tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23253782.post5740730272129687899..comments2024-03-03T17:01:57.876-05:00Comments on Montreal Simon: Fidel Castro:The Death of a Revolutionary GiantSimonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15309809679331128837noreply@blogger.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23253782.post-3957158132761278942019-01-13T01:28:29.546-05:002019-01-13T01:28:29.546-05:00Simon , Simon how little you know about Castro and...Simon , Simon how little you know about Castro and geopolitics...I personally wouldn't care to comment ,if you haven't been so confident in your ignorance ...You should read more ...Castro was CIA operative since 1947 , involved in assassination of Eliecer Gaitan, candidate for the Presidency of Colombia in the “Bogotazo” operation, as well as in a 1947 CIA operation against Trujillo in the Dominican Republic. Their are many reports and evidence that he was also involved in the assassination Camilo Cienfuegos and ‘Che’ Guevara. He was hevily involved in creating the communism in Venezuela, by sending hundreds thousands illegal military personal and other specialist who are still involved high-ranking position in Venezuelan government system. In the end it's been said that he was eventually involved on the poisoning of Hugo Chávez. He was Jesuit ( and Jewish) with ancient Iranian Paravicini Papal bloodline, who basically turned Cuba as Jesuit base for coordinating New World Order Operations...He was also involve in destruction of the Christianity in Cuba not only by dismantling the Catholic educational system,followed by execution of a hundred Catholic priests, creating his so call Afro-Cuban religions and also allow the infiltration of the Soka Gokai sect of Nichiren Buddhism. And just like Hitler he put homosexuals into concentration camps while surround himself with gay people. There t was no secret that he was bi-sexual and elegantly have sex with boys...So, Simon so long for your apologetic article on "the great man" and leader Castro. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23253782.post-35500853035813479242018-07-21T12:20:38.742-04:002018-07-21T12:20:38.742-04:00Do you mind if I quote a few of your articles as l...Do you mind if I quote a few of your articles as long as I provide credit and sources back to your weblog?<br />My website is in the very same area of interest <br />as yours and my users would certainly benefit from some of <br />the information you provide here. Please let me know if this alright with you.<br />Many thanks!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23253782.post-35618011445168336452016-11-30T09:57:56.119-05:002016-11-30T09:57:56.119-05:00When you say he "had people murdered", i...When you say he "had people murdered", if you're referring to the executions carried out after the Revolution, they were universally mafiosi or Batista collaborators. Really despicable people. Not going to shed too many tears for them.<br /><br />The criticisms of organizations like Human Rights watch focus on his suppression of political dissent and censorship. He jailed a lot of his opposition unfairly, which is the most damning thing to me. But let's not pretend he was gunning down protestors left and right. The US was doing that in Cuba's island neighbour, Puerto Rico (read up on the Ponce massacre).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23253782.post-88578727779792660032016-11-28T20:00:50.469-05:002016-11-28T20:00:50.469-05:00I am truly saddened by Fidel Castro's death. ...I am truly saddened by Fidel Castro's death. He accomplished much providing free health care and education to the citizens of his country. something not many countries in the world have been able to do. <br /><br />he stood up to the U.S.A. and was still standing. Not bad for him and his small country. <br /><br />Castro wasn't perfect and he was a dictator, but there were plenty dictators around the world who did business and were "friends" of Canada and the U.S.A. Castro make life much better for the majority of his people. What is also remarkable is that in his country there were no wars, unlike so many others in Central America. Did not develop the drug cartels Mexico did. Was not as corrupt as many of the American "friends" in south America and the middle east. Castro's one "flaw" is he stood up to the U.S.A. and his country survived. He held his country together against all odds.<br /><br />I'm sorry he is dead. e.a.f.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23253782.post-83923884638462864432016-11-28T19:33:33.771-05:002016-11-28T19:33:33.771-05:00I eagerly await the death of the next superannuate...I eagerly await the death of the next superannuated monster, one Robert Mugabe of Harare. Though not so eager to read the accompanying saccharine eulogies that will no doubt issue from Montral Simon and friends.