Fidel Castro's May 14th Speech: Read It !

[Solidarity]

Whatever you may think of Fidel Castro and the Cuban government it sure seems that Castro has Bush's number.

This is a brief excerpt from his speech given to over 1 million people who marched against the Bush government. You can read the entire speech at the link below.

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Proclamation by an adversary of the US government

"Mr. George W. Bush: the million Cubans who are gathered here today to march past your Interests Section is just a small part of a valiant and heroic people who would like to be here with us, if it were physically possible.

We have not gathered in a hostile gesture to the American people whose ethics, rooted in the time when the first pilgrims emigrated to this hemisphere, are well known to us. We know beforehand what you believe or want to make others believe about those who are marching here. In your opinion they are oppressed masses who yearn for liberty and who have been forced onto the streets by the Cuban government.

In the world that you seek to impose on us today there is not the slightest notion of ethics, credibility, standards of justice, humanitarian feelings, nor of the elementary principles of solidarity and generosity.

You have neither the morality nor the right, none whatsoever, to speak of freedom, democracy and human rights when you hold enough power to destroy humanity and are attempting to install a world tyranny, side-stepping and destroying the United Nations Organization, violating the human rights of any and every country, waging wars of conquest to take over world markets and resources and installing decadent and anachronistic political and social systems which are leading the human race into the abyss.

There are other reasons why you cannot mention the word democracy: among these is the fact that everyone knows you became president of the United States through fraud. You cannot speak of freedom because you cannot conceive of a world other than one ruled by fear of the lethal weapons which your inexpert hands might rain down on humanity.

Listening to you talk of human rights in Cuba has a hollow, absurd ring. This, Mr. Bush, is one of the few countries in this hemisphere where not once in 45 years has there been a single case of torture, a single death squad, a single extrajudicial execution or a single ruler who has become a millionaire through having held power.


http://www.ain.cubaweb.cu/ingles.htm

[AntiCoup2K4]

1. God I hate to agree with Castro

Is this how far we've fallen, to where a Communist dictator's statements about this country contain more truth than the so called "president's" statements :scared:

[spanone]

4. Yup, 'fraid so.

[Mika]

5. Blinders on!

We live in the "greatest" and "most free country in the world", with access to more information than most of the citizens on earth - still there are Americans with internet connections that refuse to do some basic non government sourced research but insist on regurgitating info and attitudes based on US state propaganda.




Here are some of the major parties in Cuba. The union parties hold the majority of seats in the Assembly.

http://www.gksoft.com/govt/en/cu.html

* Partido Comunista de Cuba (PCC) {Communist Party of Cuba}
* Partido Demócrata Cristiano de Cuba (PDC) {Christian Democratic Party of Cuba} - Oswaldo Paya's Catholic party
* Partido Solidaridad Democrática (PSD) {Democratic Solidarity Party}
* Partido Social Revolucionario Democrático Cubano {Cuban Social Revolutionary Democratic Party}
* Coordinadora Social Demócrata de Cuba (CSDC) {Social Democratic Coordination of Cuba}
* Unión Liberal Cubana {Cuban Liberal Union}

Plenty of info on this long thread,
http://www.democraticunderground.com/cgi-bin/duforum/duboard.cgi?az=show_thread&om=6300&forum=DCForumID70


http://www.poptel.org.uk/cuba-solidarity/democracy.htm

This system in Cuba is based upon universal adult suffrage for all those aged 16 and over. Nobody is excluded from voting, except convicted criminals or those who have left the country. Voter turnouts have usually been in the region of 95% of those eligible .

There are direct elections to municipal, provincial and national assemblies, the latter represent Cuba's parliament.

Electoral candidates are not chosen by small committees of political parties. No political party, including the Communist Party, is permitted to nominate or campaign for any given candidates.

