At the much-publicized “millenial” UN meeting in NYC, Fidel Castro (one-time communist revolutionary and full-time buffoon), made his standard speech atacking the USA. According to him, the West (read USA) is responsible for:
(1) all 3rd-world poverty
(2) all of the intercine wars of the 3rd world
(3) disease and famine in the 3rd world.
Well, I for one nevr bought this line of crap. I don’t why we constanly allow this little tinpot dictator to spew his nonsense. The fact is, Castro took a potentailly rich nation (one on the verge of economic takeoff), and turned it into a poverty stricken dump. true, he has educated the Cuban people-but only to propagandize his religion od communism.
Why doesn’t the world learn the truth about this murderous thug!
I say: $1,000,000 to the guy who puts a bullet in ol Fidel!
How is this a “General Question”?
OH, MODERATORS?
To the Pit.
It is very ironic that a dictator who denies the right of freedom of speech to his own people can come to the US and attack us under the protection of that very same right.
However, unless we kick the UN out entirely, (not a bad idea, IMO), listening to brutal totalitarians lecture us on our conduct is going to be an unavoidable annoyance.
eh. No worse than when the United States calls other countries rouge states and then decides to start lobbing random missles wherever the fuck they please.
Yeah, it is a perception problem. How many Cubans see us as the assholes just because that is what they have heard all their lives?
What kind of an economic takeoff? From what I understand, Most of Cuba’s money making ventures were being run by rich Americans, and most of the money being made went to Americans. It can also be argued that their poverty can be partially attributed to USA’s refusal to trade and the prohibitive rules it had for trading partners that traded with Cuba.
The standard of living in Cuba is higher now than it was when Castro took over (I will admit, however, that there is every possibility that it would be higher if there were less trade restrictions between Cuba and the US…)
What Donovan said!
At least we can light up one of those fine hand wrapped Cuban cigars where we live. Not that I like cigars, but I could if I wanted to.
With a little help from the USA’s economic blockade. Not only does the USA refuse to trade with Cuba (as it is entitled to do), but it’s doing it’s damnedest to prevent anybody else from doing so. You can see why Castro might be a little bitter.
Was there any internal evidence in his speech that he was referring only to the USA, or have you just assumed that when anybody says “the West” they mean the US?
And how many Americans see Castro as a demon for the same reason?
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by TomH *
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I have no idea why or even if most Americans think Castro is a demon, but the reason I am of this opinion is that I have read about and researched the history of Castro’s rule, I have read the accounts and personal stories of many of the thousands of people that have fled Cuba, and I understand the nature of communist governments.
No matter what you think of the effects or wisdom of the American embargo on Cuba (something I have some issues with myself) to suggest that Castro is somehow just misunderstood because of propaganda is simply naive.
But don’t take my word for it. Find a message board or a website run by Cubans in the US sometime, or better yet, talk to one in person, and you’ll find out very quickly why so many people risk their lives to escape Cuba.
So Cubans believe only what they’re told, but Americans believe only the unblemished truth, right?
The point I was making was about the quality of the argument. It is dismissive to say of a group of people (unless they are children or idiots), “They only believe what they are told to believe”. I am sure that the opinions of the average Cuban reflect the opinions they are exposed to in the media and I am equally sure that the opinions of the average American do to.
The question is not whether or not the situation in Cuba is bad: I’m sure it is. The question is the extent to which it is Castro’s fault. If Cuba is a “poverty-stricken dump”, as the OP suggests, a large part of the blame must rest with US foreign policy.
Oh, absolutely not. Many Cubans are able to see through the lies of the Castro regime, that’s why so many take incredible risks to escape that country. And far too many Americans base their opinions on media sound bites, rather than intelligent thought and research.
I agree that the American embargo has had a negative affect on Cuba's economy, but I would argue that the major blame for Cuba's poverty lies with their fundamentally flawed communist government.What makes you think his replacement would be any better?
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So you’re basing your opinion on Cuba on those who dislike Castro and leave the country. I imagine if you based your view of the US on those who cose to leave here because they disliked the government you might get a pretty biased opinion too. Never you mind the million of Cubans who haven’t tried to leave, who are perfectly happy there (Elian’s father anyone?).
Any proof of this assertation?
Oldscratch, since the fall of the Soviet empire the US has targeted almost no rouge states, but they have gone after a few blush states. What the US is concerned about in the future are the eyeliner states. They could cause some problems. The lipstick states are best left to another topic.
We’ll never know, will we? IMHO, because of their location, and their former ties to the US, if we had allowed open trade starting in, say, the early 1980’s, the country would have flourished. They could have retired by now on their cigar profits alone. 
Lucretia said:
It should also be noted that the most visible anti-Castro sentiment in the US comes from former Cubans. Most Cubans in America came when the doors from Cuba to the US were open (directly post-revolution). Most Cubans Fleeing Castro were Cubans who were doing well under the American-run economy (and many had to leave much of their property behind), or were staunch anti-communists; it makes a lot of sense that this subset of Cubans would hate Castro. Note that the quote above was ‘Find a message board or a website run by Cubans in the US’ (my emphasis).
Yes you, you steaming mass of monkey spittle! You yammering,llama-buggering, cattle-stampeding-through-the-Vatican, son of swine!
So,how ya doin’ ?
Jabbering Roundhead assholes (like you) who get on line & advocate political assassinations need to start their new careers as human sewer-swabs ASAP.
PS-- is it true that Miss Piggy is your biological mother? Juuusssttt asking. 
A secondary question is why the US Government has decided to treat Cuba in this way.
It can’t be a matter of principle, since the US trades quite happily with China and a number of other repugnant regimes. Since any threat from the Soviet Union is long gone, the only reason I can think of is that the US Government does not want to see a Communist country succeed on its own doorstep. In other words, the US economic blockade was considered to be necessary to reduce Cuba to, and keep it in, a state of penury.
Does anybody really think that if Cuba had been allowed to sell its goods freely on the world market, not to mention welcoming Amercian tourists, it would still be in the dreadful economic straits it is in now?