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5 Terrible Responses to Fidel Castro's Death from World Leaders--Reason.com
Posted on 11/26/16 at 8:03 pm
Posted on 11/26/16 at 8:03 pm
quote:LINK
5 Terrible Responses to Fidel Castro's Death From World Leaders
Politicians and tyrants alike heap praise on the despot who ruled over an island prison nation.
Anthony L. Fisher|Nov. 26, 2016 12:48 pm
Upon the death of long-time Cuban dictator (retired) Fidel Castro, democratically elected politicians and brutal tyrants alike have come together to offer heartfelt tributes of the deceased.
Though President-elect Donald Trump has in the past praised vicious repression deployed by socialist dictators in Iraq and China, Trump's minimalist take on Twitter (Fidel Castro is dead!) and subsequent statement where he referred to Castro as a "brutal dictator" were welcome diversions from other political leaders' statements which have run the gamut between mealy-mouthed defenses of Castro's "complicated" legacy to slavish praise of his health care and pro-literacy initiatives.
Here are five of the worst reactions from international polticial leaders to Castro's death.
5. Ireland's President Michael Higgins
Higgins—nominally the head of state, though in Ireland's parliamentary system, the role is largely ceremonial— said in a statement:
Having survived some 600 attempts on his life, Fidel Castro, known to his peers in Cuba as 'El Comandante', became one of the longest serving Heads of State in the world, guiding the country through a remarkable process of social and political change, advocating a development path that was unique and determinedly independent.
First, as an authoritarian dictator (by definition, such people don't have "peers"), Higgins' praise of the length of Castro's reign is spectacularly dumb, as is his claim that a country which relied on the financial largess of the Soviet Union and later Venezuela (until the economic collapse of both socialist countries) was ever "determinedly independent."
Other jaw-droppers in Higgins' statement include "inequality and poverty are much less pronounced in Cuba than in surrounding nations" and that Castro would be remembered as a "giant among world leaders" who provided "freedom for his people."
One could argue that inequality is "less pronounced" in Cuba than in other Latin American countries, but only because the whole country is impoverished. However, even the "less inequality" defense goes out the window when you factor in the lavish lifestyles enjoyed by high-ranking Communist Party officials (such as Castro himself) compared to the rest of the long-suffering population forbidden to leave the country.
4. European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker
In a statement that reads like it was produced by a bot employed by a crumbling bureaucracy, the president of the European Union's executive body wrote:
With the death of Fidel Castro, the world has lost a man who was a hero for many. He changed the course of his country and his influence reached far beyond. Fidel Castro remains one of the revolutionary figures of the 20th century. His legacy will be judged by history.
3. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei
The religious tyrant who rules over one of the worst human rights-offending countries on Earth tweeted his fond memories of shooting the breeze with another dictator who brutalized his own people.
2. United Kingdom's Labor Party leader Jeremy Corbyn
The U.K.'s opposition party leader conceded Castro had "flaws"—though he wouldn't name them—but insisted in a statement that Castro was a "champion of social justice."
This must be news to the gays who were herded into labor camps following Castro's revolution, the poets and musicians imprisoned for "counter-revolutionary" expression, the exploited workers (who in the cruelest of ironies, are forbidden from unionizing), the innumerable Cubans who died trying to escape the "socialist paradise," and those who remain but are forbidden from accessing the outside world through the internet.
1. Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
Everyone's favorite woke boyfriend released a statement calling Castro a "remarkable leader" who "served his people for almost half a century" as the country's "longest serving president"—a feat less impressive when you factor in the fact that Castro's one-party government never held a free election.
Trudeau conceded Castro was a "controversial figure," and then inexplicably decided to speak for both Castro's "supporters and detractors," who he says "recognized his tremendous dedication and love for the Cuban people who had a deep and lasting affection for 'el Comandante'."
This post was edited on 11/26/16 at 8:06 pm
Posted on 11/26/16 at 8:13 pm to I B Freeman
Some of those comments Shows that progs put equality over prosperity. They'd rather everyone be poor and equal rather than a rich few and a strong middle class and the poor few.
It's insane. But that's the only way to achieve equality because everyone can't be wealthy. It's not achievable
It's insane. But that's the only way to achieve equality because everyone can't be wealthy. It's not achievable
Posted on 11/26/16 at 8:17 pm to I B Freeman
I fear freedom and capitalism are losing.
Posted on 11/26/16 at 9:15 pm to Stingray
These people think mass killings are fine as long as it leads to social justice and equality
And they call Trump Hitler?
And they call Trump Hitler?
Posted on 11/26/16 at 9:25 pm to I B Freeman
Trudeau is a ****
And I can say that so frick off
And I can say that so frick off
Posted on 11/27/16 at 2:17 am to deltaland
Castro's Cuba was racist. Fine hero the progs have there.
Posted on 11/27/16 at 2:59 am to I B Freeman
Juncker's statement is hilarious. "How do I say absolutely nothing in 50 words or less?"
Posted on 11/27/16 at 9:26 am to deltaland
quote:
Some of those comments Shows that progs put equality over prosperity. They'd rather everyone be poor and equal rather than a rich few and a strong middle class and the poor few.
Hence my sig-quote. Been forever the defining characteristic of socialists/progressives/communists/marxists/etc-ists
Posted on 11/27/16 at 2:28 pm to ChineseBandit58
Read the stuff the democrats were spewing about income distribution a while back---Castro had to be proud.
Posted on 11/27/16 at 2:55 pm to I B Freeman
Those comments exhibit an almost bizarro-world understanding of the history of Cuba and Castro.
Posted on 11/27/16 at 3:56 pm to Stingray
quote:
I fear freedom and capitalism are losing.
Your fears are well founded.
Also, whenever it becomes this apparent it usually leads to violence.
Posted on 11/27/16 at 4:12 pm to I B Freeman
Trudeau legitimately triggers the frick out of me. Like, I'd gladly go to war just because I hate him so much.
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