Fidel Castro

[Abstrakt]

I watched a show on him on KCTS a couple nights ago. My perspective changed. From about 1943-1979 he wasn't too shaby. I would like to know how he is treating the people now(I've heard the American biased answers, I want real ones....hopefully).

[Abstrakt]

...Saweet

[zhuangshi]

I've actually seen a couple documentaries on Fidel in the past year. Some were good, and some were good and then US propaganda was tossed in at the end, but in all actuality you really have to do some searching to find out about Fidel/Cuba today. Personally, I have links to 2 Cuban newspapers in my favorites:

Granma International:
http://www.granma.cu/ingles/

Periodico 26:
http://www.periodico26.cu/english.htm

I actually don't know how Cuba is today, but from what I've heard it's not good but it's also not bad. A friend of my brothers just got back and another one is going, so I'll let you know when we hear from them, but you should try to do some reading. I bet theres blogs out there about this...Also found this website in a quick Google search:

http://www.cubaclimbing.com/people.htm

one.

[NovelGentry]

Get the book: The Cuba Reader

It's a bunch of essays, some positive, some negative about Cuba pre vs. post revolution and under Castro. Many of the negative ones hold no real argument other than in some cases he hasn't done enough, particularly some essays spring to mind about racism. Overally I got the general feeling from most of them that most Cubans love what he did, but they see the movement and Fidel himself as a stagnant force.

[Abstrakt]

Alright. Thank you guys.

[Super Mario Conspiracy]

Another question: Will Cuba ever be socialist, and how would this be done? Personally, I think that when Castro dies, his system will be democratized - because democracy, an open one, is a cruciable thing for socialism.

Freedom of speach and freedom of the press, free parties and so on, are also very important. I believe that when Cuba becomes a true democratic and socialist state, other countries will support it.

Oh, and I would probably move to Cuba when that happens :) ...

[Yazman]

http://www.newhumanist.com/geiser.html

There's a link for some of you to read.

Cuba is interesting as it has achieved many outstanding things that the US itself has not been able to, not to mention it is far above the standards of any other third world nation.

Super Mario Conspiracy - Cuba is already democratic, moreso than any western nation is. Your idea of democracy is simply one of capitalist rhetoric, which is the opposite of true democracy.

Democracy is a LOT more than simply being able to elect your leader, it involves more processes, rights, and abilities than that. Most nations are not democratic in any remote form other than having random jury selection and election of leaders.

[Super Mario Conspiracy]

Super Mario Conspiracy - Cuba is already democratic, moreso than any western nation is. Your idea of democracy is simply one of capitalist rhetoric, which is the opposite of true democracy.

I don't think Cuba is a dictatorship as it is portrayed in the media, but everything is not a lie. Granted that there can be different systems of democracy, but there are clear distinctions between true democracy and not.

In order for democracy to work, information must be free. You must have the choice to obtain whatever information you want - about politics, about science, about what other people believe and say.

No one can force you to be good towards people, to think about doing the best for the community, to work for the happiness of everyone. Even if that is good.

Can you obtain free information about whatever you want, on Cuba? Can you say whatever you want on Cuba? Can you write whatever you want, and let other people read your work, on Cuba?

That is true democracy.


Democracy is a LOT more than simply being able to elect your leader, it involves more processes, rights, and abilities than that.

As I said, free information and more rights.


I don't think other Nation's would support it.

I think they would because with total freedom of speach and free information, which in turn is followed by strong human rights, rich Western countries won't be able to blame or accuse Cuba of anything.

[Hiero]

free parties

Why would you want more parties, the only other parties are going to be capitalist.


. I believe that when Cuba becomes a true democratic and socialist state, other countries will support it.


It is socialist, and thats why other countries do not support it. The US do not support Cuba because it is not open for imperialism.

[Super Mario Conspiracy]

Why would you want more parties, the only other parties are going to be capitalist.

Because when people vote for a socialist party, it will be prooven for the whole world that Cuba is a true democracy. Besides, if the people really want socialism, what are they afraid of?


It is socialist, and thats why other countries do not support it. The US do not support Cuba because it is not open for imperialism.

You can not have socialism without free speach and free press. It is not only the US that doesn't support Cuba, other countries with leftist governments, such as my own, don't support Cuba as well - precisely because of the restrictions, bad human rights and so on.

[Domingo]

The countries that portray Cuba as a "Socialist nightmare" are truely the ignorant ones. Like said, Cuba has acomplished alot more than any other 3rd world country. This means that they have a solution for other 3rd world countrys to maintain their governments. I say that those countries are ignorant because the only reason: They siese to accept the fact that Socialism works to do good for nations, but are to ignorant to accept the fact. Cuba could do good for the world with its government.
If someone realizes this, maybe Fidels take on government will live even after his death.
Thats just my opinion. :rolleyes:

[Son of the Revolution]

Political parties are allowed in Cuba, but they have to be socialist. If a right-wing capitalist party was allowed millions of $ would flow into it, its members would become rich, and they would use their $ to brainwash the Cuban people.

Thats the government's policy anyway. Makes sense to me.

[Super Mario Conspiracy]

I say that those countries are ignorant because the only reason: They siese to accept the fact that Socialism works to do good for nations, but are to ignorant to accept the fact.

It isn't because they ignore it, it's because in a socialist system, they wouldn't make any money. That is why many countries have capitalist thinking. No one would trade with them.

Though, they are in part ignorant - and that is because they feel that the state will be too powerful, aka the Soviet Union.


