Castro is dead

[walrus]

Damn how many presidents were trying to get rid of Castro? Now trump is elected and three weeks later Castro is dead. Hail glorious leader.

[brocktonblockbust]

@Master over the past 30 years here in New York City and New Jersey I have met hundreds literally 100s of Cubans who fled in 1959 after Castro seized their shoe stores, jewelry businesses, silversmith shops, bakeries, convenience stores and bank accounts. Florida and NY/NJ are packed with Cubans who fled in '59.

How dare you say Castro was good and important. I have lived here with these people firsthand. Union City, NJ ALONE has over 25,000 Cubans.

[Gandalf]

I have a lot of respect for Castro. He started a revolution when he was 26 and brought independence from foreign occupation to his country. Cuba provided education and free health care for its people despite struggling because of the US imposed embargo which was cruel and inhumane. Castro was far from perfect, he was a bit of a playboy, repressed journalism and did crack down on dissidents, but he clearly loved his country, did a lot of good, and Cuba has done a lot for other poor countries.

It's funny how Donald Trump has such harsh words for Castro. If we apply the 'Clinton standard', he will be saying he was a nice guy this time next week and that he has been through enough. Castro is an inspiration and in some ways the US could learn from Cuba. The US health care industry is all about profit and it should never be about profit.

[Spicoli]

My boss immigrated from Cuba. Today he bought the entire staff daiquiris and got a little weepy . Was the oddest shit I've seen in a awhile.

[Master]

@Master over the past 30 years here in New York City and New Jersey I have met hundreds literally 100s of Cubans who fled in 1959 after Castro seized their shoe stores, jewelry businesses, silversmith shops, bakeries, convenience stores and bank accounts. Florida and NY/NJ are packed with Cubans who fled in '59.

How dare you say Castro was good and important. I have lived here with these people firsthand. Union City, NJ ALONE has over 25,000 Cubans.

So what about the millions that stayed loyal to the country and were proud of Cuba? You only experienced one side.

[mikeeod]

My family is Cuban (I was born in Ft. Lauderdale), initially supported Castro when he overthrew Batista (who was very corrupt), but then ended up fleeing the country and opposing Castro. My Grandfather (and most great uncles...etc., of that generation), where part of the Bay of Pigs debacle, were captured and sent to prison. There are always two sides to every story, and I always try to look at things in a detached/unbiased way (my grandfather owned the largest department store in Havana, so while he lost everything, many of the poor people gained something). A few thoughts I have on Castro:

1. Obviously a very smart man, and very brave for making multiple attempts to overthrow a corrupt regime (was exiled for a previous attempt when he and Raul threw together their "raiding party".
2. Extremely charismatic and a phenomenal public speaker.
3. Completely full of shit and 100% committed to nothing but his own power. Read Che's story and see the hypocrisy of Castro once in power. Che was a lot of things, but that man was no hypocrite and a true believer in Communism. Castro was an opportunist.
4. Hard to say Castro was successful as a leader at all looking at the conditions in Cuba today. I can't see anyone saying Cuba flourished or had great conditions at any point under his reign.

[walrus]

My family is Cuban (I was born in Ft. Lauderdale), initially supported Castro when he overthrew Batista (who was very corrupt), but then ended up fleeing the country and opposing Castro. My Grandfather (and most great uncles...etc., of that generation), where part of the Bay of Pigs debacle, were captured and sent to prison. There are always two sides to every story, and I always try to look at things in a detached/unbiased way (my grandfather owned the largest department store in Havana, so while he lost everything, many of the poor people gained something). A few thoughts I have on Castro:

1. Obviously a very smart man, and very brave for making multiple attempts to overthrow a corrupt regime (was exiled for a previous attempt when he and Raul threw together their "raiding party".
2. Extremely charismatic and a phenomenal public speaker.
3. Completely full of shit and 100% committed to nothing but his own power. Read Che's story and see the hypocrisy of Castro once in power. Che was a lot of things, but that man was no hypocrite and a true believer in Communism. Castro was an opportunist.
4. Hard to say Castro was successful as a leader at all looking at the conditions in Cuba today. I can't see anyone saying Cuba flourished or had great conditions at any point under his reign.

Well written. Your family was brave for the bay of pigs. Damn those guys got screwed over. A lot of people are dead due to Castro. I saw a documentary about the missle crisis. Castro was pissed kruschev backed down and urged him to launch nukes against the us. Castro wanted ww3 and was mad he didn't get it

[Gandalf]

Some are dead because of Castro, but I find it ironic that those who imposed sanctions seem blind to just how many people have been killed since ww2 by their own regime. I know I would feel safer getting medical care in Cuba. Uninsured people in the US wait for their tumors to grow as they cannot afford treatment. Probably best to study in Cuba than graduate with 100000 dollars of debt.

