Mac Olsen
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau certainly has a lot of nerve, professing that he speaks for all Canadians over the passing of Fidel Castro.
His public statement on Nov. 26 read:
“It is with deep sorrow that I learned today of the death of Cuba’s longest serving President. Fidel Castro was a larger than life leader who served his people for almost half a century. A legendary revolutionary and orator, Mr. Castro made significant improvements to the education and healthcare of his island nation.
“I know my father was very proud to call him a friend and I had the opportunity to meet Fidel when my father passed away. It was also a real honour to meet his three sons and his brother President Raúl Castro during my recent visit to Cuba.
“On behalf of all Canadians, Sophie and I offer our deepest condolences to the family, friends and many, many supporters of Mr. Castro. We join the people of Cuba today in mourning the loss of this remarkable leader.”
Excuse me, Trudeau! But you don’t speak for me regarding Castro!
I take strong exception to this, that you would even suggest that I have the same regard for a man who had a violent and narcissistic nature.
Let’s look at what he did during his dictatorship.
The Cuban Missile Crisis – In 1962, Castro allowed Nikita Kruschev, the leader of the Soviety Union, to establish nuclear missile bases on Cuban soil. Castro helped to bring the world to the brink of nuclear destruction.
That, alone, should be written on his tombstone as the greatest blunder ever made.
Attempts to export communism – Angola, in 1975 and again in 1988. Castro backed left-wing forces and groups in Angola, against others groups backed by the US and South Africa.
Grenada in 1983. Cuban “construction crews” were there supposedly to help with building the infrastructure. But you can’t tell me that they weren’t soldiers and that their purpose wasn’t to back Maurice Bishop. Castro wouldn’t give up a golden opportunity to help create another communist dictatorship in the Western Hemisphere.
There’s also one other piece of notoriety to blemish Castro’s image – the Mariel Boatlift in 1980. It’s estimated that over 100,000 Cubans fled when Castro “allowed” them to leave. But among these so-called refugees were political opponents of Castro, whom he called “mentally ill” and “criminals.”
And despite the platitudes about health care delivery and education in Cuba, Castro crushed all opposition. He wouldn’t allow anyone to question or challenge his authority.
So, Trudeau, you’re blatantly wrong about the type of man that Castro was. Even if you and your daddy had a rapport with him and his family, you’re oblivious to the history of his 50-plus years of dictatorial rule.
Nonetheless, I look forward to the day when Cuba becomes a truly democratic nation and sweeps the Castro legacy into the ash heap of history.
And I will remember Castro far differently from you, Trudeau.