[lbo-talk] Raúl on the 26th + Fidel on Cuba's Self Criticism

John Thornton jthorn65 at sbcglobal.net
Mon Jul 30 14:49:22 PDT 2007



>> What criteria are you using for success and what do you mean by
>> "revolution." (DK)
>>
>
> Don't ask me. Ask the people who are celebrating the "self-evident
> success of the Cuban revolution." (Chuck)
>

Why not ask you? If you pronounce that Cuba had no revolution and is a failure that pronouncement is meaningless unless we know what you mean by revolution and how you would define the success of one. That's a fairly basic part of any argument Chuck. I also can't find anyone arguing the self-evident success of the Cuban revolution so again I'll ask you to repost those. Maybe my internet connection is filtering out all of Chucks substantive points as well as filtering out the unabashed praise by zombie leftists of Cuba's glorious revolution. I'll check with Jordan and see if his nefarious hand is working to keep me befuddled. (JT)


>> Yes.
>>
>> In so much as it was about the general poverty of the Cuban people, lack
>> of medical care being a component of poverty. (DK)
>>
>
> Jesus christ. You are one of those zombie Castro-lovin leftists aren't
> you. Weren't you pretending to be an anarchist just a few days ago? (Chuck)
>

Is Dmytri Kleiner really a "zombie Castro-lovin leftists" or is Chuck resorting to cheap personal attacks of the kind he just accused Dennis of? Dmytri must be one since no one would be so hypocritical to engage in that type of behaviour within minutes of lamenting someone else had done so. (JT)


>> What are the people in Haiti eating? (DK)
>>
>
> We're talking about Cuba here, the glorious revolution in the Caribbean. (JT)
>
We're also talking about how typical Cuba's revolution was so the state of food production and distribution in neighboring states is extremely relevant. Of course you have stated that Cuba's revolution was both typical of other small states and you have also stated it was not typical so we're all a little confused as to where you actually stand. (JT)


>> The Batista State was overthrown and a different State replaced it,
>> that, sometimes, is called a Revolution. (DK)
>>
>
> It's a change in governments, for sure. (Chuck)
>

Then you agree that it was a revolution, a "forcible overthrow of an established government or political system", that took place in Cuba. So it was a revolution and it wasn't a revolution that was typical and was not typical. You're writing and reasoning is certainly tough to follow Chuck. (JT)


> I don't have any feelings about Castro. My interest here is to skewer
> the American leftists who worship Castro. It's nothing short of amazing
> that American leftists would continue to celebrate Castro, its glorious
> doctors, and its so-called "revolution" despite the ugly facts.
>
> If this is the social revolution you want to sell everybody else, don't
> be surprised when pretty much everybody tells you to take a flying leap
> off a pier in Havana. (Chuck)
>

Who here worships Castro? Give me names and links to their previous posts please. You seem incapable of reading one positive word about Cuba without a knee-jerk reaction to paint the writer as a "zombie Castro-lovin leftists" in need of being skewered by you. I have read no post here worshiping Castro so maybe you could repost those as well. Hopefully Jordan can fix the problem of all the really meaty parts of these posts being edited before I receive them. I guess I should stop celebrating all the good work Cuban doctors actually do world-wide as well. I mean they're probably just helping to prop up Cuba rather than relieving any actual suffering. It would be nothing short of amazing (and sociopathic) not to have good things to say about Cuban doctors. But since it isn't a full blown anarchist revolution it means fuck all, right Chuck? (JT)


> The Cuban people should have a right to self-determination without
> interference of the Unites States, American leftists, capitalists and
> everybody else who thinks they know what's good for them.
>
> Chuck
So if they follow Castro and prefer to attempt to set up a socialist state rather than some unspecified anarchist state-less utopia you're saying it's none of your damn business, right? How exactly were Cubans supposed to defend themselves against American capitalists (I don't see American leftists as having any power to influence Cuba so I imagine protecting themselves from this threat is pretty low on the priority of Cubans today). By dismantling the Batista Government, then abolishing the state and thinking good thoughts hard enough? I know the answer already, you don't have to actually make any constructively critical arguments but merely shout anarchist truisms from the sidelines. If I go to Cuba next year do you want to accompany me and tell the Cubans themselves how laughable their healthcare concerns are and how un-revolutionary their revolution was? Maybe you'll have some workable ideas you can share with them by that time rather than just criticisms.

John Thornton



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