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Representative Fidel Castro was elected to the National Assembly as a representative of District #7 Santiago de Cuba.
He is one of the elected 607 representatives in the Cuban National Assembly. It is from that body that the head of state is nominated and then elected. Raul Castro, Carlos Large, and Ricardo Alarcon and others were among the nominated last year. President Castro has been elected to that position since 1976.

http://www.bartleby.com/65/do/Dorticos.html

Dorticós Torrado, Osvaldo

1919–83, president of Cuba (1959–76). A prosperous lawyer, he participated in Fidel Castro’s revolutionary movement and was imprisoned (1958). He escaped and fled to Mexico, returning to Cuba after Castro’s triumph (1959). As minister of laws (1959) he helped to formulate Cuban policies. He was appointed president in 1959. Intelligent and competent, he wielded considerable influence. In 1976 the Cuban government was reorganized, and Castro assumed the title of president; Dorticós was named a member of the council of state.

The Cuban government was reorganized (approved by popular vote) into a variant parliamentary system in 1976.

You can read a short version of the Cuban system here,
http://members.allstream.net/~dchris/CubaFAQDemocracy.html

Or a long and detailed version here,
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0968508405/qid=1053879619/sr=1-2/ref=sr_1_2/102-8821757-1670550?v=glance&s=books

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It might help to familiarize yourself with some of Cuba's achievements that surpass the USA's achievements.

Learn from Cuba
http://www.twnside.org.sg/title/learn.htm


Yes, the USA has fallen, but Cuba has been rising for 45+ years - surpassing the USA in equality for all.

[freetobegay]

11. Sorry can't let this one slip by!

"Yes, the USA has fallen, but Cuba has been rising for 45+ years - surpassing the USA in equality for all." Then why are people shot for trying to leave the Country? Why do Cubans risk their lives in the Florida straits to come to America? Inquiring minds want to know!

[Mika]

14. Nonsense

"Then why are people shot for trying to leave the Country? "

No one is shot for trying to leave Cuba. But it is a violation of a US/Cuban immigration agreement for Cubans to leave Cuba for the US illegaly.



"Why do Cubans risk their lives in the Florida straits to come to America?"

They don't have to, in order to enter the US legally. The USA offers over 20,000 LEGAL immigration visas per year to Cubans. More than any other country. Not all are even applied for.


Understand that most of the Cuban immigrants that have come to the US have come here for the same reasons that immigrants from all over the Caribbean and Latin Americas come to the US.. jobs. Jobs that help them earn enough money to send some back to their family in their homeland. The majority of Cuban immigrants don't have an all consuming hatred of Fidel Castro, and the USA offers Cubans many avenues and a wealth of exclusive perks for immigrating here.. plus they can travel back to their homeland and take or send money.. just like almost all other immigrants do.

The USA offers over 20,000 LEGAL immigration visas per year to Cubans (and Bush just announced that the number would increase despite the fact that not all 20,000 were applied for in the last few years). This number is more than any other single country in the world. Its the US interests section in Cuba that does the criminal background check on the applicants.

The US's 'wet foor/ dry foot' policy (for Cubans only) permits Cuban criminals and felons who arrive on US shores by illegal means to remain in the US despite having failed to qualify for a legal US immigration application.

Cubans who leave for the US without a US visa are returned to Cuba (if caught at sea - mainly in smuggler's go-fast boats @ $5,000 per head) by US repatriation law. But IF they make it to US soil, no matter who they are or what their criminal backround might be, they get to stay in the US and enjoy perks offered ONLY TO CUBAN IMMIGRANTS (via the US's Cuban Adjustment Act and a variety of other 'Cubans only' perks). Perks like instant work visa, instant green card, instant access to sec 8 taxpayer assisted housing, instant social security, instant welfare, free health care, and more.

These perks are not offered to any other immigrant group, but yet, without the perks offered to Cubans, immigrants still pour into the US from all over the Caribbean and the Latin Americas - many taking greater risks than Cubans to get here.


Get it? There is no such thing as a Cuban illegal immigrant. Plus, they get perks that no other group is offered.

[Zinfandel]

17. Cheers to Fidel! And to his 50 year upcoming anniversary...

of the Cuban revolution, coming up in four years.

I have no objection to another country's choice of government that is different than our own. In this case Cuba socialism. Our own Constitution allows all people to have their own personal political, religious and social ideology unconditionally, regardless, and allowing the freedom to express ones thoughts.

