Miami Cuban celebration turns to reflection on Castro's death

In the long run, I suspect that Castro will be most remembered as the person/regime who removed the last vestiges of Spanish and then American colonialism from Cuba. Whatever the path of our future relations with Cuba, it will be a relationship of sovereign equals.

“Repression, open markets, freedom of religion, political prisoners — these things need to change in order to have open and free relationships, and that’s what President-elect Trump believes”

is this person just out of a coma?

The silence is in memory of the 1000s who died in and out of prison. It is not for the dictator. "There is a special place" for a person like him -- somewhere next to Stalin, Hitler and numerous other dictators, living and dead, who took everything from the people. The people in Miami should be respected for their calmness. They know that the little dictator brother has announced he will retire in 2 more years. It is only a matter of time before the nightmare ends.

"It is not for the dictator. "There is a special place" for a person like him -- somewhere next to Stalin, Hitler and numerous other dictators,"

Perhaps, but I'm not sure about putting Castro on the level of Stalin or Hitler.

Do you think the leaders of democratic countries who propped up murderous despots around the world or who bombed the living daylights out of innocent people belong on the same level?

“Repression, open markets, freedom of religion, political prisoners — these things need to change in order to have open and free relationships, and that’s what President-elect Trump believes”

Is Trump demanding the same from China? Of course not. The main driving force behind GOP policy on Cuba is the south Florida vote. That and the pro-embargo pols don't have the guts to pick on somebody their own size, i.e. China. Double standard.

Moreover, the embargo failed to change Cuba's political system. It was a failure.

plasticmonkey: Is Trump demanding the same from China? Of course not. The main driving force behind GOP policy on Cuba is the south Florida vote. That and the pro-embargo pols don't have the guts to pick on somebody their own size, i.e. China. Double standard.

You can't see any differences in the relative status of China and Cuba? Why should they be treated the same? Population 11M Cuba vs population 1.4B China?

I mean, Cuba has literally nothing the USA needs, and no leverage.

Cuba has literally nothing the USA needs, and no leverage.

The US could have enjoyed the fruits of a business partnership with Cuba from decades ago had it not been for stubborn opposition from the Miami Cubans, those courting their votes, and those who hated the idea of a little country thumbing its nose at the US. The Castros and communism would have disappeared long ago, and now it's going to take even longer under a Trump presidency.

And the irony. Think of all those hotels and casinos Trump could set up in Havana!

plasticmonkey: The US could have enjoyed the fruits of a business partnership with Cuba from decades ago had it not been for stubborn opposition from the Miami Cubans, those courting their votes, and those who hated the idea of a little country thumbing its nose at the US. The Castros and communism would have disappeared long ago, ...

Cuba's half the population of Florida. Why should the USA worry about trade with 'a little country that thumbs its nose at the US'?

And I think you're romanticizing the possibility of a Castro downfall due to free trade with the USA. Do you really think Castro would've released his hold?

For the rainbow & unicorns "reality" lefty-loons, here's a reminder of how close the world came to nuclear annihilation at the hands of Castro:

"Nikita Khrushchev had to explain to Fidel Castro that nuking the US would be tactical suicide. The head of one of the most blood soaked empires of the 20th century had to talk down Fidel from global nuclear war. Amazing."

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/primary-resources/jfk-defendcuba/

**Perhaps, but I'm not sure about putting Castro on the level of Stalin or Hitler. " Perhaps, but try spending a few nights in the Hotel de Prision in Cuba. The luxury hotels that Japan and USA run for prisoners don't exist in several countries south of the USA border, including Cuba. The long lines of people passing in front of the ashes are there just to cya because Little Brother is watching.

The lefty-loons don't like to admit the fact that Castro was a very dangerous, evil tyrant. They gloss over the fact that he imprisoned gays(men and women), artists, writers, journalists, all of whom the lefty-loons purportedly support. The cognitive dissonance must be deafening!

They gloss over the fact that he imprisoned gays(men and women), artists, writers, journalists, all of whom the lefty-loons purportedly support.

And let's not forget all the Tony Montana's he shipped over as well.