Fidel could have done all the good shit many think he did, and that good shit is

[boston bean]

questionable, without killing and jailing and controlling every aspect of his people lives for his own selfish reasons.

The man was not some hero, freedom fighter who freed his people. He was a brutal dictator, who ruled with an iron fist and did not respect freedoms of his people.

Screw him and all the ones who are feeling the world lost a great LEADER.

[metroins]

1. Fidel sucks

And Cuba sucks because of him.

Not the people, the government and oppression.

The Cuban people are innovative and smart, imagine everything that could have been.....had Fidel not quashed it.

[SickOfTheOnePct]

2. Concur n/t

[hrmjustin]

3. The man was evil and it is sad to see people here sing his praises.

[yallerdawg]

4. Just goes to show...

there is no shortcut to socialism.

The people have to want it - all the people.

As long as there are resources and people to exploit - anywhere on this planet - capitalism finds a way.

[tenderfoot]

5. At least he provided his citizens with better healthcare than we have.

eom

[Mika]

7. Castro didn't do it. The Cuban people did.

Focusing solely on Castro is done with the intention of deflecting attention to the FACT that Cubans in Cuba OVERWHELMINGLY support their system. And, yes, they desire improvement of their system- as all decent people do.

Cheers

[tenderfoot]

10. I guess Cuban people do a better job getting what they want than we do.

Or we really don't want universal healthcare.

[Mika]

12. Yes they do! Focusing on Castro takes out of focus that Cubans overwhelmingly support their system.

Gawd forbid that we have very poor neighbors who do better at core principles of humanity and sovereignty than we can do.

[panader0]

15. How did the Cuban people do it if Castro controlled everything?

[Mika]

16. Maybe you should do a little research into Cuba's democratic parliamentary system.

Cuba has multiple levels of government. ALL position REQUIRE they be elected in public elections.

This is an excellent place to start rinsing the brainwash way ...

[panader0]

18. I left off the sarcasm thing.

I am amazed at the right wing reactions I am seeing on DU today.
Those Cubans celebrating in Miami are the equivalent of the 1 percenters here.
Fidel threw them out and socialized their holdings-- something that may happen
here if people don't wake up. Skinner's post about a leader not being legitimate
with fair elections should be about OUR elections. The US has such a screwed up
and illegitimate system that we are in no way able to talk about any other countries.

[Archae]

6. Just the usual...

We slam the right-wing (rightfully so) when they talk up far-right dictators.

Yet we do the same with "our" people.

Khomeni

Arafat

Etc.

[Mika]

8. Please do tell us your experiences in Cuba. You have a degree in Cuba studies?

When were you last there? Have you been there at all? Do you know many Cubans who live in Cuba?

I'd like to hear from one of DU's Cuba "experts".

[flamingdem]

9. 1 a complete lack of historical perspective on display here

on DU today!

[Mika]

11. Grave dancing to the tune of ignorance is very unbecoming of progressive, considerate liberals.

Nothing new to DU when it comes to this topic. Sad.

[flamingdem]

13. Obama's statement looks positively communistic compared to what we're seeing here on DU!

Hahaha

[Mika]

14. Yes. Obama's statement was a very class act. I applaud him for it.

[flamingdem]

17. Grateful that he spent political capital on Cuba

Trump could zap that but I doubt he will since it was obviously the right thing to do on many levels.

Claver-Clarone is on his transition committee though

[Adrahil]

19. No one can be great who jails and tortures political dissidents. NT