Top ten reasons why Castro isn't a hero of the left

In an extraordinary statement Harriet Harman, Deputy leader of the Labour Party, says that she believes Fidel Castro to be a "hero of the left".

Here are the top ten reasons why she is wrong.

1. Hero of the left? In the 1960s, Cuba sent homosexuals to forced labour camps. Raul Castro was particularly active in this policy, reputedly because he looked effeminate at the time and wanted to seem more macho

2. Hero of the left? In 2003, Castro oversaw the execution of three men who had hijacked a ferry in a bid to escape from the island. Sounds pretty left wing to me.

3. Hero of the left? During the Cuban missile crisis, Castro urged Khrushchev to launch a nuclear first strike on the American mainland. This is never mentioned by the anti-war campaigners who admire Castro.

4. Hero of the left?  According to the Cuban Commission for Human Rights and National Reconciliation, in 2006 there were 316 political prisoners in Cuba.

5. Hero of the left? Independent labour unions are illegal in Cuba. Has Harriet told Jack Dromey?

6. Hero of the left? On January 19, 2003, an election was held for the Cuban National Assembly. There were 609 candidates —all supported by the regime— vying for 609 seats.

7. Hero of the left? The purchase of computers and access to the internet is severely restricted with many citizens using black market sources.

8. Hero of the left? In 2003, state security forces raided 22 independent libraries and sent 14 librarians to jail with terms of up to 26 years.

9. Hero of the left? Castro personally has been one of the most conservative forces in the Cuban government. Castro was fiercely opposed to economic reforms of Gorbachev.  At the 4th Cuban Communist Party Congress in 1991, there was a movement for modest liberalisation of the economy - allowing limited market in agricultural products. Fidel immediately scotched any suggestion of it.

10. Hero of the left? Castro’s admirers talk about how the deployment of troops to Angola in 1975 helped defeat apartheid in South Africa. But they don’t discuss the other aspects of his Africa adventures. Notably, how he supported the despicable Mengistu in Ethiopia, which cost enormous number of lives during the war with Somalia.

Harriet Harman has made a dreadful error. She should apologise.

(Hat Tip: The invaluable Oliver Kamm)

Comments

[Peter Bolt]

Of course he is a hero of the left. He fits the profile exactly.
Comfortable middle class background full of self hatred.
Embraces Socialism in order to spite his own class.
Becomes a"leader and protector" of the working class the knowledge of which he has gained by reading about them.
Leads the workers up a complete cul de sac, when they complain calls them "enemies of their class"
As ever Socialism only make sense if you are in charge. Well done HH it just shows how dangerous education can be in the wrong hands.

[Charles]

Isn't the above pretty run-of-the-mill left-wing stuff? Imprisoning political prisoners, persecuting scapegoats, entrenching a monopolistic and inefficient economic structure... what else would you expect?

Even the banning of trade unions: the whole story of the left is infighting and cross-party slandering.

From Nkrumah's Ghana to post-Saigon Vietnam to Gomulka's Poland to the USSR itself - every socialist state tells the same brutal story.

No wonder Harriet Harman gives Fidel the thumbs up!

[Buck]

You have given ten good reasons why Castro SHOULD NOT be a hero of the left. However, consistency is not a liberal trait. Castro is a darling of the left in America. Remember the Clinton administration wrenching a young boy away from his family in Miami to send him back to Cuba? Remember Michael Moore's movie, Sicko, praising the Cuban health care system? Liberals in America hold the moral high-ground of guilt and self condemnation. Anything that hurts America is fine by them. Thus, they can support Castro in spite of the facts.

[adam]

Reminds me of Margaret Thatcher's defence of Pinochet.

number 1 in 60s, come on! where were you? KKK, or sth like taht. besides he is a comandante, sir, yes sir, what did you expect? all context context missing, but for the 2000s. which cannot be evaluated. pitty no lessons for you guys. go to haiti, or caribean island not supported by us, even without the block. and compare.

[joe reilly]

People have a grudging respect for Castro for standing up to the worlds superpower and everything they threw at him. How many countries could survive 50 years of economic sanctions, threats and aggression.
Not a hero for me, but in the world of the lap dog there was something to admire in the man.

