Fidel Castro Dead

[oldtimer]

Obviously, here is the politically correct narrative about Cuba.  It was a magic candy land of freedom, where the people were so happy and content with their lot in life, five chickens in every giant pot to feed their giant families, all thanks to the benevolence of Batista and his corporate and mafia friends.  Then, out of a darkened sky, castro came down and stole everything the rich peasants ever had, inflicting human rights abuses that were shockingly just as bad as what batista  did, except this time the name was a fearful ism, and capital was not in front of it.  There's more, but we all know the rest.

[Zen Traveler]

58 minutes ago, teknoid said:

I grew up in the days of the "Cuban Missile Crisis" and watched my father pack his things as an Air Force Reserve member preparing to go to war with Cuba and the USSR.

Ha! I too was a kid during that time and remember my family was stationed outside of Istanbul, Turkey at the time (Dad was USAF) and we packed our bags to get out of harms way by an American retaliation--Whew!

[Zen Traveler]

11 minutes ago, oldtimer said:

Obviously, here is the politically correct narrative about Cuba.  It was a magic candy land of freedom, where the people were so happy and content with their lot in life, five chickens in every giant pot to feed their giant families, all thanks to the benevolence of Batista and his corporate and mafia friends.  Then, out of a darkened sky, castro came down and stole everything the rich peasants ever had, inflicting human rights abuses that were shockingly just as bad as what batista  did, except this time the name was a fearful ism, and capital was not in front of it.  There's more, but we all know the rest.

I really appreciate these History lessons from our resident guru! Yep, beauty is in the eyes of the beholder and History has it's political bent...

[oldtimer]

The bent is they both sucked, but one was our puppet, and the other wasn't.

[wvu80]

1 hour ago, oldtimer said:

What's the difference between a monarchy and a dictatorship?  Nothing. 

One might argue political power is the difference.  Not all monarchy's have political power but all dictator's do.  It has been said the most efficient form of government is a benevolent dictatorship.

[oldtimer]

Point taken.  I should have said absolute monarchy, like in the good ole days...

[JJkizak]

I was in the Cuba missile crisis (USNavy) just seconds away from nuclear war. I was saved by a Russian Commander who would not give the submarine captain the go-ahead to shoot nuclear torpedoes.  That Commander was later rejected in his own country for being a coward for the rest of his life.

JJK

[Zen Traveler]

11 hours ago, JJkizak said:

I was in the Cuba missile crisis (USNavy) just seconds away from nuclear war. I was saved by a Russian Commander who would not give the submarine captain the go-ahead to shoot nuclear torpedoes.  That Commander was later rejected in his own country for being a coward for the rest of his life.

JJK

Hmm. If you are talking about Vasili Arkhipov Wikipedia has it slightly differently: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vasili_Arkhipov

 

According to author Edward Wilson, the reputation Arkhipov had gained from his courageous conduct in the previous year's Soviet submarine K-19 incident also helped him prevail.^[7] Arkhipov eventually persuaded Savitsky to surface and await orders from Moscow. This effectively averted the nuclear warfare which probably would have ensued if the nuclear weapon had been fired.^[9] The submarine's batteries had run very low and the air-conditioning had failed, so it was forced to surface amidst its U.S. pursuers and head home.^[10] Washington's message that practice depth charges were being used to signal the submarine to surface never reached B-59, and Moscow claims it has no record of receiving it either....

 

Arkhipov continued in Soviet Navy service, commanding submarines and later submarine squadrons. He was promoted to rear admiral in 1975, and became head of the Kirov Naval Academy. Arkhipov was promoted to vice admiral in 1981 and retired in the mid 1980s.

 

[Don Richard]

Cuba had a wealthy class and the rest of the country lived in poverty. The revolution occurred and Castro caused the entire country to live in poverty - except for his friends and family. But everyone has free health care and free education. Free stuff but no freedom. Think about this next time someone tries to sell you on socialism.

 

I find it ironic that a man who dedicated his life to fighting capitalism died on Black Friday, the most capitalist day of the year.

 

 

 

 

[Ceptorman]

I think it's ironic he died on Black Friday, the biggest shopping day of the year.

[Wolfbane]

2 hours ago, Ceptorman said:

I think it's ironic he died on Black Friday, the biggest shopping day of the year.

 

He had managed to steal $900 million from the people of Cuba. I suspect he died with a big smile on his face Black Friday or not.

[wvu80]

Everything I know about Cuba in modern times I got from watching the Godfather Part II.

 

Quote

Roth, Michael, and several of their partners travel to Havana to discuss their future Cuban business prospects under the cooperative government of Fulgencio Batista; Michael becomes reluctant after reconsidering the viability of the ongoing Cuban Revolution. On New Year's Eve, he tries to have Roth and Roth's right-hand man Johnny Ola killed, but Roth survives when Michael's bodyguard is discovered and shot by police. Michael accuses his brother Fredo of betrayal after Fredo inadvertently reveals that he'd met with Ola previously. Batista abruptly abdicates due to rebel advances; during the ensuing chaos, Michael, Fredo, and Roth separately escape to the United States. Back home, Michael learns that his wife Kay has miscarried.

 

[Wolfbane]

1 minute ago, wvu80 said:

Everything I know about Cuba in modern times I got from watching the Godfather Part II.

 

 

 

I was there for 10 days in March 2003. Wanted to see Cuba while the Beard was still running the show. Iraq was being invaded the day I arrived.

It was a sh!t hole for the poor, all the young people (under 30) I met wanted to be free of Castro and could not care less about Bastitia. The food, with the exception of the oranges (best oranges this side of Spain), was terrible and all of us lost weight there trying to eat it.

 

That said, if Castro was to run in an actual free and fair election he would have easily won in 2003.

 

[Max2]

But Kapernick said Fidel was an OK guy.....

[twk123]

I remember reading interviews from many of the people that visited Castro's memorial and the overarching theme was they were there to be "Seen" rather than to actually pay respects. That is how communism works, everyone merrily goes about their business with the nagging little thought in the back of their heads that whatever they do, it better not be seen as subversive to the regime.

[Mallette]

Last I heard Fidel is still in grave condition and has made an ash of himself.

 

Dave

[oldtimer]

baby, everybody's had to fight to be free

you see, you don't have to live like a refugee

No you don't have to live like a refugee

[oldtimer]

2 hours ago, twk123 said:

I remember reading interviews from many of the people that visited Castro's memorial and the overarching theme was they were there to be "Seen" rather than to actually pay respects. That is how communism works, everyone merrily goes about their business with the nagging little thought in the back of their heads that whatever they do, it better not be seen as subversive to the regime.

And just like here, everyone goes merrily about their business with the nagging little thought that whatever they do, the government knows about it, it's on camera, or in the paper trail, and it's getting worse, and many people think it's a great idea, because it makes us so much safer. 

[babadono]

Q: When you die and your brother takes over isn't that a monarchy? A; No, in a monarchy your son or daughter takes over. Q: So what is this? A: Cuba

 May God have mercy on his soul. Lenin,Stalin, Hitler and Mao have been awaiting his arrival.

[oldtimer]

It's called nepotism.