Will Fidel Castro please
die already?
It's hard not to notice, however, that (Augusto Pinochet) leaves behind the most successful country in Latin America. In the past 15 years, Chile's economy has grown at twice the regional average, and its poverty rate has been halved. It's leaving behind the developing world, where all of its neighbors remain mired. It also has a vibrant democracy.
By way of contrast, Fidel Castro -- Mr. Pinochet's nemesis and a hero to many in Latin America and beyond -- will leave behind an economically ruined and freedomless country with his approaching death. Mr. Castro also killed and exiled thousands. But even when it became obvious that his communist economic system had impoverished his country, he refused to abandon that system: He spent the last years of his rule reversing a partial liberalization. To the end he also imprisoned or persecuted anyone who suggested Cubans could benefit from freedom of speech or the right to vote.
As
Glenn Reynolds deftly points out - "The other contrast is that you can find apologists for Castro in pretty much every newsroom and university campus in America. Pinochet, not so much."
1 comment:
you talk about how fidel killed many but what about pinochet. Pinochet was arrested because of his acts against humaity. Pinochet killed more the castro and tortured/ kill/ kidnapp people. I knew people living in chile when pinochet ruled and it was a depressing to live there in the time he ruled. People were limited for a lot off things and that people were also aressted and later kill if the speak against him. Castro wanted to have free elections but because of the us blocade on them it was hard to make money to keep cuba running after he his term would end but he decided that because he needed to control cuba to keep being invaded by the US. Still the freedom of speech and the right to vote is an important factor which flaw for castro. But the social healthcare and social education was great achviement for cuba and which the US should also do like other countries for example france or england.
I think the governments should have socialist aspects but keep an democratic process for election like Salvador Allende who was running chile quite well and that he eliminted the proverty in chile.
-member of the EZLN and social freedom fighter
Post a Comment