There were many early Castro fans, even among the wealthy given the abuses of Batista. I went to US school with children of some wealthy Cubans during the end of Batista. If you were in Batista's graces all was fine, the obverse was also true. Memories of Batista's first rule (fair) were dimmed in later times. Castro was always a communist but many thought he could be "managed" if only because of economics. The reality arrived several years post-revolution (~1960-61) and nearly all who once supported him among the Batista out group found themselves in the same trouble as the in group. A ,lot of people were fooled. I can believe that Flynn was an admirer; we still had many who still admire Castro.
I became politically awake (not to be confused with politically woke) in the late 1950s. Both parents were yellow dog Democrats; I was inspired to become a liberal Democrat in 1960 by JFK. I was inspired to become an independent by Nancy Pelosi 49 years later. I've considered myself a libertarian (lower-case "L") for more than 40 years. I thought Castro was neat, growing up in Washington DC and reading WoPo daily. No more.
I think many were inspired by Castro until he became a despot doing pretty much what Batista had been doing but tempered by "gifts" to the poor. Established medical schools but doctors as privileged, indentured with no supplies. The free market was eliminated by central control, per communistic notions, that can never create prosperity. But the groups in control will hardly allow the public much benefit. Everybody works for the state and the state will decide what the public needs. Remarkable how Cuba has survived.
I might guess that in modern full control communism, revolts are impossible. Maybe quiet quitting? Seems China got might scared about their Covid policy as people finally marched. The demographics of both China and Russia might force change - the "free" stuff gets reduced as there are too few workers for too many in need - as with the US Social Security system.
Cuba is very complex and understood poorly. The recent movie about Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz flubbed the revolution Arnaz had fled. Popular culture has it so wrong.
When Obama exchanged diplomatic relations for the sum of (1)+(-1) tourism resumed for a short period, and cruise ships brought large numbers of solo male passengers to the island, and women (being more enterprising than men) entertained them patriotically to earn foreign currency. I'm surprised Trump cancalled the trips; he so much favored capitalism.
At the time of the Mariel boatlift I was an Army Counterintelligence Special Agent, and must have debriefed 50 or more Cubans. Most were petty criminals or Dissidents. I made sure to evangelize self-reliance and did my best to help as many as I could to become capitalists.
I think a lot of Americans supported Castro at the beginning of his revolution. Certainly a lot of Cubans had been mistreated by Batista. Cuba is a beautiful country. It deserves better than it has been getting for a long time now.
I bet Cuba was a blast before the Marxists moved in. Hope that it will turn around some day and join the free world. It could be the Japan of the Caribbean. Lots of natural resources and smart people. So much potential that has lain dormant for too long.
This movie: Havana is a 1990 American drama film starring Robert Redford, Lena Olin, Alan Arkin and Raul Julia, directed by Sydney Pollack. The film's plot concerns Jack Weil (Redford), an American professional gambler who decides to visit Havana, Cuba to gamble in 1958 on the eve of the Cuban Revolution.
I suppose freedom is relative. Would you rather live in Cuba or Florida? I've been an Alaskan for forty years and I'd rather live here than in Minnesota or California, though Wyoming wouldn't be too bad, either.
No good choices here, but since you asked: Cuba over Florida, Alaska over the others, South America over North America, countryside over cities, isolation over crowds, intelligence over stupid, kindness over hurt, spirituality over the material.
Cuba over Florida? You have to be joking. Has anyone emigrated to Cuba from America in the last 60 years, other than maybe an attempt by Lee Harvey Oswald? I've worked in South America (Chile & Colombia) and I enjoyed it, but it certainly does not compare with the U.S.
Forget the last sixty years, how about just the last two....been enough of a change for me. Let's be fair, I don't think I'd be moving to Cuba anytime soon or Colombia or Chile or Peru. Ecuador yes, Bolivia possibly. And maybe it's not even so much about what has already happened as it is about what is very likely to happen. One quick example. All or nearly all of the ~120 nuclear power plants stateside are operating on extensions, their service life pretty much done....with no plans on what to do with the spent nuclear fuel stored on site: that question has never been answered for more than forty years. I'd call that scary. Thought about moving to Canada to live with that idiot Trudee Castro?
I get your point about where America is headed. I don't like it either and I believe a course correction is badly needed or else this republic is lost. With Plaskett threatening Taibbi with prison and the latest revelations (still in early allegation phase) regarding a corrupt AG Garland and dirty tricksters Blinken, Sullivan, Morrell, and Biden, it truly does seem like the Democrats want war-war on the public.
Don't agree on nuclear power. That's the only viable choice for long-term energy. Until we can control fusion reaction, we have nothing else that can replace fossil fuels. The new thorium-salt reactors are far less scary and more efficient than the 1st generation reactors.
More Tasmanian content :-)
I was born in the same hospital as Mr Flynn
Holy cow!
He has to be the world's most famous Tasmanian, aside from the Devil?!
I was thinking about this. I don't think Mary, Crown Princess of Denmark has eclipsed Errol quite yet :-)
O a puzzle....Hobartians. The hospital commemorated the marriage of Edward & Alexandra. This is a history lesson.
