Justin says:
Let’s not forget that Fidel Castro was also a dictator, who slaughtered thousands of dissidents (many who were civilians), even when he had such a hold on power that it was not necessary. He alienated his supporters who helped bring him to power, and who he betrayed, by fully embracing Communism, and aligned himself with the Soviets, instead of forming a socialist democracy and aligning himself with the US. If Communism was so awesome, why did Castro have to lie to his legion of rebels in order to bring it about?
Castro nationalized everything, even the damn church, forcing out all religious leaders (mostly Catholic) and intimidated all citizens to be atheists instead.That’s the kind of guy Castro was. He not only wanted your land, your property, your business (or in many, many cases, end it altogether, sending masses into unemployment), he wanted to control your soul too.
1. Castro did not murder thousands of “dissidents.” It never happened. After the Revolution, there were trials for human rights violators in the Cuban military. 600 people were convicted of and executed for running death squads that slaughtered peasants, teachers, students, workers, trade union members, etc. They got what they deserved.
There was a long insurgency that lasted until 1970. 10,000 people were tried, convicted and executed for taking up arms against the state. None of them were innocent.
2. Castro embraced Communism and the USSR because the US declared war on him, boycotted him and tried to overthrow his government by force. This was all because Castro nationalized US businesses on the island. American refineries in Cuba refused to refine oil for the Cubans so Castro nationalized them. Then the US would not sell oil to Cuba, so Castro had to buy oil from the USSR. Castro wanted to be friends with the US, but the US would not be friends and declared war on him instead, forcing him into the arms of the Soviets.
3. He could not form a socialist democracy and align with the US because as soon as he went socialist in any way, the US would declare war on him and try to overthrow him, so that was no option.
4. He didn’t lie to his legion of rebels. He didn’t start out a Communist. He was always a bit of a leftwinger, but he slowly because a Marxist-Leninist after the US embargoed him, declared war on him and tried to overthrow his government by force. The US basically forced him to become a Communist.
Many members of the Catholic Church stayed in Cuba. There are many churches in Cuba and the church leadership supports the government. And now believers can join the Communist Party. There area lot of liberation theology types in Cuba. No one has to be an atheist in Cuba. As I said, believers can now join the party.
5. The Revolution did not cause massive unemployment. There was huge unemployment before. After the Revolution, there was full employment.
