One little, two little, three little Communists
The big news came down this past Friday of the passing of that great communist figure, Fidel Castro. The Twittersphere immediately blossomed with praise for all the great things he did for the people of Cuba. All the worlds socialists joined together to shout his glory to the heavens and give the acclaim that he was deservedly shown. Such a great leader. Such a great figure. Such charisma. Such a great, monster?
Fidel Castro was not a communist when he started the revolution that overthrew the US supported dictator Batista. He actually flew into Washington, just a few days after capturing Havana, to speak at Princeton. After endorsing free press as the "enemy of a dictatorship “he told reporters that he had no connection to communism. He really didn't seem to follow any ideology but became a communist because the Soviet Union supported his revolution and following government if Cuba became a puppet state. Just weeks after his visit red stars were being painted on Cuban military vehicles. After consolidating his power, he immediately became an enemy of US corporate interests because he went about nationalizing some American controlled industries. After being alienated by our government he threw himself into the communist lifestyle by kicking out all Americans including missionaries and starting to live a lifestyle that was above all other "equals". There were a lot of seemingly unhinged US attempts to assassinate or otherwise remove him from power, some that I can't even read about because they sound too stupid to be true.
"Better dead than Red" was a memorable bumper sticker from the '60's. Somehow the threat of a communist takeover of the world was the biggest thing throughout my youth. Communist or Socialist ideology was seemingly the biggest threat arrayed against the US and our allies until the Reagan years when the failing economies of Russia brought the rest of the Socialists regimes to a crashing halt. The economy of Cuba, dependent upon subsidies to survive, suddenly found itself cut off from the tit. Despite the lack of basic necessities, Mr. Castro and friends lived a life of luxury, and those who spoke out found themselves dead, rather than red. He will rest only in the peace he deserves.
What is it about Socialism that attracts rich groupies like most of the east and west coasties of America? Their fawning over fake utopian societies where things like bread or toilet paper (looking at you Venezuela) are basically nonexistent. Societies that is only good at making slogans to try and keep the masses in line, literally in line. The apologists abound for Castro's excess and brutality. One great quote came from Mr. George Orwell when told that in building a "workers’ paradise, you can't make an omelet without breaking any eggs", he replied, "where is the omelet?” It's interesting that the only socialist nations you hear about any more are the ones where nothing is for sale and everyone is trying to leave. Could it be communism that is dead?
Until next week. ags.
