Well, it took long enough but apparently Dr. Fidel Castro has had seen the light on his journey to Damascus and taken responsibility for anti-gay actions undertaken by his government after the revolution. For those of us who remember the "symptom of bourgeois decadence" noises that came out of Havana, this is a welcome move.
Hat tip to Evil Twin over on EnMasse whose post drew my attention to this. I thought I would link to the article for the benefit of those who don't "double dip".
geez I thought you were taling about 'our' Fidel ...
The Cuban Revolution came around a lot faster on LGBT issues than the American Revolution did. The United States existed for over 200 years before any significant gay rights measures were passed. It only took Cuba decriminalized gay sex acts in 1979, only TWENTY years after the Revolution came to power there. They never should have been criminalized, but they did change on that faster than North America did. I've heard that Raul Castro's daughter is a major figure fighting for LGBT rights in Cuba).
I'm glad Fidel said what he said.
Males are still very macho in their attitudes in places like Cuba and Venezuela. I guess it's an artifact of isolation and lack of leadership on the issue in general. It's similar to going to a small town in Northern Quebec or N. Ontario where they still disco and wear long hair. I dunno. Why can't we all just get along?
not the only road to Damascus moment apparently:
Cuba's Soviet-style economy no longer workable: Castro
http://news.oneindia.in/2010/09/09/cubassoviet-style-economic-model-no-l...
"Former Cuban leader Fidel Castro has said that Cuba's Soviet-style economic model 'doesn't even work for us anymore'..."
The United States existed for over 200 years before any significant gay rights measures were passed. It only took Cuba decriminalized gay sex acts in 1979, only TWENTY years after the Revolution came to power there.
Hehe. That's some creative thinking there.
But seriously... you don't think maybe it had anything to do with the times? You know, like the eighteenth and nineteenth century and stuff?
Or, to put it another way, if the Cuban revolution happened in 1776, you really, honestly think that homosexuals in Cuba would be full citizens by 1796??? C'mon.
But seriously... you don't think maybe it had anything to do with the times? You know, like the eighteenth and nineteenth century and stuff?
Or, to put it another way, if the Cuban revolution happened in 1776, you really, honestly think that homosexuals in Cuba would be full citizens by 1796??? C'mon.
Indeed.
My comment was based on the use of Cuba's policies towards LGBT people as an argument against the Cuban Revolution, an argument that was made(as has been the argument about poor treatment of LGBT people in Iran and Gaza)by people who, generally, didn't support equal rights for LGBT people in their OWN countries(such as the U.S. and Canada).
It's comparable to former movie cowboy Ronald Reagan's criticism of Sandinista treatment of Moskito Indians(as though any North American was entitled to criticize any other country on that score)as a rationale for continued support of the Contras.
The United States existed for over 200 years before any significant gay rights measures were passed. It only took Cuba decriminalized gay sex acts in 1979, only TWENTY years after the Revolution came to power there.
Hehe. That's some creative thinking there.
But seriously... you don't think maybe it had anything to do with the times? You know, like the eighteenth and nineteenth century and stuff?
Or, to put it another way, if the Cuban revolution happened in 1776, you really, honestly think that homosexuals in Cuba would be full citizens by 1796??? C'mon.
And chattel slavery was ended in America lickity split by 1861. It only took them about another 100 years to end segregation, lynching etc. Although, America still incarcerates blacks, gay and straight regardless, at several times the rate that was true of apartheid South Africa. And we know which country's Naval base has represented the biggest threat to human rights on the island of Cuba for many years.
I'd also like to point out that, from a Biblical parallel standpoint, the OTHER Fidel's recently-expressed opinions don't technically qualify as a "Road to Damascus" moment.
Paul of Tarsus was on the Road to Damascus just before he invented the concept of evangelization...NOT when he was elderly and in at least semi-retirement.
Yeah, but Ken, seriously, what was the life expectancy in those days?
Fidel will be along with the infant mortality rates for the Empire of Rome sometime soon, I am sure.
Yeah, but Ken, seriously, what was the life expectancy in those days?
It could be quite lengthy, at least in the Old Testament. There was Methusaleh, for example.
Viva la revolucion!
It's often interesting to read what papers like the Globe and Mail DIDN'T report on. What else did the retired Cuban President have to say?
