NationStates Jolt Archive

So aye, a new pic of Fidel came out. Looks a bit like a photoshop to me, but I might just be being skeptical.

The first photograph of former Cuban President Fidel Castro to be seen in five months has been published on the website of the Russian Orthodox Church.

It shows the 82-year-old, leaning on the arm of a senior church official, looking frail but alert.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7729254.stm

I don't suspect any manipulation here. He's probably "recovering" right now, at least as well as any frail, ill 82 year old can. He'll likely be dead within a year though.

Man, he looks so damn old. He is, of course, but still.

After the embargo placed on Cuba to destabilize his regime, he's seen nine US presidents leave office. George II will be the tenth, should the old bastard make it to January.

You really need to work on those titles.

You really need to work on those titles.
Did it not attract yer attention? Yes, yes it did. This is what a title is for.

I have from a good source that he is alive, at least was alive three weeks ago. Someone I know saw him in Cuba. However, yes, he is a pretty delicate state.

I have Castro's body in my garden. He died back in '83.

I doubt they'd bother photoshop him if he's in such a frail state. They've nothing really to gain by keeping him alive in that sense - unlike North Korea.

Did it not attract yer attention? Yes, yes it did. This is what a title is for.

-.-

point taken. :p

Man, he looks so damn old. He is, of course, but still.

After the embargo placed on Cuba to destabilize his regime, he's seen nine US presidents leave office. George II will be the tenth, should the old bastard make it to January.Somehow, despite my dislike for Castro, I'd prefer Bush not go down in history as the President who presided over Castro's death.
Did it not attract yer attention? Yes, yes it did. This is what a title is for.My stolen church title is still better.

Somehow, despite my dislike for Castro, I'd prefer Bush not go down in history as the President who presided over Castro's death.
My stolen church title is still better.

You know, I actually feel the same. Kinda like such a persistent foe deserves better.

You know, I actually feel the same. Yeah, "Dude, Where's My Church?" is so much catchier than "Un-Orthodox..."
Kinda like such a persistent foe deserves better.Wait a minute. You didn't mean the title thing... =(

Well, I don't know if Castro really deserves it. I know Bush doesn't.

lol, I wonder how many of my fellow Ns Nations politically support dictators Fidel and Raul and how many oppose, lol? perhaps our OP host will add a public poll, lol? lol, means I dont expect it.

lol, I wonder how many of my fellow Ns Nations politically support dictators Fidel and Raul and how many oppose, lol? perhaps our OP host will add a public poll, lol? lol, means I dont expect it.

I think it is far more important to reflect on how many Cubans support him and his government.

I think it is far more important to reflect on how many Cubans support him and his government.

Hola Gift-of-god, I am sure you are a political supporter of dictators for life of Fidel and Raul. According to the Cuban government 99 % of Cubans in Cuba support Fidel and Raul, the only persons opposed are a small group of pro American traitiors, escoria, gusanos. I guess like my family still in Cuba. Very democratic. Soy buena honda. Traidores, scums, worms.

Yeah, "Dude, Where's My Church?" is so much catchier than "Un-Orthodox..."
Wait a minute. You didn't mean the title thing... =(

Well, I don't know if Castro really deserves it. I know Bush doesn't.

Both, really. I mean, even though whoever's watch he dies on will get credit for basically doing nothing, it would be kind of demeaning in a way if Bush got that credit.

lol, I wonder how many of my fellow Ns Nations politically support dictators Fidel and Raul and how many oppose, lol? perhaps our OP host will add a public poll, lol? lol, means I dont expect it.

If it's in the United States' interests, I'd say quite a lot.

lol, lol, lol, lol, lol.

I think it is far more important to reflect on how many Cubans support him and his government.

Indeed. I was in Cuba not too long ago, what, 3 years ago, and things aren't as bad as the US news paint them. Come on, of course they lack things, the US has an embargo (unfair) on the country. But the country has prospered under Castro.

Of course, I don't condone nor am I for the atrocities that have been committed under Fidel's rule. Dictatorships are bad, from start to finish. But I am against the propaganda against Cuba that the US has bombarded the rest of the world and it's citizens with.

You know, that 'church official' holding his arm there looks decidedly...evil.

One cant help but wonder if he's grinning like that because Castro sold his soul just so he could outlive Bush :p

what I find odd is how all these politicians seem to live for so long despite all the stress :confused:

what I find odd is how all these politicians seem to live for so long despite all the stress :confused:

My grandparents are older than Castro. And, due to not having as much stress, they both look quite a bit less frail.