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23253782.post-59082936096100048922016-11-28T12:24:35.566-05:002016-11-28T12:24:35.566-05:00Oh, his regime has killed plenty of people, you ca...Oh, his regime has killed plenty of people, you can be sure of that. Maybe not as many as Stalin, but certainly more than Steven Harper ever did. And imprisoned plenty more. And kept the rest in poverty. And created thousands of refugees. He no more governed "with the support of his people" than any other unelected tyrant. It's really been quite unedifying to see the Canadian left let its mask slip in the past few days...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23253782.post-13247876621681202842016-11-28T10:23:42.037-05:002016-11-28T10:23:42.037-05:00hi Adam's Dad... you're welcome. I too am ...hi Adam's Dad... you're welcome. I too am shocked by how ignorant the Cons are sounding. And how American. We Canadians should march to the sound of our own drum, and the Cons should stop reciting their Republican talking points...Simonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15309809679331128837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23253782.post-51892461380181718942016-11-28T10:21:23.808-05:002016-11-28T10:21:23.808-05:00hi David...as you know my heroes are healers not k...hi David...as you know my heroes are healers not killers. So seeing a country that can spend more than $500 billion on its military, but may be about to throw 20 million people off medicare, horrifies me beyond belief...Simonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15309809679331128837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23253782.post-72837982329102434282016-11-28T10:19:05.593-05:002016-11-28T10:19:05.593-05:00hi jrkrideau...I would describe Castro more as a c...hi jrkrideau...I would describe Castro more as a caudillo than a dictator. Part of the problem is that the state security service was at war with the CIA and its agents for so long it still operates with that mentality. And I truly believe that siege mentality also pushed Castro to be more authoritarian than he otherwise would have become. How many countries could have survived a 60-year war and emerged unscathed? And the tragedy is that the Cubans are the most American of all the people in Latin America i.e. their love of baseball instead of soccer. So it was all so unnecessary. If the U.S. hadn't been so fixated on dominating that country it could have been a much happier story... Simonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15309809679331128837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23253782.post-4687953691377953912016-11-28T10:12:01.902-05:002016-11-28T10:12:01.902-05:00hi James... yes it's amazing how well educated...hi James... yes it's amazing how well educated and healthy the Cubans are despite their lack of resources. I would really like to see some of their medical teams working to help heal some of our aboriginal communities. And even our modern country could learn from the idealism of many of their doctors and teachers. As for Justin Trudeau<br />let's hope you're wrong. But we live in crazy times so I suppose anything is possible...Simonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15309809679331128837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23253782.post-13822763821868909552016-11-28T10:04:24.316-05:002016-11-28T10:04:24.316-05:00hi anon...I don't think what I wrote is dewey-...hi anon...I don't think what I wrote is dewey-eyed adoration of anyone except perhaps the Cuban people. Castro was a dictator, but he was no murderous monster. As I said in my post he governed with the support of his people, and despite a cruel embargo he did make the lives of his people better. So that's something...Simonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15309809679331128837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23253782.post-38596850724520488762016-11-28T09:58:26.140-05:002016-11-28T09:58:26.140-05:00hi anon...I didn't have the space to nuance my...hi anon...I didn't have the space to nuance my views about Cuba, but I did want to point out its achievements, and Castro did inspire his own people and many others all over Latin America to stand up to the Americans. And the fact that he was able to do that in the shadow of the giant next door is remarkable...Simonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15309809679331128837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23253782.post-13884781175516181192016-11-28T09:51:22.728-05:002016-11-28T09:51:22.728-05:00hi JD...thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed the post....hi JD...thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed the post. It really annoys me to see how the Cons are using that Cold War rhetoric imported from the U.S. to make it sound like Cuba is some kind of gulag. I'm proud that we did not abandon the Cubans, and that we parted ways with the Americans on Cuba