Too many people get their information from right-wing owned corporate media, imperialist hateful politicians or right-wing Cubans in the US who want to go back to Batista's Cuba (before Castro)...the same ones who want to take Cuba back to a time when the very few wealthy owned everything and the Cuban people were pretty much slaves to the American companies and business interest...Gambling casino's, the resort industry, Us exploited agriculture, cheap labor, etc. Pretty much what the US is now doing to Haiti under Bush.

So of course ones going to hear all the bullshit from American corporate media about Cuba.

"Batista's Cuba became profitable for American business and organized
crime. Havana became the "Latin Las Vegas,"

Just like every person, every country has it's problem as well, Cuba is no different...However, Americans hate the fact we don't control little Cuba, nor can tell it what to do.

Cheers to Castro and the Cuban people!

[0007]

21. Your right on Mika

Too bad folk don't do a little research on their own.

But when your to busy watch FAUX News and the other two whore networks what can 'ya expect.

[linazelle]

2. Wow

[freetobegay]

3. Fuck Fidel Castro!

[RC]

6. Ahhh, you mis-spelled george bu$h.

[Solidarity]

7. Thanks freetobegay

That was a really well informed, intelligent and creative post freetobegay. Please continue with more thoughtful contributions to our discussions.

Oh .... you forgot to include in your comment ..... "and praise our great leader George Bush!"

[freetobegay]

8. In case you didn't understand it the first time

FUCK FIDEL CASTRO!!!!!!!!

Your coments about George Bush will fall on deaf ears, people here know how I feel about him.

On EDIT: It would be wise of you not to put words in peoples mouth.

[Solidarity]

9. You Want Sex With Fidel?

I'm not sure what you mean. Are you saying that you want to screw Fidel Castro?

Well, that's your right. Whatever turns you on.

But, could we get off your sexual fantasys for a moment and find out what your views are on Castro's speech?

[freetobegay]

10. Castro has oppressed his people long enough!

I refuse to listen to his propaganda. He was left out in the Cold by the Soviet Union, The Soviet Union has died, so will Castro. Castro is an oppressor no matter how you try to spin it.

Some people never should attempt using wit. It makes them look the bigger fool than they already are.

[Solidarity]

12. Not Listening?

Well, I'm not afraid to listen to anyone. I even read Bush's speeches and have listend to the Nixon White House tapes!

If you don't like Castro or think the Cuban revolution is a bad thing that's your right. That doesn't necessarily make you some lunatic right-winger. But, I hope your not just listening to the right-wing pro-Bush Cuban outfits in Miami for information on Cuba.

I really don't understand what you hope to gain by not paying attention to what Castro, other Cuban leaders and just average people in Cuba have to say.

I can understand why it's very difficult for you to challenge or dispute anything Fidel Castro has to say if you don't read his statements!

[bigbillhaywood]

16. Viva Fidel! Chinga los gusanos capitalistos! nt

[Unperson 309]

20. Hey!!

Why slur worms?! They have a bad enough press already.

Still... they *do* go good with tequila!!

Jose Cuervo! Bebidas por todos! Andale!!

309

[CityZen-X]

15. If You Had To Choose

Between Castro & Bu$h*t, who would that be?
Personally I would vote for Castro in a heart beat, before I would vote for Bu$h*t.
But then again I would vote for a bucket of vomit before I would vote for the Commander & Chimp!

[CityZen-X]

13. Castro's Words Are TRUTH

But I would have to question the one area where he stated no one has been tortured, or put to death, etc., in Cuba. That may be his Bu$h*t posture.
But the rest of the speech is brilliant and on the mark!
You got to give Castro this, he sits 90-miles away from us thumbing his nose at our governments, and no one has been able to break him.
Viva Fidel!

[BayCityProgressive]

18. I opposed the

Cuban courts recently giving people trhe death penalty because I oppose the death penalty everywhere. That is one reaosn I support Kerry, I think he will limit the use of the death penalty here. However that is the first time Cuba has used the death penalty in a long time..I hope it is the last.

[Mika]

19. Same here

I also oppose the death penalty. But, that is choice for Cuba to make - not anyone else's.

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