Indeed. I was in Cuba not too long ago, what, 3 years ago, and things aren't as bad as the US news paint them. Come on, of course they lack things, the US has an embargo (unfair) on the country. But the country has prospered under Castro.

Of course, I don't condone nor am I for the atrocities that have been committed under Fidel's rule. Dictatorships are bad, from start to finish. But I am against the propaganda against Cuba that the US has bombarded the rest of the world and it's citizens with.

The Embargo: Unfair, unnecessary, and also completely ineffective.

The Embargo: Unfair, unnecessary, and also completely ineffective.

I agree, totally.

Indeed. I was in Cuba not too long ago, what, 3 years ago, and things aren't as bad as the US news paint them. Come on, of course they lack things, the US has an embargo (unfair) on the country. But the country has prospered under Castro.

Of course, I don't condone nor am I for the atrocities that have been committed under Fidel's rule. Dictatorships are bad, from start to finish. But I am against the propaganda against Cuba that the US has bombarded the rest of the world and it's citizens with.

Stop stealin' my postures and opinions, mmmkay?

Seriously. Now you are making me look as if I always jump into your bandwagon.

I was in Cuba like three years ago, too. I can tell you that cubans admire Fidel for facing the entire american empire and survived. They call him "El Gran Comandante", for not yielding under pressure.

Yet, that doesn't mean there are no criticism for his rule, or the one of his brother. A cuban friend of mine, that came here to work as a Barrio Adentro doctor, (one of the Chávez's missions), told me that now the cuban goverment face a problem. The population is, in average, pretty well educated now, so it has started to ask more and more questions about how the country is handled. They criticize the lack of openess for the political opposition, although they recognize that elections aren't a fraud as the US goverment states. They critic the limitations imposed on the common population to enjoy turistic facilities, when members of the party and military officers visit them quite often.

They critic that the only member the party could place as the heir of Fidel was his own brother. They critic the lack of goverment's measures to combat the rise on the prostitution business. They critic the lack of contact with other nations, the "police state" measures of vigilance, repression and ideological propaganda. They critic the forced separation between the internal population and the exiled. That doesn't mean they are willing to overthrow their goverment to implement fast changes by force. They want a peaceful and gradual transition, as it should be.

To be fair, Raul Castro started said transition. Petitions were heard, changes started to be made. Too sad that a pair of hurricanes forced the goverment into another direction.

The cubans are a curious people.

My grandparents are older than Castro. And, due to not having as much stress, they both look quite a bit less frail.

still thats higher than even the US (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/96/Life_Expectancy_2007_Estimates_CIA_World_Factbook.PNG)

I want a secret damn it!

still thats higher than even the US (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/96/Life_Expectancy_2007_Estimates_CIA_World_Factbook.PNG)

I want a secret damn it!

Drink only in moderation, eat fairly healthy, stay active. Take a walk, go for a hike, regularly. Laugh a lot.

That's all I can figure out.

Stop stealin' my postures and opinions, mmmkay?

Seriously. Now you are making me look as if I always jump into your bandwagon.

I was in Cuba like three years ago, too. I can tell you that cubans admire Fidel for facing the entire american empire and survived. They call him "El Gran Comandante", for not yielding under pressure.

Yet, that doesn't mean there are no criticism for his rule, or the one of his brother. A cuban friend of mine, that came here to work as a Barrio Adentro doctor, (one of the Chávez's missions), told me that now the cuban goverment face a problem. The population is, in average, pretty well educated now, so it has started to ask more and more questions about how the country is handled. They criticize the lack of openess for the political opposition, although they recognize that elections aren't a fraud as the US goverment states. They critic the limitations imposed on the common population to enjoy turistic facilities, when members of the party and military officers visit them quite often.

They critic that the only member the party could place as the heir of Fidel was his own brother. They critic the lack of goverment's measures to combat the rise on the prostitution business. They critic the lack of contact with other nations, the "police state" measures of vigilance, repression and ideological propaganda. They critic the forced separation between the internal population and the exiled. That doesn't mean they are willing to overthrow their goverment to implement fast changes by force. They want a peaceful and gradual transition, as it should be.

To be fair, Raul Castro started said transition. Petitions were heard, changes started to be made. Too sad that a pair of hurricanes forced the goverment into another direction.

The cubans are a curious people.

