Stalin, Trotsky and another bloody chapter of communism

Image result for leon trotsky murder images

How did Stalin get back at his critics?  He had them killed!

Leon Trotsky was born in 1879 of Russian-Jewish parents.

Like others, he embraced embraced Marxism as a teenager and became a political activist. He opposed Stalin, after he took over in 1924, and was banished from the USSR forever.

After four years in Turkey, Trotsky lived in France, Norway and was granted asylum in Mexico in 1936. During this time in exile, he was found guilty of treason in absentia during Stalin’s purges.

On August 20, 1940, Trotsky was killed in Mexico City by Ramón Mercader, a Spanish communist.

The USSR denied responsibility, and Mercader was sentenced to 20 years in prison by Mexico.

P.S. You can listen to my chat with Javier here or on Twitter.

Watching a documentary about Hungary ’56 reminded me of our Cuban experience

We Cubans have a special place in our hearts for anyone who stood up to communism.

A few days ago, I had a chance to see a documentary about Hungary 1956.  It was the the story of Soviet tanks crushing the democratic aspirations of the people of Hungary.

It made me think of Cuba:  the refugees, unaccompanied children sent to freedom, people being processed at camps and the freedom that we found in the US or other lands.

I wrote a post at American Thinker today remembering November 1956:

“It was a long time ago but the bravery of the Hungarian people is worth remembering.

I am a strong believer in reminding the younger generation that freedom is not cheap. In fact, many have paid the ultimate price to fight for it.

Many Hungarians did this month in 1956!

Before Prague 1968 or Poland 1980, there was Hungary, one of the great chapters of human valor of the 20th century.”

We salute the brave people of Hungary and how they fought for freedom 57 years ago: