> Yeah, I did...because Buddhism is not enough (and because I think it's
> totally shitty and nuts to talk about Castro NOW).
Buddhism is never enough, but then, isn't that the point?
When was it not "totally shitty and nuts" to talk about Castro? 1959? No -- the revolution just happened. 1961? No -- Bay of Pigs. The sixties? No -- the US had invaded the Dominican Republic and was pounding Vietnam. The seventies? No -- Cuba was assisting Angola in its defense against South Africa. Also, rightwing émigrés blew up a Cuban airliner (wiping out the Cuban fencing team, a worse massacre than what happened in Munich in '72, but then, Memory Holes exist for a reason). The eighties? No -- Nicaragua was fighting for air and needed Cuban support. The nineties? No -- Soviet Union gone, Cuba left alone.
Looking at this general sweep of history, I'd say, given your posture, that it's never been a good time to criticize Castro from the left. Is he above criticism from those who support Cuban independence? Is the death penalty ok when socialists do the killing? Again, I'd say, given your posture, yes on both counts.
> By the way, I say this with knot in my stomach because I'm NOT a
'realpolitik' kinda gal, but I
> was trained to shoot by the FBI and I know what the working man is up
against.
Well, I was trained to shoot by the military, and remain a working man. Not sure what this has to do with Cuba, but I handled some rifles recently and was surprised how well I've kept my aim. "Full Metal Jacket" got it right.
DP