Te prometo que la próxima vez, cuelgo mis opiniones luego de las tuyas, tía.:fluffle:

I agree, totally.

Yeah, I just wanted to make it clear that a lot of Americans like myself think it's completely stupid, too.

Te prometo que la próxima vez, cuelgo mis opiniones luego de las tuyas, tía.:fluffle:

Oh, you know I'm kidding right? It's hard to read that kind of irony through the webz.

:fluffle:

But really, I have found myself in accord with you a lot, lately.

El Bloque Iberoamericano? :P

Oh, you know I'm kidding right? It's hard to read that kind of irony through the webz.

:fluffle:

But really, I have found myself in accord with you a lot, lately.

El Bloque Iberoamericano? :P

No worries babe, I know you were kidding.;)

I guess great minds think alike.
Now, wait for the catcalls and such.

El Bloque Iberamericano se queda corto. Ésto es Inteligencia Cósmica, mi niña!:D

How long were you in Cuba for, Nanatsu no Tsuki ? Holiday, visiting relatives, what ?

How long were you in Cuba for, Nanatsu ? Holiday, visiting relatives, what ?

I was there 2 weeks. My nephew was taken to La Habana to have an eye operation when he was 5. While he was recuperating, we traveled to the west of the Island and stayed in Pinar del Río. Why do you ask?

I was there 2 weeks. My nephew was taken to La Habana to have an eye operation when he was 5. While he was recuperating, we traveled to the west of the Island and stayed in Pinar del Río. Why do you ask?

I'm just curious. I'd ask Aelosia too but they're offline just now.

With the enquiry about whether it was a family connection that took you there I was trying to gauge how wide a cross-section of the Cuban population you met. Speaking Spanish, you'd get into conversations with shopkeepers and folks on the street?

I'm just curious. I'd ask Aelosia too but they're offline just now.

With the enquiry about whether it was a family connection that took you there I was trying to gauge how wide a cross-section of the Cuban population you met. Speaking Spanish, you'd get into conversations with shopkeepers and folks on the street?

Yes, as a matter of fact I did get into conversation with a few shopkeepers and a few locals. And, although my experience wasn't with a wide population, those I met seemed to concord on the same thing: things are tight on account of the US embargo to the Island nation, but they do respect Fidel Castro as their president, they're proud of their country. And they always say, those who are old enough to remember that things were horrible with Batista. That Fidel did bring a change and that they're happy with the Cuba that they have.

Yes, as a matter of fact I did get into conversation with a few shopkeepers and a few locals. And, although my experience wasn't with a wide population, those I met seemed to concord on the same thing: things are tight on account of the US embargo to the Island nation, but they do respect Fidel Castro as their president, they're proud of their country. And they always say, those who are old enough to remember that things were horrible with Batista. That Fidel did bring a change and that they're happy with the Cuba that they have.

Yeah, this idea that freedom of speech is essential for personal happiness is rather daft. Economic conditions matter more, and I'd say not having wide inequities of wealth matters a lot too.

It's hard to believe that much of the population really listened to Fidel's speeches all the way through. More like watching the cricket ... something to do while getting drunk. :tongue:

They do like a drink over there, no ?

Yeah, this idea that freedom of speech is essential for personal happiness is rather daft. Economic conditions matter more, and I'd say not having wide inequities of wealth matters a lot too.

It's hard to believe that much of the population really listened to Fidel's speeches all the way through. More like watching the cricket ... something to do while getting drunk. :tongue:

They do like a drink over there, no ?

Yes Bunny-kun, they like their drink over there too, and in large quantities too.:D

Hola Gift-of-god, I am sure you are a political supporter of dictators for life of Fidel and Raul. According to the Cuban government 99 % of Cubans in Cuba support Fidel and Raul, the only persons opposed are a small group of pro American traitiors, escoria, gusanos. I guess like my family still in Cuba. Very democratic. Soy buena honda. Traidores, scums, worms.

And if open, free polls, internationally monitored of course, were held in Cuba, which found that the Cuban people overwhelmingly did support the current Cuban government over the alternatives, what would you say then?

Hola Gift-of-god, I am sure you are a political supporter of dictators for life of Fidel and Raul. According to the Cuban government 99 % of Cubans in Cuba support Fidel and Raul, the only persons opposed are a small group of pro American traitiors, escoria, gusanos.

The greatest leaders always have the most support.
http://de027.k12.sd.us/Pictures/1984-Big-Brother-Poster.jpg