(First, my apologies to the artist. I had to reformat the two panels of this cartoon to allow it to fit on the page of my blog. I also shamelessly 'borrowed' it from the 'net, of course. I do apologize.)
This is an unusual cartoon in one way: while not a North American cartoonist, it's still a cartoon that is more critical of the U.S. than of Castro. I like this cartoon for this reason. Most people seem to be following the U.S. rhetoric that depicts Castro as some evil dictator forcing Communism on the backs of a very reluctant people. While I know that the living situation isn't the best for a lot of people there that's mostly due to the American embargo against Cuba. While the people may not have the same class of health care people have here (though some might debate that as well (see Sicko), at least they have health care, care that they can receive without bankrupting them as in the 'for-profit' world of American healthcare and the insurance companies. The American system seems to be concerned solely for those who can pay, which brings to mind my favourite quotation from 'A Christmas Carol', when Scrooge says, in essence, that those who cannot afford to live should die and decrease the surplus population. It's the American way...
(Sorry. My rant led me a bit afield...)
2 comments:
Upon hearing of the semi-retirement of Fidel Castro and the possibility that it may open up Cuba to a "US style democracy", my first though was "May the Gods help them all if that happens."
Fidel was no saint, however, he stands head and shoulders above some of the dictators that the US backed both financially and militarily. In his favour, I can say that before the revolution, Cuba was mostly owned by the mafia, children were being forced into prostitution and it was known as "the Whorehouse of the Caribbean". Those who were rich were obscenely so (my,that sounds familiar)and the poor, well, see above. Batista fled the country after looting the treasury and retired in New York.
Fidel managed to keep Cuba out of US control, which, needless to say, many south american countries were never able to do.
Fidel, I think, truly loves his people, unlike many (most) dictators, no one can accuse him living in luxury at the expense of the citizens. And believe me, the US propaganda machine would have let us know in spades if he had. If I recall, he lives a very austere life.
Cuba is a poor country, to be sure, but no one is going hungry, and no one is homeless. Infant mortality is lower than in the US. Everyone has access to education, all the way through university. Health care is excellent and available for all, and Cuba even offered medical assistance to the victims of Hurricane Katrina.
US style democracy would never brought that about.
I typed in a nice long reply, Morganor, and when I clicked 'publish your comment' watched as it swiftly evaporated into the aether, going who knows where. Suffice to say, without trying to recreate the comment, that I agree wholeheartedly with you.
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