Fidel Castro - 1929-2016 - Dies at age 90

[Chobittsu]

A few minutes ago it was reported that former revolutionary and politician Fidel Castro has died in the Cuban capital of Havana.
Cause of death has not been disclosed however the time of death was 22:29EST. He will be cremated.

I know plenty of you might have strong feelings for or against him, I myself am entirely neutral on the man and his history. But it's never a normal day when a man with such an impact on history dies.
 

[Ie_Shima]

Bit shocked really, thought the guy would live forever.  Don't know what to say.  In my opinion the guy was a bit stupid, and didn't really help his country in the long run, but he did topple a corrupt government with about 70 guys, so props to him.

[Chobittsu]

 

 

Aye, as a Canadian I have no opinion on the man beyond his place in history. He left a big footprint, for good or bad, and I can respect that. Whether it's fondly or full of hate, he will be remembered

[atPrick__]

Grew up in Central Florida and went to H.S. with people that floated over on "boats" that could barely float. Cubans that fled that mans tyranny are going to be very, very happy.

 

Expect much celebration by Cuban Immigrants.

[Wolcott]

Good riddance.

[Atomic_Manatee]

Indeed, a new chapter in Cuban history begins today.

[MotorheadEddie]

Check his pockets for cigars!           I'm also surprised he died, I was also convinced he wasn't going to die either, but now Cuba doesn't have to live in his shadow anymore.

[Admiral_Of_The_Fleet]

 

Fidel Castro

 

Former Prime Minister of Cuba

Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz, commonly known as Fidel Castro, was a Cuban politician and revolutionary who governed the Republic of Cuba as Prime Minister from 1959 to 1976 and then as President from 1976 to 2008. Wikipedia

 

 

Born: August 13, 1926, Birán, Cuba

 

Died: November 25, 2016, Santiago de Cuba Province, Cuba

 

Resigned: February 24, 2008

 

Children: Alina Fernández, Fidel Ángel Castro Díaz-Balart, more

 

Siblings: Raúl Castro, Juanita Castro, Ramón Castro Ruz, more

Quotes

A revolution is a struggle to the death between the future and the past.

 

 

 

They talk about the failure of socialism but where is the success of capitalism in Africa, Asia and Latin America?

 

 

 

I find capitalism repugnant. It is filthy, it is gross, it is alienating... because it causes war, hypocrisy and competition.

 

[RedBear87]

 But it's never a normal day when a man with such an impact on history dies.

In some ways he's been death for five years now, since he left the secretary of the party, he had become a living relic of the past century. Some of his mistakes and excesses might have been difficult to avoid in the bipolar Cold War environment, dunno if it will be enough for history to truly absolve him, but for sure he showed people that they can stand up to the powerful and mighty.

Bit shocked really, thought the guy would live forever.

That's Kissinger.

[Judge_Doom]

Over threw a dictator, only to become a dictator himself.

[MrDeaf]

There is probably a disparity in sentiment between younger generations and older ones.

He made his impact on the world long ago so I am neutral about it.

 

RIP, former great man of living history.

[DiEsmitty]

Wow, they must be going partying in Miami right about know. Grew up in Florida and worked with Cubans from the merilla boat lift. 

[Carrier_Junyo]

Good riddance.

 

Knowledge and wisdom at it's best. 

[Umikami]

A man who took a thriving economy and turned it into one of the most economically depressed areas in the world today.

Yeah, lets all hear it for Fidel.

[Flieger56]

A man who took a thriving economy and turned it into one of the most economically depressed areas in the world today.

Yeah, lets all hear it for Fidel.

This topic is not making a comment on what he did, just saying that he's dead.

​

[ACEpickles]

Communist dictator...

[Lert]

"After all, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named did great things — terrible, yes, but great."

 

Ollivander, on Voldemort.

 

I felt it appropriate.

[715]

My grandfather was actually captured by Castro.

 

He was a locomotive mechanic that was hired all over the world and he happened to be in Cuba during the time when Castro was coming into power.

Castro's train broke down in the village that my grandfather was in. They heard he was a great locomotive mechanic and forced him to come to the train. He refused to help Castro stating how rude he was and Castro threatened to kill him if he didn't fix it. My grandfather was very stubborn so he fixed it to were the train would be able to leave but would eventually break down again. Luckily, my grandfather was let go as they felt he had "completely fixed" the train and he escaped Cuba. If not I might not be here today.

[YukikazeFortunateBeaver]

My grandfather was actually captured by Castro.

 

He was a locomotive mechanic that was hired all over the world and he happened to be in Cuba during the time when Castro was coming into power.

Castro's train broke down in the village that my grandfather was in. They heard he was a great locomotive mechanic and forced him to come to the train. He refused to help Castro stating how rude he was and Castro threatened to kill him if he didn't fix it. My grandfather was very stubborn so he fixed it to were the train would be able to leave but would eventually break down again. Luckily, my grandfather was let go as they felt he had "completely fixed" the train and he escaped Cuba. If not I might not be here today.

I feel like that needs to be sent to the pettyrevenge tumblr amd reddit...

[CaptainKiwi_2016]

I have mixed feelings about him. Mostly due to the fact that my dad fought against his forces in Angola. 

[Jim_Byrnes]

My father found himself with a fresh M14 and a squad of Marines in a landing craft off the Bay of Pigs... Castro can burn in hell God save the Cuban people from his worthless brother and let Cuba top the list of the failures of Socialism next to Venezuela  

[Xero_Snake]

[RedBear87]

"After all, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named did great things — terrible, yes, but great."

 

Ollivander, on Voldemort.

 

I felt it appropriate.

Raising education standards and living expectation, Cuba has one of the highest HDI in Latin America, are terrible terrific things indeed.

[atPrick__]

 My family and native land were destroyed by the brutal Castro regime. In 1959, as an 8-year old, I listened to mobs shout ‘paredon!’ (to the firing squad!) I watched televised executions, and was terrified by the incessant pressure to agree with a bearded dictator’s ideals.

As the months passed, relatives, friends and neighbors began to disappear. Some of them emerged from prison with detailed accounts of the tortures they endured, but many never reappeared, their lives cut short by firing squads.

I also witnessed the government’s seizure of all private property—down to the ring on one’s finger—and the collapse of my country’s economy. I began to feel as if some monstrous force was trying to steal my mind and soul through incessant indoctrination.

 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2014/12/22/as-a-cuban-exile-i-feel-betrayed-by-president-obama/?utm_term=.1450d1c1f93b

 

People can try and glorify the man all they want and claim that his political ideals improved the lives of the "many" but in the end Fidel was nothing more than a common criminal, murderer and thief.

 

Here is a great article, where I pulled the above comment from

https://www.firstthings.com/web-exclusives/2015/09/remembering-castros-crimes

[Lert]

Raising education standards and living expectation, Cuba has one of the highest HDI in Latin America, are terrible terrific things indeed.

 

Yeah, because that's the only thing he ever did.