Sunday, November 27, 2016

On the death of Fidel Castro



I have complex thoughts on the death of Cuban dictator Fidel Castro this weekend. Once upon a time there was a man who was so outraged by the Batista dictatorship that he rallied his people to revolution.

People flocked to him because people in desperation yearn for change, because change brings hope of a better future.

Unfortunately in what's a common pattern, such regimes bring a little change, before becoming stuck.

Suddenly all the talk of power for the people, is seen to really become power for one man and a limited family of cronies.

Karl Marx's writing, the original Communist, are about trying to create a fairer society.  One where there is less of a rift between the rich, and the poor workers who create that wealth.  They're not books written by a power-crazed individual.  He lived in a squalor that was responsible for the premature death of four of his seven children.  Fundamentally his writing yearns to address that terrible injustice.

Unfortunately, his writing is idea fuel for revolution against unjust regimes and those which create real suffering in the general population.  But we've seen such 'Communism' mis-sold throughout the world. No country which has called itself Communist has really addressed injustice or delivered on the ideals of a democratically elected and accountable government.


The litmus tests for such revolutions are if one man or his family stays in power too long, or if one family controls too much. No amount of 'on behalf of the people' can smokescreen this.


If a revolution promises to lift you out of squalor, but you find you still have to queue down the street for bread, something is wrong.


Especially if those in power, talking about 'for the people' live in excessive luxury.

Right now, a revolution of sorts has happened in America with the election of Trump.  A lot of talk from people who voted for him about how he will bring change, from not being part of the status quo.  They've placed a lot of hope in him, hope that he will bring change.

Never stop yearning for a better tomorrow, but be careful who you trust to deliver.


Now Playing: "World leader pretend", REM

6 comments:

  1. Well said. As an American I can tell you people are holding their breaths with trepidation. I'll give him 1 year to see what he does, and the other people in power (many of which obstructed the previous president). So for right now the GOP has everything in their control, and if they screw up then they are the only ones who can be blamed. They break it, they buy it. So good luck to them, I hope they do well by the country and its citizens. Otherwise in 2 years we will see another "change in power" in Congress.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I sadly disagree a bit there. Looking at Trump, he declares everything he does is a 'roaring success'. Look at how he's dismissed the fact that more people voted for Clinton with 'well I won the popular vote, when you remove voter fraud'.

      Welcome to the post-fact society.

      Delete
  2. A new fun online bet is available for you to challenge.

    Gclub Is a g club website Online casinos are open to online gambling, betting and thinking. Because of this time, playing online casino games is considered to be a fantasy that many people are unaware of because online gambling games in each form allows players to access and play online gambling games. Model

    Because of the web casino. Our gambling club is focused on providing online gambling services that are so comfortable that it makes gambling websites. Our Online Casino is open 24 hours a day. Players can play all the online gambling games at any time and important. G-Club Website Our online casino also has a very effective team to help you every time a player comes to the service on the site. Our online casino.

    And when you think of online gambling games do not forget about casino sites. Our casino games because of the online casino games on the site Poipet. Our casinos make the player rich within overnight if the player wants to be rich, do not forget to create. The wealth of the bettor's own website. Royal1688

    ReplyDelete
  3. Very nice your blog and article. I like this blog thank for sharing.

    หนังตลก

    ReplyDelete
  4. Usually I don't read post on blogs, but I would like to say that this write-up very forced me to try and do it! Your writing style has been amazed me. Thanks, very nice post. mac service berlin

    ReplyDelete