The Cuban Sopranos

The Washington Times ^ | April 28, 2003 | Nat Hentoff

[Cincinatus]

My first sight on television of Fidel Castro's "liberation" of Cuba from Batista in 1959, was a firing squad dispatching political prisoners who had been summarily condemned by the new dictator. And through the years, Mr. Castro's gulags were filled by Cubans who dared to wish, however softly, for democracy.

[Cincinatus]

From time to time, I still think of Elian Gonzalez, so vivid a free spirit here until condemned by Janet Reno and Bill Clinton to a land where schoolteachers must keep a record of any signs of their charges' lessening fealty to the relentless light of their lives.

Yes, but Janet Reno and Bill Clinton "care about the children." They want them all to grow up an be good little socialists.

[Cincinatus]

Bump for your files, sweetie!

[goldstategop]

Nat Hentoff used to be a liberal. I think he's become a free spirit libertarian with time. Not bad for someone who is both and atheist AND pro-life!

[Cincinatus]

Hentoff's biggest concern has always been civil liberties. What could be more consistent than him taking on the biggest civil liberties abuser in the world?

An honest liberal -- rare as hen's teeth.

[oyez]

We take out Saddam on the other end of the earth but we permit Fidel carry on 8o miles away for more than 40 years.

[goldstategop]

A libertarian. I don't think you can find an honest liberal these days. Hentoff used to be one before the Left chased him out of its ranks.

[Semper Paratus]

Bianca Jagger is screaming about suffering in Iraq today, not yesterday, but hasn't anything to say about Cuba.

[Cincinatus]

You know, there is a logic to such an attitude from limosine liberals -- if they complain about abuse of power in an authoritarian regime, nothing will happen. If they whine about it after we've taken over, the problems will get fixed, at least, addressed. So, in a backwards kind of way, their consistent stupidity actually makes sense.

[warchild9]

My in-laws (some of whom lost relatives and friends to Castro's firing squads) were amazed at the news of HBO's rejection of Stone's Castro lovefest. It's still apparent that the network is run by subversives.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Thank you. Thank you.

We have to get together sometime. *grin*

Cuba Needs a Regime Change***Fidel Castro's recent wave of murderous repression against peaceful dissidents has again exposed him for what he has always been -- a brutal dictator. It has also debunked the lie that economic engagement and a ''more-moderate'' political line can help reform Cuba's Stalinist system. It's now painfully obvious that a decade of European engagement with, and coddling of, the Cuban dictator has failed miserably. For many, it's time to play hardball with him.***

[Ebenezer]

Film stars working under a dictatorial regime maintain positions of privilege and hero status (provided they follow the party line). Hollywood lefties, therefore, would have nothing to lose living under a Castro.