GOOD RIDDANCE TO BAD RUBBISH

Fidel Castro, who ruled Cuba for over a half century, died  Friday, November 25, 2016 at the age of ninety.Leaders around the globe responded to his passing. Two of the most egregiously ignorant statements came from President Barack Obama, and Prime Minister Trudeau of Canada.

Withholding any outright condemnation of Castro,  Obama said history would ultimately judge the man.Trudeau praised the dead communist's leadership abilities. Those two statements painfully reveal the moral and intellectual bankruptcy of the two leaders.

To say that history will be the judge of Fidel Castro indicates either a lack of moral values or crippling naivete.

One does not have to wait for history to evaluate Fidel Castro. Anyone with an ounce of of morality and intelligence can readily make a determination as to the character of Castro.

He ruled like a tyrant. Under his dictatorship, there were no free elections, no freedom of speech, all means of communication--radio, television, newspapers, the internet--were all controlled and censored  by Castro. Protests against the government were outlawed, political dissidents were arrested, imprisoned, tortured and often killed. Cubans caught fleeing the island were either shot on the spot or imprisoned. Over the years tens of thousands  of Cubans fled the island. Thousands more died trying. For an individual to risk life and limb is clear testament to the cruelty and poverty-level living conditions under the communist regime.

While Fidel and his cronies lived in affluence, comfort and security, the citizens of Cuba lived in poverty, hunger the constant companion of many.Much of Castro's wealth was derived from granting safe haven to drug lords.

You don't need history to make a judgement of this man.  His deeds provide ample evidence. Fidel Castro was an immoral human being who used force against his own people to retain power. Anyone who initiates the use of force against others and denies them their basic human rights is, by definition, an immoral individual.

That others refuse to condemn him betray their own ignorance and moral weakness. You don't have to wait for history to Judge Fidel Castro. All you need are moral values.