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A Ravens view of issues that are Humorous, Relevant and Personal. “Would these words make the lost soul, bereft of hope nod his head and smile or throw up?”

Is Why - April 2008

The Castro Chokehold Loosening

April 1st 2008 08:40
grito de libertad
The government of Cuba has made a series of announcements in the past few days that have opened previously closed doors. Cubans with enough cash will be able to buy computers, DVD players and plasma televisions starting Tuesday, and soon they'll even be able to have their own cell phones — consumer goods only companies and foreigners were previously permitted to buy.

But allowing ordinary citizens into luxury hotels and resort beaches long reserved for rich foreigners is a particularly sweet and symbolic victory for Cuba's people.

Castro, true to his communist belief ruled Cuba with an iron fist and choked the free enterprise out of the country along with its beneficial impact for the common people; preferring to maintain the people as classless peasants. But since he succeeded his ailing brother as president in February, Raul Castro has begun to do away with what he called "excessive restrictions" on daily life.

And, I for one will travel to Cuba to dance upon his grave and to piss on his headstone when the sick, twisted, one nut freak expires.


Bay of Pigs Monument-Little Havana
When the group of volunteers began to collect and form up to invade Cuba, I was attending Cocoa Beach high school in Florida and immediately headed off to Miami to join with them. Along the way, a huge pot bellied sheriff with mirrored sunglasses caught me and locked my butt up until I coughed up my parents address. After a few days in jail, my emotions eased up and I finally gave them my parents’ information. Sigh.

My passion stemmed from my base of Cuban friends and I learned to despise what Fidel was doing in Cuba, enough so that I was more than willing to go to war against him and his country. The group that trained and invaded Cuba were those that made up the Bay of Pig’s Invasion Force that were given up by Kennedy trying to curry favor with Castro’s regime.

Two years later, I joined the US Marines to fight the communist menace 90 miles off our shores, but ended up in Vietnam instead. That Sheriff probably saved my life or stayed off a long stay in a Cuban jail cell, which was no where near as friendly as Gitmo.

In light of my own misguided passion and ignorance, I really do understand the motivation of disenfranchised Muslim youths trying to stand for something meaningful.

So, viva a free Cuba! As long as it takes . . . I’ll support your cause.

Raven

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Comments
13 Comments. [ Add A Comment ]

Comment by Mountain Fog

April 1st 2008 09:34
interesting mini history Raven!

Of course, whatever Castro became is a matter of debate and personal experience, he ceertainly had his faults, like the way he treated gays, but, what of the regime he over-threw?

A beastly corrupt dictator, who allowed the mafia et al to run their nefarious activities in Cuba, while he enjoyed the tacit approval of the USA gov., Battista wasn't it?

Anyhoo,
like the poster!

cheers

fog

Comment by tlcorbin

April 1st 2008 10:41
Batista was no saint by any stretch Fog, but the Cuban people had far more freedom under his leadership than under Fidel's. The influence of organized crime in Cuba can't be over stated, but the Castro regime has gutted the country of it's intellects, heart and soul. Organized crime just used them.

When Castro came into power, I had high expectations that he'd clean up the corruption and install a moral government. He didn't live up to anyone's but his own expectations. Cuba and it's people have been the worse off for it.

Why does it matter that he treated gays any differently than anyone else he took a personal dislike to? He virtually enslaved the Cuban people and isolated them from the world and their own culture. Castro found enemies of convenience whenever he felt challenged or threatened, it's a great bait and switch ploy and is still very popular among our politician's to this day.

If all you got from the story, is that poster, then that's what important to you: Freedom's Cry or Call, is a great motto and a great poster.

Raven


Comment by Damo

April 1st 2008 10:51
You crazy revolutionary Raven.

Always, Always get your mum to sign the permission slip before you go.

I figure Raul wants an i-phone so it is good for the nation.

Comment by Mountain Fog

April 1st 2008 11:04
I think Damo is right...iphone...ipod...HUGE HDTV, DVD machines...pornos...

as regards your response, yes of course, Castro stood too long, his ego took over where his fears of external corruption, and assassination by the way, left off.

and no, I illustrate the 'gay' view, because that is close and personal to me, but that does not mean I exclude, or indeed ignore, any other group.

we all react to things 'close and personal' at times, I guess my reaction was a bit like your reaction, wanting to join a vigilante force to murder Castro, but just a little bit less intense...

cheers

fog

Comment by tlcorbin

April 1st 2008 11:07
Yup. Sometimes inflamed passion drowns out the voice of common sense and reason.

Odd, now that I think back ~ mom was probably the one who let me know that the call was out for volunteers. It's likely that she leaked out the news through my network of friends knowing full well what a knee jerk reactionary I was. She wasn't into a teenaged guy trying to figure out how to be a man, to much testy-osterone for her to deal with.

Eh, Damo, you know Raul wants an i-pod and i-phone. Hopefully, under his leadership US embargoes will ease and relations can normalize a bit for the Cuban expatriates and Cuban mainlanders.

Raven

Comment by tlcorbin

April 1st 2008 11:15
Ah, right you are fog, right you are.

A story's impact will usually be many diverse things to different people. I didn't think you were taking a truly exclusionary exception, but thanks for confirming it.

Yeah, and although I don't hate him, I truly want to send him on his way to dictator heaven or hell, . . . still.

Raven

Comment by tlcorbin

April 1st 2008 11:15
Ah, right you are fog, right you are.

A story's impact will usually be many diverse things to different people. I didn't think you were taking a truly exclusionary exception, but thanks for confirming it.

Yeah, and although I don't hate him, I truly want to send him on his way to dictator heaven or hell, . . . still.

Raven

Comment by Mountain Fog

April 1st 2008 11:33
now Raven
you're beginning to repeat yourself!
I trust that is not a sign of madness...or swelling murderous rage??? tee hee!!

cheers

fog





Comment by tlcorbin

April 1st 2008 11:43
hahaha, my meds haven't kicked in yet is all fog. Raven

Comment by katyzzz

April 1st 2008 11:56
I am here only to register then to make my fast escape from the politically literate, I just subscribe to yes/no. That's enough politics for me. Politicians are like your underwear, should be changed frequently.

I'll let you boys continue to play together, noted the absence of females who claim liberation whenever it suits them and act contrariwise the rest of the time.

At least I have declared myself, fog may well have a problem that way, not meaning to be unkind fog just playing around a little.

I really should have just registered and GONE.

Comment by tlcorbin

April 1st 2008 12:30
Katyzzz, you're always welcome to post as much or as little as you feel comfortable with sharing. Raven

Comment by Kleonaptra

April 1st 2008 23:28
Such passion and intensity Raven - you give us the details no one else will.

Comment by tlcorbin

April 2nd 2008 00:29
Even though I doubt that I've won over a single soul in the battle to capture the hearts and minds of the masses, hopefully I've planted a seed or two of inquisitiveness kleo. The short term fix isn't as important to me as the long term cure.

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