Is it me, or is this wrong?

ragtopW · Post by **ragtopW** » January 29, 2007 5:48 pm

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16872448/?GT1=8921

I'm no Castro lover... But come on...

~Hippolyte~ · Post by **~Hippolyte~** » January 29, 2007 5:56 pm

agreed, doesn't seem quite right. I don't know first hand the terror he's caused or the resrictions he's enforced, but to have a major US city planning a party to celebrate his death.....wow

SharkOnLand · Post by **SharkOnLand** » January 29, 2007 6:03 pm

Whether it's planned or not, with Miami's huge (anti-Castro) Cuban population, there will be a mass-gathering of people. I think they're trying to confine the 'festivities' to a single location, so it will be easier to police.

I think their intentions are good, even if the wording (party?) isn't...

bravedave · Post by **bravedave** » January 29, 2007 6:14 pm

It ain't right.

ph4ever · Post by **ph4ever** » January 29, 2007 6:15 pm

SharkOnLand wrote:Whether it's planned or not, with Miami's huge (anti-Castro) Cuban population, there will be a mass-gathering of people. I think they're trying to confine the 'festivities' to a single location, so it will be easier to police.

I think their intentions are good, even if the wording (party?) isn't...

I agree.

I worked with a couple of Cubans - they both fled Cuba when Castro took over. The stories of what Cuba was like before Castro always fascinated me. They both held an extreme hate for him as both left in their teens and felt that their childhood had been taken away from them.

Finsupinfla · Post by **Finsupinfla** » January 29, 2007 6:16 pm

When El Presidente does pass away, the Cubans will be all over the streets. I'm not sure the reason for an event like this, other than a chance for the politicians to pander to these people.

parrothead216 · Post by **parrothead216** » January 29, 2007 7:03 pm

WRONG! Just Plain wrong! If the Cubans are happy, that's one thing! But a city in our country planning a "PARTY"! Wrong! IMHO

Tequila Revenge · Post by **Tequila Revenge** » January 29, 2007 7:34 pm

Does not seem prudent

However, there's goona be a big market for the 2007 Havana Day Dreaming Reunion Tour Tee Shirts......

wonder if Wal Mart cound make them in China...... nope, wouldn't be fair to the Dominican or Hatian workforce. Wow, even after Castro's gone there are still big issues in the region. Who would have thunk it

redwinemaker · Post by **redwinemaker** » January 29, 2007 7:38 pm

If you read the article carefully, you wee see that the word "party" comes from the reporter/writer/editor of the article, not from the press release.

A celebration after the demise of Castro is inevitable in Miami, and along with it will come with plenty of heavy drinking in neighborhoods that are already rife with crime and violence. I am not sure it will work but it seems the officials are trying to confine some of it along with recognizing the significance of his passing to so many of the locals there.

parrothead216 · Post by **parrothead216** » January 29, 2007 8:23 pm

COME TO THE ORANGE BOWL ON(Date to be announced) FOR:

"THE PARTY AT THE END OF A DICTATOR"

Bring your kids and the grandparents to celebrate the end of the Dictator, Fidel Castro! Drinks will be available as will commemorative T-Shirts, to remember this historic occassion!

No Guns will be permitted at the venue!

So plan on coming for the whole day to celebrate this Day In History!

Paid for by the committee to Celebrate the demise of The Dictator, Fidel Castro! No offense is intended towards any other Dictators in the world!

Quiet and Shy · Post by **Quiet and Shy** » January 29, 2007 9:42 pm

What a bizzarre deal...and totally rediculous for there to be any official gathering arranged around this. If people want to "celebrate" personally that's a different matter.

It just shows how warped our federal policies have continued to be regarding Cuba. By failing to move on as a country the US has enabled a group of imigrants to continue living 40+ years in the past. During that time Castro has by no means been the most oppressive dictator in the world...the US government has supported much worse (e.g. Saddam Hussein, Augustin Pinochet). The US has just never gotten over the Bay of Pigs and the Soviets finding a friend on our doorstep. Cuba became strategically inconsequential after the fall of the Soviet Union. We're such brave bullies these days.

And when Castro dies (of old age), so what? Things may start to change (if the US grows up and starts to loosen embargos, does away with the "dry foot" policy, etc.) but there's nothing to say it couldn't get worse (since the US has allowed Cuba to become a pawn for Venezuela's Chavez to play anti-US games). Either way, the elder Cuban-Americans aren't the only people who have been displaced by overthrows or war and they won't get their native land back or be welcomed home as heroes. The world has long since moved on....

jonesbeach10 · Post by **jonesbeach10** » January 29, 2007 10:26 pm

I understand if they want to have any "celebrations" in the Orange Bowl to control everybody. But inevitably you would need a ticket because I'm sure there are more than 100,000 (or whatever number the Orange Bowl holds) Anti-Castro Cubans in South Florida.

