Castrotion

[impressive]

No, it's not a typo.

Saw this morning where Castro had said that the U.S. could just forget about the hypocrisy of helping Cuba recover from Hurricane Ivan.

What surprised me was the marked variation in my reaction.

First, I thought, "Way to go, Fidel."

Then I thought, "Fuck you, asshole."

How'd you react?

 

[GingerV]

Disappointment, on some level. Not in him, so much as for the people who might need the help.

But I understand his point. Cuba's been suffering for longer than Iraq did under our displeasure/sanctions. With less to trade on the black market. A hurricane may not do as much damage as we have managed to over the years. And while it would be nice to think that nothing brings countries to their senses like people in need, I get that Castro would see it more as a PR move on our part.

I'm just disappointed that old wounds have been allowed to fester so badly, and worried about how the people of Cube who need help are going to get it.

Surprisingly mellow, really. I usually throw more fire when I feel strongly.

G

 

[lucky-E-leven]

He has to say that. I mean, isn't this the country that we have a huge military institution on... You know, the one where we rent the land from Cuba and they haven't taken one cent of that money in ages?

If I remember right from a government class I took a few years back, they've returned the check we send every month/year (I can't remember exactly.) from the beginning. There's supposed to be some rather large account sitting with our government for all of the money we've attempted to pay them that has been refused.



~lucky

 

[impressive]

There's supposed to be some rather large account sitting with our government for all of the money we've attempted to pay them that has been refused.

It's a shame our government can't take that money and give it directly to the people of Cuba who will be hurt by the storm.

 

[minsue]

I was not surprised, but disappointed and saddened.

 

[impressive]

Empty and cold, but it keeps me alive
I gave it my soul so that I could survive
Keeping me safe in these chains, precious pain
- Melissa Etheridge

Hijacking my own thread here -- I love her lyrics! "Angels Would Fall" really gets under my (ecclesiastic) skin.

Okay, back on topic ...

 

[minsue]

gets under my (ecclesiastic) skin.

Ooh, you might want to have that checked out by a dermatologist, Imp.


I love her, too.

 

[impressive]

Imp.

I do believe my nick has just been named. I like it!

 

[minsue]

I do believe my nick has just been named. I like it!

LOL

I thought you might.

 

[Guest]

Castro is a man who stands behind his principles. I have to say, I admire him for that. He knows that as soon as he accepts a penny of that money he's in our pocket.

Good on ya, Fidel.

 

[R. Richard]

Fidel Castro is a politician, always has been always will be. The suffering of his people means nothing to him, as long as he can continue to pursue his political agenda.

Perhaps the reaction of his people can be seen in the following Cuban joke.

"What are the best things about Fidels revolution? Baseball, basketball and boxing!"

"What are the worst things about Fidel's revolution? Breakfast, lunch and dinner."

 

[Belegon]

Standing on principles is nice, but the time is not when your people are suffering...

I would make a horrible politician.

Seriously, shouldn't we apply the Hierarchy of Needs here? Why not worry about self-realization after the food and shelter are fixed?

I know, it's pysch not poly-sci. But I already said I would make a lousy politician.

 

[Colleen Thomas]

Even Iran, a country with whom our relationship is at best hatefilled, accepted help from us when a natural disaster struck. We help all kinds of folks, from all nations and every different shade of the political spectrum when natural disaster strikes. We aren't alone in this, almost any country that has the means lends aide to others when mother nature reminds us she is still queen.

Refusing aid is cutting off your nose to spite your face, or in this case cutting off your people's nose to spite a country who probably won't see the symbolic nature of the gesture.

Cuba isn't a desperatly poor nation, but two hurricanes in such a short space of time will tax even rich countries. Two have hit the U.S., Ivan will most likely hit the U.S. and yet we are still sending aide to the islands and nations ravaged.

There are things that transcend politics, natural disaster is one. Standing on your principals, while people are suffering who don't need to be suffering seems to me the height of arrogance and disconcern for those you rule.

-Colly

 

[GingerV]

I dunno. Iran can't stand us, but it doesn't think we're the reason its country was suffering before the earthquake. It's miffed about our cultural influence world wide...different, other thing. It hasn't been denied our assistance before then.

_I_ see the symbolic value of Castro's stand. I don't know if it's the stand I'd take, but I see the symbolic value of it. I don't think I'm more insiteful than most Americans. But maybe we aren't the point. The question is, will most Cubans see the value of it. I'm in no position to judge that, pro or con.

