fidel killed my computer, the bastard
I wanted to link to Victoria's piece on the death of the tyrant over at Sundries last night, but try as I might, I couldnt get my computer to follow orders. Either it went on strike, got hacked or basically just went kaput.
On the subject of media coverage of castro's death, Victoria writes:
Depending on their ideological viewpoint, each news organisation will either completely ignore the tremendous evil this man had foisted on a nation of 10 million plus for almost 50 years, or to reduce their significance, by comparing the then and now, in as positive a light as they can.
The latter will include always mentioning the 99% literacy rates, and the free health care, his Socialist Revolution brought about.
No word about the lack of free elections during all this time; indeed, the fact this rich man's son, this ex-altar boy-turned lawyer-turned revolutionary, Fidel Castro has never once been elected to any position in Cuba, yet he, however, is the font of all power in his country.
They will not mention all the thousands and thousands of people he has imprisoned, nor the mock trials held to condemn his opponents to death, nor of the civil liberties he has taken away, such as freedoms of speech, assembly, association and religion, all these years.
The negative column is so bristling to capacity with infringements of the most basic kinds of liberties which most people not living in Communist dictatorships have, yet who are always prostesting they have little, or that that they are under siege by whatever current administration is in power.
If these self-same people had to endure EVEN ONE MOMENT of the very real lack of civil liberties Cubans have undergone these many years, they would find out how very lucky they truly are.
castro should get as much coverage as farinas got.. i still cant understand how they can ignore one of their own. especially when i see the coverage given to these journalists who've been kidnapped in iraq, by the 'innocent, defenseless victims' theyve gone to defend against the 'occupation.' i mean these are people who are defending the enemies of this country, and then, in some cases, have criticized us following their rescue, going on about 'how well they were treated' and actually blaming the 'occupation' for their kidnapping
Gracia', Val, for the backlink.
And I see you chose my favourite, and perhaps, most clearly written paragraphs, of my blogpost.
In my post, I also contrasted two events, which I believe MSM will cover very very differently.
How media, not just of the US, but around the world, would treat the death of General Augusto Pinochet, compared to the death of F*del Castro.
I don't think it takes an astrophysicist-sized intellect, to figure out when Pinochet dies, the outrage, condemnation, and the trotting out of his victims, will be the only thing you see for days.
Whereas when Castro goes, sure, they will mention that he is a "dictator" but in their tone, and substance, I bet you anything, they will be much more laudatory towards him, than towards Pinochet.
MSM and Castro, have a heck of a lot more common ideological, than MSM and Pinochet.
And that's what I hate the most.
P.S.: I too have had some problems, internet-wise, but I'm back and will update my blog shortly!
Cheers,
Victoria