Castro at 80

[bemildred]

History Absolved Him, Now What?

:popcorn::popcorn::popcorn:

Televised contemporary events marginalize the role of history. TV broadcasts death from Lebanon, Gaza and Israel, but paid scant attention to the 53rd anniversary of Cuba's revolutionary beginning. On July 26, 1953, Fidel Castro led 150 plus men to capture the Moncada Barracks in Santiago de Cuba. This act of nationalist voluntarism failed. The revolutionaries had hoped the heroic act would catalyze an island wide uprising. In January 1959, however, Fidel's guerrilleros took control of the island.

As Cubans celebrated the 53rd anniversary of the Moncada attack, they again confronted Fidel Castro's famous words. "History will absolve me," he concluded his defense. His accomplishments more than absolve him. But the age of revolutionary innocence that fostered the Cuban revolution has ended, as 9/11 dramatized.

Fidel remains a larger than life leader who never relied on TV spots or political "handlers" to preach his messages to Cubans and millions of others around the world. People listen because he has something to say. His agenda ­ justice, equality, ending poverty, facing the perils of environmental erosion ­ retains urgent cogency. Compare his presentation to the "lite ideas" offered by major power heads of state!

From the 1960s on, critics have ignored Fidel's noble ideas and focused their barbs at Cuba's rationing system and chronic shortages. The anti-Castroites systematically neglect to compare the island's life with that of its neighbors, whose health, and living standards rank far worse. Unlike residents of other South American countries, post Batista era Cubans did not fear death squads or "disappearances."

CounterPunch

[Sammy Pepys]

1. History has absolved Castro?

News to me.

[Warpy]

2. My hope is that he has assured a succession of power

so that his accomplishments in health and education for all Cubans will outlive him along with a moderation in much of the harsh censorship of public opinion that has accompanied them.

My hope is that the revolution is an ongoing process, in other words, and that the country won't be forced back into another corrupt Batista style dictatorship that favored the wealthy few and pretty much enslaved the many.

[RethugAssKicker]

4. My undrestanding is that his brother will take over

but, I don't know much more than that!

[Warpy]

6. That's my FEAR

because his brother is long in the tooth, too.

Also, I do hate to see successions being handed off to RELATIVES. It sets a very bad precedent.

[RethugAssKicker]

3. An incredible story... One that the US completely ignores

AND NOW, Congress just approved 80 million more dollars for terrorist activities agains the country of Cuba. Castro has definitely proven that we, the USA are the evil ones !!!

[laststeamtrain]

5. I bet them Cubans is sorry they ain't got a U.S.-backed democracy...

I wonder if Elian tasted good? Didn't I hear people interviewed by Shepp Smith that said that was the plan? Fidel was going to devour Elian for breakfast?

I understand that the further you get away from Havana the more you see what you didn't see before Fidel: people in their 40s,50s & above. That universal health care is amazing that way. It promotes a culture of life...

[Judi Lynn]

7. I heard that, too.

The same people, during the summer of media frenzy feeding on Florida shark attacks, who claimed that Fidel Castro had trained the sharks to attack Florida swimmers to drive away their tourist industry!

They also claimed he had captured a lot of birds and infected them with the Nile Virus or some disease of the time, and released them so they would fly north to Florida.

Halfwits!