Fidel Castro

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The PBS American Experience documentary on Fidel Castro and The Cuban Revolution was very good. Although it had a bias against him, it seems very accurate since it uses first hand witnesses. The witnesses are mostly American Cuban exiles living in The United States. Obviously they are biased against him because they are staunchly Anti-Communist and patriotic Americans.

The film interprets the origins of The Cuban Revolution as originally wanting to overthrow an oppressive undemocratic regime but in the end, the Castro regime was just as undemocratic as the previous regime. Fidel Castro is portrayed as someone wanting to overthrow an oppressive government and restore power to "the people" but he ended up being even more oppressive than the government he overthrew.

Fidel Castro was a violent man ever since his youth. He would get in trouble in school and cause trouble at home. His former classmates testify to his behavior in interviews shown on the film. He was also very wild. His youth seems similar to that of other dictators such as Saddam Hussein. He also became very immoral as an adult and had many different affairs with many different women and had illegitimate children with them just as his father had him illegitimately. His long rule was very harsh. Disguised as restoring democracy, he really led Cuba to be an oppressive rogue state and aided terrorist rebels in many other Third World countries. If given the chance by The Soviet Union, he would have used nuclear missiles on The United States. The World is much better with him out of power although his brother Raul isn't much better. When he and his brother die, perhaps Cuba will once again become democratic.

[MassuhDGoodName]

Re:  "...perhaps Cuba will once again become democratic..."

Was it ever democratic at any time?

I was always under the impression that it was governed by corrupt strong men of European extraction.

[Ultra Requete]

Good point MGN; just give it back to Spain... Cuba was just first state where US tried and failed to impose democracy on third world country. 

[Hail Columbia]

Re:  "...perhaps Cuba will once again become democratic..."

Was it ever democratic at any time?

I was always under the impression that it was governed by corrupt strong men of European extraction.

Fulgencio Batista was a mulatto, and Cuba was a real first-world country under him, in spite of his dictatorial rule.

[MassuhDGoodName]

Re:  "...just give it back to Spain..."

I'm afraid that's no longer possible.

The reason it's no longer possible, is because Cuba became the birthplace of "The Greatest Cubano Who Ever Lived!" -- Ricky Ricardo