While I don’t mean it with the tone presented by larry, I do think that your comment about Cuba and Castro is ignorant (though not entirely inaccurate). I don’t like Castro. However, he does not foster a cult of personality or have roving goon squads. People in Cuba will speak quite plainly (and uniformly) about the mechanisms for power reinforcement in the regime. Part of the reason that he is not as hated as he otherwise might be is that he (and his coalition) seldom build statues to themselves or appear in public. They also play heavily on the cultural credit they have earned by standing up to the bully to the north.
They play to nationalism and generally only confront direct criticism.
Putting that differently, they use a model of oppression and order that is very similar to that of China.
While your description accurately describes both countries, it is facile and dismissive (and therefore limited). I would encourage you to visit there and see what you think. You’re a generally thoughtful and reasonable in your posts. The only time I found your thinking limited is with regards to our former enemies. I am honestly really curious as to what a person (dare I say, “intellectual”) who clearly internalizes national and combat related views regarding national character would think upon directly experiencing the object of his contempt. I mean that.
Also, please don’t compare my posts with gandalf. Thats just mean.
