STORM2K

Picture taken a day or two ago.


September 26, 2003


You can see how Castro's illness has taken its toll by just looking at his appearance. In my 21 years I have never seen a Castro so vulnerable and fragile. Castro always portrayed the image of the strong man. He never wanted to admit in public when he went through any sickness, even if it was the common cold. Fortunately the end is coming for this dictator and I just hope there is a better future for my compatriots.

You'd think that Britney Spears death-prediction website would have a Castro section. The guy's gotta bite it pretty soon.

Castro was cool for a while, but then he started to do very bad things. I think he'll hang on for a few months more.

I need a closer picture to tell.

Cyclenall wrote:I need a closer picture to tell.

Picture 21. http://www.telemundo51.com/slideshow/no ... etail.html

If Castro's dead, How can I go to Cuba to further study Spanish??

My professor says that Castro's ancestors came from Galicia, Spain, where, just like Japan, people live longer than other regions, so she suggests that just like other gallegos, Castro might live to 90.

well... Fidel ceded power to his brother, Raul, in 2006. Not sure if Fidel ever reclaimed the presidency

Raul Castro's still Cuba's Acting President.

HURAKAN wrote:

Cyclenall wrote:I need a closer picture to tell.

Picture 21. http://www.telemundo51.com/slideshow/no ... etail.html

Why does he keep wearing that red shirt that looks more like a jacket?

When I closed out of that link, it started opening itself up automatically many times and then it becomes a battle. It was so bad the pop-up blocker couldn't keep up with it. This happens from other links too every so often.

Chacor wrote:Raul Castro's still Cuba's Acting President.

Raúl is not much younger than his elder brother Fidel. He can only play a role of transition president for no more than a few years, and his ability to deal with possible political chaos remains to be seen. So if Fidel fails to let some younger politicians accept his political view and then substitute him, A political chaos and change will definitely take place after his (or Raúl's) death.

Fidel has said today that he is too ill to speak in public and will not be campaigning for this weekend's parliamentary elections in Cuba.

He never had to campaign. He always was the only option in the Communist Party ballot and the members of the Communist Party are the ones that vote for president. Fidel always had 100%. There is no competition. So, there is no "campaigning" in Cuba like we see in the US.

HURAKAN wrote::uarrow: He never had to campaign. He always was the only option in the Communist Party ballot and the members of the Communist Party are the ones that vote for president. Fidel always had 100%. There is no competition. So, there is no "campaigning" in Cuba like we see in the US.

Being from another communist state, I believe so.

IIRC, Castro had a Spanish father and a Cuban mother. Rumor has it his brother was even more ruthless in eliminating potential political enemies.


I would think, since most who opposed Castro are either dead, in prison, or have departed for Florida, there may not be enough pro-democracy people left in Cuba to change anything, and Cuba will remain a socialist dictatorship for years.


Can you think what it would do to Florida real estate if Cuba did go democratic, and lots of Cubans and Cuban-Americans returned to Cuba?



It could effect politics as well. Like others who have had recent experiences with communist dictatorships, like the Poles and Czechs, they are strongly opposed to communism and communism's ideological cousins in the West.

Ed Mahmoud wrote:I would think, since most who opposed Castro are either dead, in prison, or have departed for Florida, there may not be enough pro-democracy people left in Cuba to change anything, and Cuba will remain a socialist dictatorship for years.

The general population in Cuba is against the government but they live in constant fear of the government. Since Fidel has been in power, there has never been a "revolutionary group" inside Cuba that is against the government. In Cuba you're not allowed to own guns or to buy guns, and the government is in everything. They know anything and everything that happens inside the island. I lived in Cuba for 12 years and I have gone back to visit twice. The last time was in late June, 2007. People are still angry against the government but no one ever dears or even think about going against it. At the beginning of Castro's regime, those against it were killed by the thousands and these deathly waves are still causing ripples across the island.

Ed Mahmoud wrote:Can you think what it would do to Florida real estate if Cuba did go democratic, and lots of Cubans and Cuban-Americans returned to Cuba?

A lot Cubans that left the island in the 60s and 70s were the wealthy Cubans that had properties in the island. Of course, they saw their arrival in Florida as something temporary. Since the 80s, most Cubans that leave the island have to do it because of the economic condition caused by the political situation. Those like me, are not very interesting in going to live back in the island because we now find ourselves making our lives in a much better place and our roots are taking hold onto the US. The old Cubans would probably like to go back, but the new generation is not very interested in the idea. We live here and our lives are here, going back doesn't seem to be an option. Moreover, aside from relatives, I have nothing in Cuba to go back and claim.

Every time he pops up in the news, I cant help thinking "just die already."

Not the most charitable attitude, I know ...

Ed Mahmoud wrote:IIRC, Castro had a Spanish father and a Cuban mother. Rumor has it his brother was even more ruthless in eliminating potential political enemies.


I would think, since most who opposed Castro are either dead, in prison, or have departed for Florida, there may not be enough pro-democracy people left in Cuba to change anything, and Cuba will remain a socialist dictatorship for years.


Can you think what it would do to Florida real estate if Cuba did go democratic, and lots of Cubans and Cuban-Americans returned to Cuba?



It could effect politics as well. Like others who have had recent experiences with communist dictatorships, like the Poles and Czechs, they are strongly opposed to communism and communism's ideological cousins in the West.

Well, I'm a member of the Chinese Communist Youth League. I'm not a pro-democracy but nor do I like dictatorship. I believe that socialist or communist does not necessarily mean dictatorship or bureaucracy. I think if I could, I would found a party apart from the CCP, in order to realize communism without having to yield to dictatorship and bureaucracy and to devote to rebuilding China's political image.

I also believe that China is now more democratic than Cuba (not agreeing with me may mean that you haven't live in China for at least more than a year), and also, I admire Castro and Che Guevara. I don't expect his death like you may do.

If you say that in Miami people would be real mad at you!!! But unlike many people I can see the two sides of the story and understand the opinion of others without getting irritated. Fidel, like a true dictator, always tried to show to the world that everything was running smoothly and that his people were by his side 100% of time. All was a fabricated lie. You were forced to march, meaning that if you don't march that day alongside to the dictator, you don't get paid for the day, and the Cuban people can't afford that. When Fidel took over Cuba, the island was th jewel of the Caribbean. Now the island is extremely poor. It's true there was a lot of corruption before Fidel took power, but he created a system in which you have no voice, no opinion, no desire, no power, no energy, no strenght, nothing. Cuba is his private island and he has played with it for almost 50 years.

Moving into political territory here now. I'd expect better from a mod. Can we stick to talking about his health, and not his policies?

Chacor wrote:Moving into political territory here now. I'd expect better from a mod. Can we stick to talking about his health, and not his policies?

I just wanted to describe my experiences in Cuba towards the regime and why the would sees Fidel as a leader. There was no intention in making it political. Now, back to his health.