G

 

[Virtual_Burlesque]

Castro personally fought a long revolution freeing Cuba of American influence — especially American mob influence. Under the Baptista Regime, for example, the lower echelon of Cuban life was no bed of roses, either.

Next came a failed invasion, a failed assassination attempt, a military blockade and traitorous behavior (from Castro’s point of view) by the Russians, followed by over forty years of vindictive isolation. (After China was recognized and Russia collapsed, American sanctions against Cuba can be nothing more than sheer vindictiveness.)

In the meantime, many countries have recognized Cuba. No doubt Castro expects to receive some assistance from them, as well as from world organizations.

After fifty years living under American sanction, why should a couple of hurricanes break the Cuban spirit now? Especially now, when the inhumanity of American sanctions against the people Cuba might finally be seen for what they are?

With the present administration still in power, however, that is what is known as a long shot.

 

[Guest]

I know there are as many views as Cubans perhaps, but I'm here to say I have admired Fidel Castro since my youth. God only knows how he's managed to maintain his country's independence all these decades. I'm with him on this one.

Perdita

 

[BlackShanglan]

It's easy enough to be obdurate about accepting aid when you don't personally need it. I am sure Mr. Castro is quite comfortable in his many well-guarded and well-supplied compounds, although admittedly the suffering of some thousands of his people might be attended with some inconveniences. Nonetheless, grand gestures remain attractive when one needs not suffer for them.

Shanglan

 

[snooper]

They are at it again ...

... those Americans. They maintain a military base on someone else's land, against the owner's wishes, and think that the someone else is wrong not to accept rent!

Of course, the world guardian of freedom and democracy does need somewhere on someone else's land to do its torturing and illegal imprisonment; somewhere its own perfect human rights laws do not apply.

 

[cloudy]

Re: They are at it again ...

... those Americans. They maintain a military base on someone else's land, against the owner's wishes, and think that the someone else is wrong not to accept rent!

Of course, the world guardian of freedom and democracy does need somewhere on someone else's land to do its torturing and illegal imprisonment; somewhere its own perfect human rights laws do not apply.

 

[minsue]

Re: They are at it again ...

... those Americans. They maintain a military base on someone else's land, against the owner's wishes, and think that the someone else is wrong not to accept rent!

Of course, the world guardian of freedom and democracy does need somewhere on someone else's land to do its torturing and illegal imprisonment; somewhere its own perfect human rights laws do not apply.

I agree completely, but I don't see that it has anything to do with accepting humanitarian aid for his people. Pride only excuses so much, snoop.

 

[Vincent E]

Link to a History of Guantanamo Bay.

Castro has but himself to blame for the current state of sanctions by the US against Cuba. Cuba is one of the most aggregious violators of human rights in the Western Hemisphere, and as it rests a mere 90 miles from Florida we have historically taken a keen interest in the humanitarian situation there.

When President Carter irresponsibly allowed the Mariel Boat Lift during his presidency, Castro took the opportunity to empty the jails not of political prisoners but of run of the mill criminals. So much for pathos.

Moreover, the continuation of US sanctions against Cuba rests squarely in Castro's lap. Each time the US government tries to normalize relations to any degree with Cuba, regardless of the administration in power here, Castro reacts by rounding up as many journalists and reporters as he can, sentences them to life imprisonment or death, then he "commutes" the sentences to something like 35 years in prison or life respectively. The reaction in Congress, predictibly, is to express outrage and continue the sanctions.

Castro has worked double-time to continue the state of sanctions against his country because he believes that is his bread and butter. As long as he has the US sanctions to complain about he can legitimize his power to his own people.

Then again, who ever heard of a selfless dictator.

What makes the situation so frustrating is the spate of morally bankrupt American celebrities who will travel to Cuba - in violation of the law - and toast the brute, hailing him as some sort of champion of the oppressed. Somebody please slap Danny Glover.

I am as right-wing a Litizen as you are going to find here (though I seldom express any political thought and probably will not for another six months after this post,) but frankly I think we should declare and wage unrestricted peace on Castro's Cuba whether he likes it or not. Lift the sanctions, allow Americand to travel to Cuba, and let him line up and shoot as many of his own people as he wants letting the chips fall where they may. Opening up communist countries to the US is partly what caused the massacre in Tienamen thus revealing the brutality of the Chinese communists, but then again it is also what helped the Berlin wall fall and the iron curtain rust. There is no delicate way of dealing with dictators.