Originally posted by Animal
While we are on the subject, I have a question. How many people where killed in the Dominican Republic by Trujillo and his US backed government before he was assasinated?
As for Cuba, there have been quite a few, but like MiniD said, its hard to know. Even if you found good data, you'd probably be disapointed. There have been quite a few executions, but most people in Cuba are suprisingly loyal to Fidel, as retarded as that may seem. And the ones who are not, do their best to leave the place in their not so luxurious yatchs.
By the way, Cuba is not as ****ed up as you'd believe. If you dont believe me, take a visit. But that is hard now, as the US government is making it incredibly hard now for students to go to Cuba.
Cuba is a simple place full of simple people. No one is starving, but no one has what we would consider material luxuries. Not even Fidel himself, except that he gets food prepared any time he wants.
The the old school looks of the place reflect its senile leader. For a good insight on present Cuba, watch Oliver's Stone recent documentary "El Comandante". Its interesting, and Fidel is surprisingly open to Oliver.
He does say a blatant lie in one part, when he claims no one has been tortured by his party.
Castro should be made to pay for what he did to the arts in Cuba in 1968. A "Declaration of Rules of the Congress of Writers and Artists" (Declaracion of Principios del Congreso de Escritores y Artistas) was proposed which said each writer had the obligation and responsibility to contribute to the revolucionary process by means of their work. To be used as a weapon to help the Revolution. Soon after, Haydee Santamaria, director of the editorial press Casa de las Americas, suggested that those writers who did not follow the revolucionary line should not receive prizes. One year later, Nicolas Guillen, president of UNEAC (Union Nacional de Escritores y Artistas de Cuba), declared that writers and artists had the same responsibilities as the army - defend the nation- and all who did not do it should be severely punished.*
Palls, Terry L. "El caracter del teatro cubano contemporaneo",
Latin American Theatre Review , 1980: 13, ii, supp. pag. 54
Evidently this did not go over very well with serious writers and artists, so it is my deduction they simply quit doing art (theater), rather than be told what to do, or punished for not glorifying the Revolution. These include authors of the theater of the absurd, principally Anton Arrufat, Nicholas Dorr and Jose Triana.
In 1980, the main artistic expression in Cuba consisted of a group (Grupo Teatral Escambray), established in 1968 under the direction of Sergio Corrieri. The productions were public (in the street) and the public was invited to participate and give advice, what to add on or what to change. These was a travelling company about the countryside. Other groups in this line are La Yara, Grupo Teatrova, Grupo Estudio, Grupo Yarabey (Camaguey).*
Woodyard, George W. "Perspectives on Cuban Theatre",
Revista/Review Americana , 9(1979): pp. 48-49
I have never been to Cuba. My Dad made a port of call to Havana in the early 30s, on his way to or from Argentina. He could speak Spanish fairly well, having attended high school in New Mexico. He also got along pretty well with the Cubans and South Americans. Years later, after Castro was in power, he told me Castro is admired by Spanish speaking peoples mainly because of his defiance toward Gringos. There is a loyalty for Castro that we as gringos don't understand.
Animal, tu vives in Puerto Rico. Que is el sentimiento en cuanto a gringos alli?
Les
