Castro! Freedom fighter and visionary, or dictator and thorn in the side of America?

Question

You must admit, he got healthcare right. How long before America stops starving Cuba and gives them a fighting chance. The Soviet Union fell ages ago. Isn't it about time you cut them some some slack and stopped torturing 'the bad guys' in Guatanemo Bay?

Ethan- America starved his people and he had soviet missiles to protect himself from the threat of 'Uncle Sam'

Moby Dick- I salute you Sir

Very fine, educated opinions here. Thank you all.

Answer 1

Ethan M, I despair at you, do you have any idea of the history that led to Castro allowing the USSR to install missile sites on Cuban soil? Let me fill you in, the USA was planning the invasion, they had been trying every means possible to get rid of Castro because they disliked his relationship with the USSR.

[I shant go into it here, but Castro only turned to the USSR for support after the USA refused to buy Cuban sugar. The USA forced Castro into Communism]

Installing the missiles was a simple deterant to prevent the USA invading. I cannot remember exactly where the USA had them stationed, but the USA did have missiles stationed throughout eastern Europe all pointed at the USSR and ready to fire, a lot of them were closer than Cuba was to the USA.

Castro is a great man that has done a lot for Cuba, why is dictatpr a bad word? He has done a fine job rulling and now he is falling ill and so handing power slowly over to his younger brother, which I consider a sensible move.

As for no Americans being allowed to visit Cuba, I wish I could say the same for Britain! I'm sick of idiotic Americans coming over here and acting like fools.

Get well soon Castro!

Answer 2

Castro is almost unique in the world of politics as he has remained honst and consistant in his domestic and foreign policy. Also Cuba has a fantastic 98% literacy. Castro has often said that he will hold free democratic electrions when the nternational political situation will not infringe upon Cuba and thus promote a favourable climate for his party to relax the reigns of power.
Also a small but important proportion of Cuban exiles were Mafiosos and crimelords whom the country has done well without.

The USA will almost certainly keep the pressure on Cuba until it can gain control and set up a semi-corporate capitalist government contolled by large American and multinational corporations.

Answer 3

In order to understand the Castro Phenomena,you have to go back to a Cuba before Castro. Where we see a real dictator "Batista" in power. A country rife in extreme poverty. Where nightclubs,
gambling casinoes,prostitution and all manners of corruption existed.This was the playground for American celebrities and high crime figures. And only a few held all the wealth and the masses extremely poor. This dictator was supported by our government despite all of the above. There was no pressure then from us to force a change of Cuba to democracy and I am suspect of why there is a call for this change now.
When Fidel formed his group of freedom fighters to challenge Batista the US Govt bolstered Batista's defense to insure the defeat of the Castro rebels.
As Casro proceeded to Havana taking town after town it soon became clear that Castro was going to be successful and in the midst of all this the US Govt changed sides and offered Casto our support and aid.
Castro being of sound mind was turned off because he lived under the rule of Batista with the support of the US Govt.
So is there any wonder about why Castro has behaved all these years in the manner that he has?
I'm inclined to believe that for the most part those that fled Cuba were outraged because Castro took their wealth excesses and redistributed it among the population. And so they fled to the US.
Not only this, he closed the gambling casinos and of course the high society playground that benefited only that wealthy few ignoring the masses making these types no longer welcome to Cuba. Prostitutes were given a choice to face prison or go to farm collectives to be reformed to make themselves useful to society.
SO ...if you ask a cuban are you better off today than yesterday under Batista (the Cuban majority) the answer is a no-brainer.
And those that are accusing him of being a "brutal Dictator" did not live under Batista and therefore have no knowledge for comparison.

We just didnt do enough to win this man's confidence in us which has accounted for his alienation all of those years.

Answer 4

Love hem or hate him ..

He stood up to an empire 90 mile away..

There is a large part of the cuban population that loves Castro.

He is another victim of the American Propaganda machine.

Not only health care Crime is not nearly as rampid.

And the funny thing about the Media is more people leave the United States % wise because they dont like it than Cuba
but you would never know it.

The U.S Wants Cuba so we can Go in Throw up some Mc Donalds get our Aids machine running,build some prisons
Move the cubans out of their homes, Build some resorts ,golf course,s so the yuppies living in the keys and New york can have new vacation homes

Answer 5

Well lets see here. He murdered his rivals (even those who were pro-revolution). He let his people starve while he built up a military to assist the USSR in invading America. He allowed the Soviets to build missile sights on his soil only 90 miles from Florida. He has backed socialist revolutions in south America. Yeah he is a great guy lets be buddies. I hope that you are at least smart enough to see this answer is dripping with sarcasm

Answer 6

The Cubans are amazing people, very intelligent and have fantastic health care too, they are not starving either, they have lots of food, I was there on holiday this year and all I can say is leave Cuba well and truly as it is, what a shame it would be to see it commercialised by any country.

Answer 7

Good question, SilentRunning. I suppose it depends where you are on the political spectrum. Definitely a freedom fighter, visionary and thorn in the side of the USA. Dictator? - depends on your definition of dictatorship. As for the rest I agree with you completely. I guess neither of us will be getting a tourist visa for the States any time soon!

Answer 8

Sense the fall of the USSR , Communism is not a power in this world , we trade with China and they own a lot of our debt . We don't worry about them , so why are we so afraid of Cuba . We could change the peoples lives , who live there , by trading and allowing an exchange of people to come and go . It makes no sense to me .

Answer 9

Here, Here.

oh, wait a minute...that would mean showing a system other than capitalism can do something right......people might..erronously want to try communism(for the healthcare, everyones gettin old doncha know)

besides he (castro) isn't really a thorn or a second thought.

speakin of second thoughts...i think i want my "here, here's" back

Answer 10

I agree america needs to butt right out, but fidel castro needs to stop being a dictator , he isnt a freedom fighter when his own people are not free . conclusion Castro = dictator