and Iraq. The good news is that millions of Canadians have visited that island so they know that the Cons don't know what they're talking about. So I doubt their hysterical posturing will get them anywhere...Simonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15309809679331128837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23253782.post-36519719004260451182016-11-28T09:40:51.309-05:002016-11-28T09:40:51.309-05:00hi MC...thanks I'm glad you finally liked one ...hi MC...thanks I'm glad you finally liked one of my posts. ;) You should go to Cuba, it's a very relaxing place, and the safest island in the Caribbean. It is however probably NOT the place to quit drinking, because on many holiday packages the booze is free, so I've seen Canadians heading for the bar right after breakfast... Simonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15309809679331128837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23253782.post-81696686252325226972016-11-28T09:36:55.669-05:002016-11-28T09:36:55.669-05:00hi John...Compared to what happened in places like...hi John...Compared to what happened in places like El Salvador and Guatemala where hundreds of thousands were slaughtered by U.S. backed forces, Cuba is a model of human rights. People in that country have been arrested for no good reason, but at least they aren't tortured or killed like they were in other countries in Latin America. The way the Cons talk about Cuba you'd think it was some kind of murderous hell hole, <br />when it definitely is not...Simonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15309809679331128837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23253782.post-6633967165877887842016-11-28T09:30:30.874-05:002016-11-28T09:30:30.874-05:00hi Gyor...I don't deny that Castro ruled with ...hi Gyor...I don't deny that Castro ruled with a heavy hand especially in the years following the revolution. But him and his country were constantly under attack from the CIA and others, so that has to be taken into account. And I consider child starvation an act of violence, so compared to other dictators in Latin America he is no villain...Simonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15309809679331128837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23253782.post-85368313182692510312016-11-28T09:24:24.348-05:002016-11-28T09:24:24.348-05:00hi Steve...because I have seen terrible poverty in...hi Steve...because I have seen terrible poverty in other parts of Latin America, I am always incredibly impressed by what the Cubans have managed to accomplish even though they are a poor country. And they deserve so much better...Simonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15309809679331128837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23253782.post-91925733127786487782016-11-28T09:21:58.518-05:002016-11-28T09:21:58.518-05:00hi bcwaterboy...thanks, I felt I just had to say i...hi bcwaterboy...thanks, I felt I just had to say it. I has always angered me to see what a terrible toll that U.S. embargo has had on the Cubans, and it moves me enormously to see how much they have been able to do with so little resources. I have always been proud that we never broke off relations with them, and I too hope that Justin Trudeau isn't cowed by those Cold War Cons...Simonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15309809679331128837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23253782.post-61565383458761079382016-11-28T09:14:57.735-05:002016-11-28T09:14:57.735-05:00hi Kathleen...Cuba is a beautiful island, its peop...hi Kathleen...Cuba is a beautiful island, its people are very friendly. And every winter it's practically invaded by Canadians... Simonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15309809679331128837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23253782.post-61077447606104031192016-11-28T07:36:34.849-05:002016-11-28T07:36:34.849-05:00Thank you for this post. I was shocked at the shee...Thank you for this post. I was shocked at the sheer ignorance of historical fact the Cons have coupled with their determination to make statements equivalent to that of a spoiled brat where name calling is their mantra. Arrogance mixed with stupidity breeds contempt.<br /><br />Adam's Dadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02280075881623986244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23253782.post-62820841009491080242016-11-28T06:28:50.122-05:002016-11-28T06:28:50.122-05:00Trudeau's Castro comments send mixed message o...Trudeau's Castro comments send mixed message on human rights<br />http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/trudeau-castro-human-rights-message-1.3870396<br /><br />Amnesty International uses different language. While also praising increased access to public services, it notes "Fidel Castro's 49-year reign was characterized by a ruthless suppression of freedom of expression." Hundreds of people have been detained just for expressing dissent or defending human rights, Amnesty said. Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09630890163958807048noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23253782.post-82526764905711377412016-11-28T06:22:29.149-05:002016-11-28T06:22:29.149-05:00In 2015, the US military budget was 585.5 BILLION ...In 2015, the US military budget was 585.5 BILLION dollars.<br /><br />If you even cut the US military budget by 10%, that's 58.5 billion each year that could be used to reduce the US national debt (presently closing in on $20 trillion), job creation, education, health care, infrastructure, roads & bridges, etc.<br /><br />Healthcare would be FREE for every person in the US. It boggles the mind that the richest and most powerful country on earth still had over 40% of its citizens WITHOUT any health insurance at the time Obama became president (2008). However imperfect Obamacare is, he at least made a start, despite the push-back from the Republicans, who really have no detailed health care plan at all.<br /><br />I laugh when Republicans say "We need to rebuild our military". Spending $585.5 BILLION per year isn't enough?<br /><br />Eisenhower's "Military-Industrial Complex" Speech Origins and Significance<br />https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gg-jvHynP9Y<br />Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09630890163958807048noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23253782.post-52614985710335712772016-11-28T06:22:01.010-05:002016-11-28T06:22:01.010-05:00In 201, the US military budget was 585.5 BILLION d...In 201, the US military budget was 585.5 BILLION dollars.<br /><br />If you even cut the US military budget by 10%, that's 58.5 billion each year that could be used to reduce the US national debt (presently closing in on $20 trillion), job creation, education, health care, infrastructure, roads & bridges, etc.<br /><br />Healthcare would be FREE for every person in the US. It boggles the mind that the richest and most powerful country on earth still had over 40% of its citizens WITHOUT any health insurance at the time Obama became president (2008). However imperfect Obamacare is, he at least made a start, despite the push-back from the Republicans, who really have no detailed health care plan at all.<br /><br />I laugh when Republicans say "We need to rebuild our military". Spending $585.5 BILLION per year isn't enough?<br /><br />Eisenhower's "Military-Industrial Complex" Speech Origins and Significance<br />https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gg-jvHynP9Y<br />Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09630890163958807048noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23253782.post-116727092604007132016-11-28T05:16:28.036-05:002016-11-28T05:16:28.036-05:00Castro, probably, was a dictator though most of th...Castro, probably, was a dictator though most of the people who are telling me this are Americans and I am not likely to believe much from American propaganda about Cuba. <br /><br />But, conceding that he was that rather than the autocratic head of government, I wonder if he would have been if his Revolution had not been under attack from the USA almost immediately. The country has remained in a state of siege for 50 years with US presidents and politicians vowing to destroy Castro each election cycle. Some little things like this may encourage autocratic behaviour in defence of oneself and one's country.<br /><br />It was clear that the USA was out to destroy the Revolution and return the island to US peonage. And, on a personal note, the CIA ineptly continued to try to assassinate him.<br /><br />Putting all this together he may well have been driven in both the defence of the Cuban Revolution and his own self-defence to start becoming more dictatorial until it stuck.jrkrideauhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04869979887929067657noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23253782.post-50278620073055404452016-11-28T05:14:59.224-05:002016-11-28T05:14:59.224-05:00This is going from long-ago memory so it's a b...This is going from long-ago memory so it's a bit iffy but I believe the US companies were ordered to get out rather than deal by the US government who assured them everything would be back to normal in a jiffy. They were also ordered not to accept compensation for confiscated property (see jiffy above).<br /><br />Of course, no foreign company wanted to accept compensation based on book value since under a regime as corrupt as Battista's the correspondence between book value and real value was just a wee bit tenuous.<br /><br />Sheritt International presumably under no serious political pressure at home would have taken a pragmatic approach (and may have even paid taxes!).jrkrideauhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04869979887929067657noreply@blogger.com