Cuba has its good side in the face of adversity and that is getting lost in the mainstream coverage.

[walrus]

Some are dead because of Castro, but I find it ironic that those who imposed sanctions seem blind to just how many people have been killed since ww2 by their own regime. I know I would feel safer getting medical care in Cuba. Uninsured people in the US wait for their tumors to grow as they cannot afford treatment. Probably best to study in Cuba than graduate with 100000 dollars of debt.

Cuba has its good side in the face of adversity and that is getting lost in the mainstream coverage.

Miles I'm not looking to fight. Sanctions were placed for good reasons at the time. If Fidel had been able to give a bit to his people sanctions could have been lifted to he pissed of South America by trying to depose rulers and in still commies. The fact the man tried to get the nuclear bombs going while Kennedy and kruschev were avoiding war says all that needs to be said. His little country would have been nuked and he was willing to kill his entire people to make his point. Miles, I'm not looking to argue. He created civil war in poor countries some are still going on till this day. But he did kiss a baby once so I guess it's ok

[Master]

Walrus where do you get Castro wanted WW3? He did not cause the bay of pigs. USA also supported countries in South America.

Stop being a hypocrite.

[vidgil]

My family is Cuban (I was born in Ft. Lauderdale), initially supported Castro when he overthrew Batista (who was very corrupt), but then ended up fleeing the country and opposing Castro. My Grandfather (and most great uncles...etc., of that generation), where part of the Bay of Pigs debacle, were captured and sent to prison. There are always two sides to every story, and I always try to look at things in a detached/unbiased way (my grandfather owned the largest department store in Havana, so while he lost everything, many of the poor people gained something). A few thoughts I have on Castro:

1. Obviously a very smart man, and very brave for making multiple attempts to overthrow a corrupt regime (was exiled for a previous attempt when he and Raul threw together their "raiding party".
2. Extremely charismatic and a phenomenal public speaker.
3. Completely full of shit and 100% committed to nothing but his own power. Read Che's story and see the hypocrisy of Castro once in power. Che was a lot of things, but that man was no hypocrite and a true believer in Communism. Castro was an opportunist.
4. Hard to say Castro was successful as a leader at all looking at the conditions in Cuba today. I can't see anyone saying Cuba flourished or had great conditions at any point under his reign.

Great insight! Thanks!

[TitoFan]

My family is Cuban (I was born in Ft. Lauderdale), initially supported Castro when he overthrew Batista (who was very corrupt), but then ended up fleeing the country and opposing Castro. My Grandfather (and most great uncles...etc., of that generation), where part of the Bay of Pigs debacle, were captured and sent to prison. There are always two sides to every story, and I always try to look at things in a detached/unbiased way (my grandfather owned the largest department store in Havana, so while he lost everything, many of the poor people gained something). A few thoughts I have on Castro:

1. Obviously a very smart man, and very brave for making multiple attempts to overthrow a corrupt regime (was exiled for a previous attempt when he and Raul threw together their "raiding party".
2. Extremely charismatic and a phenomenal public speaker.
3. Completely full of shit and 100% committed to nothing but his own power. Read Che's story and see the hypocrisy of Castro once in power. Che was a lot of things, but that man was no hypocrite and a true believer in Communism. Castro was an opportunist.
4. Hard to say Castro was successful as a leader at all looking at the conditions in Cuba today. I can't see anyone saying Cuba flourished or had great conditions at any point under his reign.

Good post. You want the real lowdown on Castro? Ask the Cubans, who are the most qualified to speak on the man. Everything else is speculation.

[brocktonblockbust]

@Master over the past 30 years here in New York City and New Jersey I have met hundreds literally 100s of Cubans who fled in 1959 after Castro seized their shoe stores, jewelry businesses, silversmith shops, bakeries, convenience stores and bank accounts. Florida and NY/NJ are packed with Cubans who fled in '59.

How dare you say Castro was good and important. I have lived here with these people firsthand. Union City, NJ ALONE has over 25,000 Cubans.

So what about the millions that stayed loyal to the country and were proud of Cuba? You only experienced one side.

and how many sides did you experience? @Master p.s. they are DYING ON RAFTS TO GET OUT OF THERE. "Stayed loyal" how about "trapped"! @Gandalf why dont you just move to Pyongyang you communist shill? @walrus sick 'em JC! SICK 'EM!!!

[Master]

There are many south americans wanting to leave their country and go to the USA. Does that mean their government are murderers?

[brocktonblockbust]

There are many south americans wanting to leave their country and go to the USA. Does that mean their government are murderers?

I don't welcome any of them. Unless they come legally. But you've changed the topic. Cubans were escaping a brutal tyrant. No South American president is a brutal tyrant unless you count that jackass who is currently running Venezuela.