How to decide who gets tickets and will they cost anything?
Can you assume that everyone who wants to go will be able to?
Where will the rest of them go?
Will they all be legal residents?
What to do about less organized, impromptu street celebrations that would happen inevitably?

I think there are too many variables with this. Bad idea.

land_shark3 · Post by **land_shark3** » January 29, 2007 10:27 pm

Actually, I can kind of see their reasoning. Because of the stubbornness between the US government and Castro, many of the people in South Florida have been unable to "legally" visit with their own family. Generations have been lost because of Castro and the way he treated Cubans.

I say enjoy the party and see if we can't end this ridiculous embargo.

Wino you know · Post by **Wino you know** » January 30, 2007 3:16 am

BULLCRAP!!!!!!!

WHEN THIS BAST--D ASSUMES ROOM TEMPERATURE, CELEBRATE INTO THE NEXT MILLENIUM.

When Ayotollah Komeni Sahib Skyhook FINALLY kicked the bucket in 1989, I bought the house a round at the Pass Time Bar & Grill in Memphis, TN.
When Sodomy Hussien FINALLY got his justice a few weeks ago, I bought the house a round at the Angle Inn in Walford, IA.

When THIS pile of crap FINALLY shuffles off to Babaloo-ville, I'll do the same at a bar near (or NOT so near) you.
I'd definately be in Miami for the celebration if I could, but I can enjoy the festivities just as much here.

And may he rot in hell like his predecessors.

CapnK · Post by **CapnK** » January 30, 2007 9:27 am

SharkOnLand wrote:Whether it's planned or not, with Miami's huge (anti-Castro) Cuban population, there will be a mass-gathering of people. I think they're trying to confine the 'festivities' to a single location, so it will be easier to police.

I think their intentions are good, even if the wording (party?) isn't...

agreed. Anybody who has spent any time in the Cuban sections of Miami knows this is going to be an explosive & dangerous celebration. There will be no way to effectively control it. For better or worse, the city is simply trying to minimize the damage and danger that will surely result.

weirdo0521 · Post by **weirdo0521** » January 30, 2007 9:52 am

land_shark3 wrote:Actually, I can kind of see their reasoning. Because of the stubbornness between the US government and Castro, many of the people in South Florida have been unable to "legally" visit with their own family. Generations have been lost because of Castro and the way he treated Cubans.

I say enjoy the party and see if we can't end this ridiculous embargo.

The embargo is in place in large part due to the strength of the Cuban- American lobby. Any time any politician hints at easing the embargo, the people of Cuban heritage in FL are the first to object.

Crazy Navy Flyer · Post by **Crazy Navy Flyer** » January 30, 2007 10:26 am

I'll have a Cuba Libre please.

flyboy55 · Post by **flyboy55** » January 30, 2007 10:56 am

I find that, as a rule, Cuban-Americans are completely irrational.

Remember back a few years when that boy who survived the refugee crossing to Florida without his mother was almost turned into a saint.

Grown adults were on TV claiming that dolphins came and sang to him and the Virgin Mary kept him afloat and safe in the shark-infested waters off Florida.

They've turned south Florida into a home-away-from-home, until that day when they can return home and get back all the property that the Revolution appropriated from their families almost fifty years ago. They have also made it clear that any politician that won't pander to their mystical beliefs and multi-generational vendetta against the Revolution doesn't stand a snowball's chance in hell of getting elected down there. Jeb and George both know this well.

The long-standing American economic embargo of Cuba isn't about U.S. security - it's about buying votes in Florida. We all know how important that can be come election time.

Maybe it is the best thing for them to all be rounded up in a stadium somewhere drinking, dancing and listening to music (sounds like a Buffett concert!).

I don't think Jimmy will play for them, tho.

El mojito · Post by **El mojito** » January 30, 2007 11:00 am

Do you think it will be a open bar or do think it will BYOB

weirdo0521 · Post by **weirdo0521** » January 30, 2007 11:32 am

flyboy55 wrote: They have also made it clear that any politician that won't pander to their mystical beliefs and multi-generational vendetta against the Revolution doesn't stand a snowball's chance in hell of getting elected down there. Jeb and George both know this well.

The long-standing American economic embargo of Cuba isn't about U.S. security - it's about buying votes in Florida. We all know how important that can be come election time.

Dead on.