[FARK-FRANKFURT-GERMANY]

A stone throw away from the United States but has ingeniously managed to survive almost ten US presidents without having nuclear reactors or rockets. He is an inspiring example of the modus vivendi between (his) Socialism and Capitalism (see the tourists holiday resorts and joint ventures etc.)He never licked anybodys boots nor did he let anybody lick his. He made no billions and remained faithful to his principles.

[Z Mendez]

Castro is a true Hero to the left. He has survived countless attempts to destastablize and invade the country, not counting the amount of times that the trully democratic "Land of the free" country has tried to assasinate him. The pityful attempts to put him down above are just that...pityful. There is not a Nation in the world without moments in its history which they are and rightfully should be ashamed about. Cuba is a nation which has fought for its people, and Fidel Castro led a revolution which came from within. The people want this country to be as it is. Whilst most of the world continues its disgusting and imorral economic warfare, in some hopeful attempt to destroy the nation. The people of Cuba will survive.

[Thorrun]

Anyone having a grudging respect for Castro for standing up to the world's superpowers should look closer at how he personally suffered from the world's sanctions and to question whether his people readily accepted his decision for them to suffer.

[Chris Gillibrand]

So like Tony Benn, Fidel Castro was also a class traitor.

[jon livesey]

Ms Harman has it dead right. Fidel is the exact species of liberal fascist that the Left always ends up worshiping.

How could Fidel not be a hero of the left when Lenin, Stalin and Brezhnev all were?

[James]

Sounds like a hero of the left I've known all my life - hypocritical, socialist, self-righteous and so addicted to power it will resort to almost anything (in his case, nuclear war) before giving it up.

By the way, communism is simply State-capitalism. It's just that some States (Russia) are better at it than others (Cuba run by our man Fidel).

[Chris McCarthy]

List 10 reasons why the left admires Castro, fair enough but now lets list 10 favourite regimes of the Tories all of whose crimes far outweigh what Castro is accused of. Richard Nixon, George Bush(either will do), Saddam Hussein, Suharto, Papa Doc, Pinochet, the Shah of Iran, the Saudi Royal family, Mubarak, Idi Amin and Sharon. To make a list of the crimes attributable to these and the many other disgusting regimes supported by the right and the Tories in particular would have me counting well beyond 10, but a simple google search of any of them would put the crimes of Castro into perspective. The real reason Finkelstein and his ilk despise Castro and support the others just mentioned is because they hate equality, human rights and social justice and believe only the rich and powerful have a right to govern, especiaaly if they are white anglo saxon males.

[Nort]

Surely, these are 10 reasons why he IS a hero of the left. A role model.

[tata]

Richard Nixon
Ended the vietnam war, made detante with China, went to Russia for negotiations and passed important civil rights and environmental legislation.

George Bush 1
Pushed a ruthless dictator out of Kuwaiit and subdued him, supported by almost every country in the Middle East,Europea and much of the rest of the world.

George Bush 2
Removed one of the world's most evil dictators, liberated Afghanistan from an appauling Islamist death cult, and helped both countries to democracy.

Saddam Hussein
Was admired and praised by George G.

Suharto
Defeated the communist insurgency in Asia, thus preserving democracy and freedom, and restricting Marxist dictatorship.

Pinochet
Created one of the most succesful, peaceful, stable and relitively free countries in South America. Stepped down and allowed democracy to thrive. Saved his country from Marxist dictatorship.

The Shah of Iran
Rulled his country moderatly, Iran was a peaceful, wealthy country that did not threaten any other countries.

the Saudi Royal family
Have been allies of every British and American government, Left and Right

Mubarak
Has worked to fight Islamic extremism and prevent war in the Middle East. A moderate leader

Idi Amin
Was allied to Left and Right governments in Britain and America

Sharon
Withdrew from Sanai after a peace treaty with Egypt, withdrew from Gaza, no other Israeli prime minister has given back so much land to Arabs.

If only we could say this for allies of the Left.

