The terrible irony about human rights abuse in Cuba...

[Puzzler]

... is that they are in part of the country known as "Gitmo".

RIP: Fidel Castro (1926- 2016)

[edhopper]

1. oh doggy doo

Yes, our Government has been abusive, and Gitmo should be closed.
But no other human rights abuse in Cuba except in Gitmo, which was only a military base until Shrub disgraced us!
Bullshit.
Don't cannonize Castro.

[Puzzler]

2. I am not canonizing Castro...

But neither am I telling you what to do. Nor swearing at you.

Regardless, you are trying to frame my argument by vastly oversimplying my brief statement. It is NOT a black and white issue.

Furthermore, if you think my "Requiescant in Pace" is in anyway "canonizing" Castro, then I suggest that you bone up on your hagiography (and learn to spell "canonize&quot

a) I'm not the Pope

b) I don't believe that any divine miracles have been attributed to Castro within the last day.

c) And if the above conditions had been met, he would need to be beatified first.

OK, OK, it should be quite obvious that I'm not serious. But please do me the curtesy of not trying to play rhetorical games with me.

But If I'm guilty of anything, it was making too brief a posting. In fact, I'm well aware of Castro's history of human rights abuses. But Gitmo is hardly an exemplar of human rights either.

Yes, two wrongs do not make a "right", but considering the current state of democracy in the US, where a fascist lunatic has just been elected, I hardly think the US is in any possition to have much moral authority over Cuba.

What are the incarnation rates in the US compared to Cuba? Why are African-Americans incarcerated at such a disproportionate degree? And how could state such a Mississippi, in the richest most powerful country in the world, somehow provide less medical care for its citizens than Cuba?

So was Castro a saint in the figurative sense? Absolutely not, but he was hardly the devil either.

-Puzzler

[randome]

5. People who died needlessly might think otherwise about Castro being the devil.

I get what you're saying but everything about Castro is relative so I don't see the point in anyone saying he was 'good' or 'evil'. Or the reverse, that he was not a saint or not a devil. He was both. We all are.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]Stop looking for heroes. BE one.[/center][/font][hr]

[Puzzler]

6. Neither do I, my my OP made no mention of this...

... the canonization point was made by someone else. I never would have mentioned the good or evil otherwise.

However, perhaps you didn't quite mean this: but do you honestly think that after my reply, I would be blithely unaware of the point you make about the feelings of people who had relatives killed or incarcerated by Castro?

-Puzzler

[randome]

7. Sorry, didn't mean to imply that. Just jumping in late to a topic with initial thoughts.

[hr][font color="blue"][center]Stop looking for heroes. BE one.[/center][/font][hr]

[Puzzler]

8. It's OK...

... feelings/reactions run high, and with good reason.

Regards,

-Puzzler/MAS

[edhopper]

9. You post sounded like the civil rights abuses in Cuba

reside solely in Gitmo, ignoring those perpetrated by Castro.
If I misconstrued, I take back my harsh retort.

[Puzzler]

10. Thanks (n/t)

-P

[Ptah]

11. (and learn to spell "canonize")

"But please do me the curtesy"

[Puzzler]

12. D'oh! Good catch!

... I deserve that for climbing on my high horse... and falling off.

-Puz

[malaise]

3. That people can ignore the US backed dictators in Chile, Argentina, Guatamala

Nicaragua and use the words human rights abuses for Fidel is more than a joke.
Western powers never gave and don't give a flying fuck about human rights - interests is all that ever counted.
Fidel made them look stupid for decades. He was no saint but there are none anywhere.

[Puzzler]

4. Precisely! (n/t)

-P