24th October 2004, 1:10 PM
Quote:I agree. In principle, I really dislike the government of Cuba, but at the same time, the practical side of me knows there is no legitimate threat from Cuba. It's like defending your home against an 80 year old paraplegic that used to be a terrible cat burglar. Also, we trade openly with China... no better than Cuba on any issue really. I'd agree with sanctions if they precipitated some sort of reform, but they're really just a waste of resources. I think it would be better to open up to them, and hope that has an effect on the transition of power that is sure to come.
China... no better than Cuba on any issue and worse on plenty -- yes, Cuba blocks freedom of the press, etc, but China has widespread opression of minorities, forced work camps for jails, other things that help make it very bad on human rights, even more lack of press freedom than Cuba (where it is quite limited), etc... China is worse than Cuba. They just make junk we buy, so they are okay while Cuba makes very little so they are embargoed. Stupid. Now, as I said, if the sanctions would actually change things, go ahead. If sanctions work they should definitely be used. But in this case it is SO obvious that they have totally failed that I see absolutely no use in continuing sanctions. It just hurts the Cuban people and serves no useful purpose.
Quote:Insulting castro wont do much to make Cuba a democracy , They wont see it as castro getting smacked they will see the U.S smacking the hole of Cuba. Castro isnt a whack job like Kimmy from north Korea, To the contriary Castro is the white sheep of a herd of black ones atleast when it comes to communist, He never commited or acted in Stalinist like atroscities which the chinese do even to this day (tiamen sqaure) ,I am not saying he didnt do some not so nice things but as a Dictator he isnt diabolic and barbaric like Saddam Hussein,Kim,China previous leadership ,Saudi arabia and those other shady jihadist head chopers and women beaters "islamic republics" which I dont have to say how twisted they are.
As far as I know, that's mostly true... and certainly true for most of his rule. He's no Kim Il Sung, that's for sure... he certainly opresses his people, greatly limits freedoms, jails people who try to excercise rights like freedom of the press, limits religion, etc, but compared to China, North Korea, or Burma, he's nothing... not to mention Saudi Arabia, that's a pretty good point... that is the most conservative regime in the world! I'm not saying Cuba is good, but that in comparison to other nondemocratic regimes it's one of the most harmless ones.