This is fascinating!
There were many early Castro fans, even among the wealthy given the abuses of Batista. I went to US school with children of some wealthy Cubans during the end of Batista. If you were in Batista's graces all was fine, the obverse was also true. Memories of Batista's first rule (fair) were dimmed in later times. Castro was always a communist but many thought he could be "managed" if only because of economics. The reality arrived several years post-revolution (~1960-61) and nearly all who once supported him among the Batista out group found themselves in the same trouble as the in group. A ,lot of people were fooled. I can believe that Flynn was an admirer; we still had many who still admire Castro.
I became politically awake (not to be confused with politically woke) in the late 1950s. Both parents were yellow dog Democrats; I was inspired to become a liberal Democrat in 1960 by JFK. I was inspired to become an independent by Nancy Pelosi 49 years later. I've considered myself a libertarian (lower-case "L") for more than 40 years. I thought Castro was neat, growing up in Washington DC and reading WoPo daily. No more.
I think many were inspired by Castro until he became a despot doing pretty much what Batista had been doing but tempered by "gifts" to the poor. Established medical schools but doctors as privileged, indentured with no supplies. The free market was eliminated by central control, per communistic notions, that can never create prosperity. But the groups in control will hardly allow the public much benefit. Everybody works for the state and the state will decide what the public needs. Remarkable how Cuba has survived.
I might guess that in modern full control communism, revolts are impossible. Maybe quiet quitting? Seems China got might scared about their Covid policy as people finally marched. The demographics of both China and Russia might force change - the "free" stuff gets reduced as there are too few workers for too many in need - as with the US Social Security system.
Cuba is very complex and understood poorly. The recent movie about Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz flubbed the revolution Arnaz had fled. Popular culture has it so wrong.
When Obama exchanged diplomatic relations for the sum of (1)+(-1) tourism resumed for a short period, and cruise ships brought large numbers of solo male passengers to the island, and women (being more enterprising than men) entertained them patriotically to earn foreign currency. I'm surprised Trump cancalled the trips; he so much favored capitalism.
A lot of people visited at that time but I didn't know the side story.
At the time of the Mariel boatlift I was an Army Counterintelligence Special Agent, and must have debriefed 50 or more Cubans. Most were petty criminals or Dissidents. I made sure to evangelize self-reliance and did my best to help as many as I could to become capitalists.
One couldn't become Castro's friend without becoming Castro's bitch.
Trudee Castro, that idiot in Canada, operates his entire 'life' on this single page from pappy's Castro Manifesto.
I think a lot of Americans supported Castro at the beginning of his revolution. Certainly a lot of Cubans had been mistreated by Batista. Cuba is a beautiful country. It deserves better than it has been getting for a long time now.
I bet Cuba was a blast before the Marxists moved in. Hope that it will turn around some day and join the free world. It could be the Japan of the Caribbean. Lots of natural resources and smart people. So much potential that has lain dormant for too long.
This movie: Havana is a 1990 American drama film starring Robert Redford, Lena Olin, Alan Arkin and Raul Julia, directed by Sydney Pollack. The film's plot concerns Jack Weil (Redford), an American professional gambler who decides to visit Havana, Cuba to gamble in 1958 on the eve of the Cuban Revolution.
Could you by chance provide some directions on where to find your 'free world'?
I suppose freedom is relative. Would you rather live in Cuba or Florida? I've been an Alaskan for forty years and I'd rather live here than in Minnesota or California, though Wyoming wouldn't be too bad, either.
No good choices here, but since you asked: Cuba over Florida, Alaska over the others, South America over North America, countryside over cities, isolation over crowds, intelligence over stupid, kindness over hurt, spirituality over the material.
Cuba over Florida? You have to be joking. Has anyone emigrated to Cuba from America in the last 60 years, other than maybe an attempt by Lee Harvey Oswald? I've worked in South America (Chile & Colombia) and I enjoyed it, but it certainly does not compare with the U.S.
Forget the last sixty years, how about just the last two....been enough of a change for me. Let's be fair, I don't think I'd be moving to Cuba anytime soon or Colombia or Chile or Peru. Ecuador yes, Bolivia possibly. And maybe it's not even so much about what has already happened as it is about what is very likely to happen. One quick example. All or nearly all of the ~120 nuclear power plants stateside are operating on extensions, their service life pretty much done....with no plans on what to do with the spent nuclear fuel stored on site: that question has never been answered for more than forty years. I'd call that scary. Thought about moving to Canada to live with that idiot Trudee Castro?
I get your point about where America is headed. I don't like it either and I believe a course correction is badly needed or else this republic is lost. With Plaskett threatening Taibbi with prison and the latest revelations (still in early allegation phase) regarding a corrupt AG Garland and dirty tricksters Blinken, Sullivan, Morrell, and Biden, it truly does seem like the Democrats want war-war on the public.
Don't agree on nuclear power. That's the only viable choice for long-term energy. Until we can control fusion reaction, we have nothing else that can replace fossil fuels. The new thorium-salt reactors are far less scary and more efficient than the 1st generation reactors.