Reply #82: I've read parts of this thread in short visits, computer on its last legs [View All]

[Judi Lynn]

but I had to try to get something on the record concerning the attitude of the people attending his speech after he fell:

When Castro fell, aides rushed to lift him up and seat him on a folding chair out of sight of all but a handful of the estimated 30,000 people attending the event.

At that point, he demanded a microphone to address the crowd. His image was broadcast on two giant screens situated on either side of the plaza and startled home viewers, not all of whom were aware that something had gone wrong. The faces of people at the activity reflected consternation and shock. A few people could be seen crying.

Cubans like academic Olga Fernandez, who'd been watching the graduation on national television, felt his effort to personally explain what happened was one more display of Castro's "courage and integrity."

Expressing a similar opinion is American dancer and long-time resident in Cuba, Lorna Burdsal, who has personally know Castro since 1969.

"He's an old war horse who never stops going no matter what happens," she said approvingly.

Grocery store clerk Samuel Garcia said, "We could see him sweating profusely as he spoke and my wife, who's a doctor, told me that was a sign of great pain."

Cuban television viewers have still not seen Castro's fall, although footage shot by international news agencies is being shown widely on U.S. television. Many Cubans however, have seen photos of the incident on Yahoo and other popular Internet web sites.
(snip/...)

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/10/21/world/main650527.shtml

As you see, it also referred to the fact some Cubans read about it on the internet, and this is ALSO important, as rightwing propagandists try to tell Americans Cubans have no access to the "internets."

There are far more articles in the same vein concerning the crowd reaction to the fall, as well as a previous mishap, when he collapsed giving a 3 hour speech on a hot day in Cuba, a couple of years ago. If I can get my computer to do the job, I'll post references on that one, too.

Congrats to Tinoire. I saw the beautiful and fitting remarks concerning "statues of Castro," and also to Mika. How many pathetic drooling lies can they try to pass off without anyone checking them?
Good gawdalmighty!

I'm not able to post a lot until something gets done about my machine. It definitely comes and goes with no warning.

Merry Holidays to the DEMOCRATS at Democratic Underground!