Political parties are allowed in Cuba, but they have to be socialist. If a right-wing capitalist party was allowed millions of $ would flow into it, its members would become rich, and they would use their $ to brainwash the Cuban people.

That is why any country should have a constitution, built upon socialist thinking, to prevent just that.

[Abstrakt]

But, aren't most constitutions built on socialist thinking?

[Hiero]

Are you a communist SMC.

Im a bit confused. Do you support Dictatorship of the Proleteriat, or are you a Social Democrat?

[Domingo]

Originally posted by Super Mario [email protected] 9 2005, 08:30 PM


It isn't because they ignore it, it's because in a socialist system, they wouldn't make any money. That is why many countries have capitalist thinking. No one would trade with them.


So money truely does rule the world. It is sad.

If everyone is afraid of Cuba, then that means it has potential, right?

[Abstrakt]

Originally posted by [email protected] 9 2005, 08:46 PM
But, aren't most constitutions built on socialist thinking?
Hey, remember when I asked that question?

[Super Mario Conspiracy]

But, aren't most constitutions built on socialist thinking?

Yes, and no. Yes, because 200 years ago we didn't care about the poor or the environment, it was free, but still it was not.


Are you a communist SMC.

No, I am a socialist.


Im a bit confused. Do you support Dictatorship of the Proleteriat, or are you a Social Democrat?

What a question. Well, since I'm living under a post-social-democratic government, yes, in a way - I believe that socialism is developed through democracy. But I also believe in the power of the people - if a revolution is necessary in order to establish true socialism, I'm in.


So money truely does rule the world. It is sad.

It is indeed. The very first thing that was ever written by a human being was about economics and money - how much he or she owned, what it would mean if I trade this for that, and so on.

Even religion teaches it's believers that the society is one of mind and body, not of power and money. At least it used to, there are evidence of religious communities that lived as communists, helping each other.


If everyone is afraid of Cuba, then that means it has potential, right?

It depends. For the rich and powerful - if Cuba succeeds with establishing free speach and free information, freedom of the press and so on, and if the people of Cuba decides to continue building socialism, that would truly scare them, and I'm sure every corporation in the world would look for any way of destroying it.

For the poor in the world - I don't know. Probably the first thing a poor family in Africa thinks about is how to survive for the day, they don't think about revolution or socialism.

I don't think anyone can blame them - if you had to work like a maniac each day just to survive yourself, how would you think about anything else? What if you had an entire family to feed, and if the country was pinned in a war, either civil or between landlords? Who is good and who is bad?

[Abstrakt]

Originally posted by Super Mario [email protected] 10 2005, 08:44 PM
For the poor in the world - I don't know. Probably the first thing a poor family in Africa thinks about is how to survive for the day, they don't think about revolution or socialism.


That's a very good point.

[Domingo]

SMC, real quick: Give me YOUR definition of Socialism and Communism if you may.

[Super Mario Conspiracy]

SMC, real quick: Give me YOUR definition of Socialism and Communism if you may.

Whatever I may answer I can begin with saying that socialism or communism is not what is happening in North Korea. North Korea is not a country of the people, they disgust me with their talks about communism and a country of the people by the people.

Socialism for me is built on will. The will to work and to improve, to share with everyone to use, including yourself. If the people don't want it, either now or in the future, it can not function.

You can not force people to take care of the environment, although that will reflect in the future. We can only learn why it is bad to pollute the air and the water, then it is up to us if we want our planet to even exist, or if we want to be selfish and greedy.

Same with socialism. Even if it is the best system mankind ever invented, it is fully based on the will of the people if they want to live there and improve it. We can only inform the people of what socialism really is, and why it is the best system.

[Karl Marx's Camel]

Another question: Will Cuba ever be socialist, and how would this be done? Personally, I think that when Castro dies, his system will be democratized - because democracy, an open one, is a cruciable thing for socialism.


Well, I guess it depends on what kind of "democracy" we're talking about. Is it one of working class democracy, or capitalist "democracy"?


If it serve the working class, then socialism might be achieved. As long as the capitalist class still exist and constitute the ruling class, socialism will never be achieved.

[Super Mario Conspiracy]

Well, I guess it depends on what kind of "democracy" we're talking about. Is it one of working class democracy, or capitalist "democracy"?

Of course the democracy should be one of the workers. Voting once in a while on some candidate is not democracy, it's just like saying North Korea is an "anarchist state" (which is impossible, right?).

Democracy is, after all, the tool of the people. But in order for democracy to work the people need freedom.

[Iepilei]

It's my belief that a socialist nation can only spawn when under the influence of capitalist (or in these days, corporatist) economy. Democracy must be present (whether bourgeoise or corrupted) to give the people an idea of what exactly socialism can offer them.

Many people in the 3rd world see our system as the "ideal" one; simply based on the fact that we have the food, and they don't. But they need to be either part of the mechanics of the system or need a fundamental knowledge in why their nation is so stagnant. To me, a truly socialist system cannot be birthed out of anything which hasn't had a formal industrialisation; hence why the CCCP suffered so much in trying to push up it's technological sector.

[Super Mario Conspiracy]

But they need to be either part of the mechanics of the system or need a fundamental knowledge in why their nation is so stagnant.

Exactly - which is why free information and freedom of speech and the press is important.

[Domingo]

Originally posted by Super Mario [email protected] 11 2005, 10:10 PM

Socialism for me is built on will.
I am glad someone knows what they are supportng these days. You got me convinced. You know how many people tell me that Communism is just the extreme version of Socialism? Understand that I am just living in a capitalist surrounding and confused.