Article

2003-06-16 Latin America

Castroâs execution of 3 raises specter of racism

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Posted by Steve White 2003-06-16 01:21 am|| || Front Page|| [3 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Paging Danny Glover.

Posted by raptor 2003-06-16 07:14:15|| 2003-06-16 07:14:15|| Front Page Top

#2 Let me get this straight... Castro isn't revolutionary enough?

Posted by Chuck (not Taylor) 2003-06-16 08:27:24|| [blog.simmins.org] 2003-06-16 08:27:24|| Front Page Top

#3 And paging Harry Belafonte, too. Where's the outrage?

Posted by Dar 2003-06-16 08:29:15|| 2003-06-16 08:29:15|| Front Page Top

#4 Hey, Danny? Think if Fidel was a New York cabbie he'd stop to pick you up? And would you bitch about it to the Daily News when he didn't?

Posted by tu3031 2003-06-16 09:20:11|| 2003-06-16 09:20:11|| Front Page Top

#5 "It was the first time anyone, black or white, had been executed for trying to flee Cuba."

No sympathies for Fidel whatsoever, but this is bending the truth a little. They were executed for hijacking a non sea worthy harbor ferry with many people on board. They seriously put the lives of the hijacked in danger. Had one of the passengers died during the enterprise they would probably have received the death penalty in the U.S. for a similar offense.

As nobody was obviously hurt the execution was extremely exaggerated. Actually I do think that white hijackers would have met the same fate although I might be wrong on that one.

Of course there is no excuse for putting people in such a desperate situation that they don't see any other solution than what they did. Along with the jailed dissidents it's very amazing that anyone could still defend the Cuban totalitarian regime.

Posted by True German Ally 2003-06-16 14:29:41|| 2003-06-16 14:29:41|| Front Page Top

#6 TGA is right, we can't encourage hijackings even for those seeking freedom. We also should really think hard about whether we would want these 3 who would willingly put so many others in harms way for their own personal motives, no matter how pure

Posted by Frank G 2003-06-16 14:56:39|| 2003-06-16 14:56:39|| Front Page Top

#7 Ever notice in all those videos and movies of Fidel how many blacks occupy positions of authority and power? How many are senior party members? Party of the people - right!

Posted by Anonymous 2003-06-16 17:06:48|| 2003-06-16 17:06:48|| Front Page Top

#8 As the person who posted this, a few comments:

TGA -- I have no quarrel whatsoever about protecting innocent people on a ferry. Have a trial, prove the case, and dish the punishment. Executing these guys 9 whole days after the act, without any real kind of trial, seems awfully convenient. Was their race an issue? Again, seems awfully convenient.

I agree with TGA about how despicable it is to put people in such desparate situations.

Frank: I suspect that if they had made it to the US, we would have jugged them and tried to give them back to the Cubans (after making sure that they would have a proper trial). We certainly jailed a lot of Marielitos when it became clear that they were just common criminals.

Fred notes that Fidel is an equal opportunity oppressor. I've always thought that, but this article makes me wonder.

Posted by Steve White 2003-06-16 18:07:40|| 2003-06-16 18:07:40|| Front Page Top

#9 Steve, I don't know enough about Cuba to decide whether racism was involved or not. I can imagine the "trial". The "defense lawyer" probably asked for the death penalty as well.
I think Castro was just afraid that more people could try this, hence the swift execution.

Posted by True German Ally 2003-06-16 19:40:59|| 2003-06-16 19:40:59|| Front Page Top

#10 S.W. - I agree with you that racism played a huge part of this castro powerplay. I think it was a message to the dark skinned to stay put and shut up, or this could happen to you. The darker skinned, including the mestizo, are discriminated against throughout Latin America. When's the last time you saw a Mexican President that had even a hint of Indian/Aztec/Mayan blood? Try never, cuz it won't happen, at least in our lifetimes. Cuba - People's ParadiseÂ© indeed. As long as they stay passive and know their place....cutting cane and living in shacks... but, oh! that free healthcare is to die for

Posted by Frank G 2003-06-16 20:18:19|| 2003-06-16 20:18:19|| Front Page Top

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