Jesus In Heaven Don't We Have Enough On Our Plates?

SierraSong wrote:

ehBeth wrote:

SierraSong wrote:

Reporters Without Borders disagrees:

They may be more right about Cuba than the woman I'm in touch with. They may be more right about the other countries as well.

Highly likely since she's living in a country with no freedom of the press. Doubtful she'd be able to pick up a newspaper or turn on a radio or TV and learn the truth.

she works in the media there now ... and as any Canadian tourist can tell you it's not that difficult to get the news there - of course, the news is likely as balanced as it is in most countries - that is, not at all. Whether it's the U.S right-focussed media, or left-focussed media elsewhere, I don't expect any one country's media to provide a full picture of the world.

Neither was Judith Miller. She was playing a party game, as they tend to.

And it is possible for a capitalistic (free market) oligarchical society to be facistic wilthout a single dictator. It can be a dictatorship of an economic upper class, the mirror opposite of Marx' hoped for dictoratorial working class.
By the way, among Cuba's faults we cannot find racism. Most of the society's "white" people fled to Miami, leaving the African-Cubans to take up the positions of administrative responsibilities. Cuba is a much darker society after Castro's take-over. Or: Cuba was much whiter (and racist) under the Batista regime.

Sorry, SS, but my inability to"name a couple", does not disqualify my assertions. One source of these generalization is the impressionistic report of a relatively recent "white" Cuban immigrant to the U.S.

SS, I would not deny the existence of psychological racism--I do not know what's in the minds of people there; for all I know blacks discriminate against whites. I'm suggesting that there is no racism as social policy, that blacks are not disfavored by government. There would tend to be a larger number of blacks in government, at least at lower and middle level positions, by virtue of the fact that there are considerably more blacks in the society--with the exodus of whites to Miami.

I think we should see more black representation in the higher positions of leadership now. In the middle leadership, for example, in the youth organizations. This is a social problem we have not resolved. But there are economic problems that are critical at the moment, so it's difficult.
-Fidel Castro, "Crossroads," October 1993

What impressed me the most [about the meeting with President Fidel Castro] was the way in which his grounding in the history and reality of Afro-Cubans informs his view of Cuba; the sense of personal outrage he has over racial discrimination; and his willingness to be critical of how the revolution has not done all that must be done about racism and therefore the resolve to figure out what must be done.
-Dr. Johnnetta Cole, "The Cuba Report," TransAfrica Forum January, 1999

Brandon9000 wrote:

There's only one way for you to prevail in this argument - show me in what way Cuba fails to fit the definition of fascism. If it fits the definition, then my use of the term was correct. If I apply an adjective accurately to a noun, then I am correct. You, in saying that I have applied the term improperly, are incorrect. Defend your statement or forfeit, your bad behavior notwithstanding.

Obviously you have major problems with logic, Brandon.

A fascistic regime is indeed a totalitarian regime.

But that does not mean that EVERY totalitarian regime is a fascistic one.

Some totalitarian regimes are communistic...not fascistic.

The come from opposite sides of the political spectrum, Brandon...with fascism usually associated with right wing or conservative politics...and communism with left wing or liberal politics.

It is not really all that hard to understand...and the fact that you have a habit of constantly declaring "victory" in these discussions will not change that.

Try to use your brain.

If you have one.

1. often Fascism a. A system of government marked by centralization of authority under a dictator, stringent socioeconomic controls, suppression of the opposition through terror and censorship, and typically a policy of belligerent nationalism and racism. b. A political philosophy or movement based on or advocating such a system of government. 2. Oppressive, dictatorial control.

The notion that fascism is "right-wing" is a myth. Fascism and communism are two sides of the same coin. They are both anti-aristocratic, anti-capitalistic, anti-individualistic and anti-liberty. Contrary to popular belief, these are leftist characteristics. Fascism, with it's enforced uniformity and exaltation of the state above all else, is leftist. Left-wing governments want everyone to be equal. Right-wing governments believe this to be unnatural and impossible.

The only true "right-wing" form of government is monarchy.

Frank Apisa wrote:

Brandon9000 wrote:

There's only one way for you to prevail in this argument - show me in what way Cuba fails to fit the definition of fascism. If it fits the definition, then my use of the term was correct. If I apply an adjective accurately to a noun, then I am correct. You, in saying that I have applied the term improperly, are incorrect. Defend your statement or forfeit, your bad behavior notwithstanding.

Obviously you have major problems with logic, Brandon.

A fascistic regime is indeed a totalitarian regime.

But that does not mean that EVERY totalitarian regime is a fascistic one.

Some totalitarian regimes are communistic...not fascistic.

The come from opposite sides of the political spectrum, Brandon...with fascism usually associated with right wing or conservative politics...and communism with left wing or liberal politics.

It is not really all that hard to understand...and the fact that you have a habit of constantly declaring "victory" in these discussions will not change that.

Try to use your brain.

If you have one.

Does Cuba fit this definition from the American Heritage Dictionary or does it not?

Quote:

1. often Fascism a. A system of government marked by centralization of authority under a dictator, stringent socioeconomic controls, suppression of the opposition through terror and censorship, and typically a policy of belligerent nationalism and racism. b. A political philosophy or movement based on or advocating such a system of government. 2. Oppressive, dictatorial control.

If it fits the definition of fascism, then I'm right and you're wrong. In my opinion, it definitely qualifies under definition number 2. Do you disagree?

The notion that fascism is "right-wing" is a myth. Fascism and communism are two sides of the same coin. They are both anti-aristocratic, anti-capitalistic, anti-individualistic and anti-liberty. Contrary to popular belief, these are leftist characteristics. Fascism, with it's enforced uniformity and exaltation of the state above all else, is leftist. Left-wing governments want everyone to be equal. Right-wing governments believe this to be unnatural and impossible.

The only true "right-wing" form of government is monarchy.

Well, Edgar - if you saw any plea for smart engagement in promoting democracy in Cuba - rather than 'staying the f*ck out' - as the alternative to Bush's military interventions in this thread, you can point it out to me.

The notion that fascism is "right-wing" is a myth. Fascism and communism are two sides of the same coin. They are both anti-aristocratic, anti-capitalistic, anti-individualistic and anti-liberty. Contrary to popular belief, these are leftist characteristics. Fascism, with it's enforced uniformity and exaltation of the state above all else, is leftist. Left-wing governments want everyone to be equal. Right-wing governments believe this to be unnatural and impossible.

The only true "right-wing" form of government is monarchy.