rule in their favor? As for wet foot/dry foot, well, having two dry feet couldn't save Elian Gonzalez from the lefty Clinton administration and Janet Reno's jackbooted thugs. But I'm sure he can read very well.

nns1400

Because they are making it all up!!! Cuba is totally awesome and nothing bad ever happens there. Bad things only happen in the US or as a direct result of US actions. But there is a conspiracy afoot that communism is oppressive. America isn't buying it. We know Cuba is totally great, and everybody there can live forever and read anything they want, with great big words, and they can even become doctors! But some people, who can't see the incredible greatness of their nation, pretend it's bad and swarm the US coast just because they are crazy!! Crazy not to love their great master, Fidel. Well, we won't allow it. We never have. There are NO Cubans living in Miami, nosiree. Spanish is not even the official language of Dade County. No, that Cuban thing is just a big fraud and you and Lim are smart enough to see through it!

stevebaby

So...why does the US Coast Guard fire on them and send them back? http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006...in1375939.shtml
Cuban Migrants Hopeful They'll Be Back - CBS News

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