[Jenny]

What this tells me, and the pathetic responses from those on the left is that the left should be denied power. They're no different than their heroes, and those heroes include Hitler, Stalin, Lenin, and the insane meglomaniac Che Guevara.

[Durwood McElroy]

Finkelstein! You have it completely backwards. What you should be writing is an article asking WHY the left loves Castro so much - in spite of all the issues you have posted.
Interestingly enough, this is the same dilemma the left has with Islamofascism. Even though the Islamofascists and liberals are polar opposites, the left cannot help but defend them at every step of the way.

Insanity? Or is it hatred for their own country trumps their opposition to religious extremism or civil liberties?

[Andy]

Danny, can you provide me with links to the posts where you praise your favourite regimes (Richard Nixon, George Bush(either will do), Saddam Hussein, Suharto, Papa Doc, Pinochet, the Shah of Iran, the Saudi Royal family, Mubarak, Idi Amin and Sharon) as I seem to have missed them?

As for comments like "they believe only the rich and powerful have a right to govern" - so Castro isn't? Chris McCarthy might have a point if there was any evidence at all that all the left wing dictators were any different from the ones that he lists.

[Quentin George]

Fidel Castro is about as white as you can get, Chris. He's 100% European.

[John Scott]

There is no conflict between being a "hero of the left" (or right, centre, liberalism, libertarianism, fascism etc) whilst having policies and actions entirely contrary to those the particular group espouses or holds dear. Status as a hero is related to perception, not reality.

All that this post does is demonstrate that those who consider Castro to be a hero of the left are misguided - but isn't it part of growing up to learn that one's heroes are anything but? Should we not be more concerned that well-educated adults fail to develop essential critical faculties?

[Jamie Owen]

Last week, Diane Abbott was on the BBC praising Chairman Mao. Now Harriet Harman has called Fidel Castro as hero. Who will be next? My money's on Ruth Kelly hailing Franco for preserving the Catholic church.

[Ian]

Ms Harman is becoming increasingly bizarre. I didn't think that any sensible liberal subscribed to the "enemy of my enemy is my friend fallacy" but she clearly does.

[Jonathan Anthony]

I went to Cuba in the early 1990s. Wasn't allowed anywhere without a government official in tow, lost a stone due to the lack of food, but managed to buy cigars from Fidel's own gentleman's club-like cigar palace. Food everywhere, but in piles rather than in stores/restaurants. Ludicrous Che propaganda on every street. And those on the left who think Castro hasn't made billions from Cuban oil while his repressed country starves are in dreamland. Typical revolutionary socialist. Nice one Harperson!

[caroaber]

The boy Elian Gonzalez was not snatched from his family by the U.S., he was hospitalized here and then eventually returned to his only living parent. I don't fault Pres. Clinton for that move. That was common sense.

Mr. Castro's revolution was not as sweeping as he would have us believe. Prostitution continues in Cuba, as does racial discrimination and corruption. The exiles have plenty of stories to tell, and we in the left should heed their complaints.

Mr. Castro believes history will absolve him. He may be right, but those who are still alive have long memories, and they will not forget what he has wrought.

Viva Cuba libre.

[Brian J Deller]

As someone who has visited Cuba on holiday and come away feeling ashamed that such countries exist, Harriet Harman should be also be ashamed for supporting such monsters as Castro. Surely it shows she is less labour/socialist and more communist, that now disproved ideology that has wrecked the lives of many millions and ruined countries. She is a good example of why the British public needs to wake up and get such people out of politics. We need good businessmen to lead the country, not lawyers who seem to think that just passing a law will solve all problems with no leadership qualities other than the ability to read prepared speeches. And the Left who seem to despise all the great things that have been achieved in the world by Europe and especially Britain, need to look at what is happening to their handiwork in places such as sub-Saharan Africa now they have had their way there. For the masses, a return to abject poverty and misery.

[Marco]

Well, these are just the reasons that Castro IS a hero of the Left Wing. He's the typical left wing dictator, isn't he?... And, right, he's not a liberal... but why should a socialist dictator be such?
Points 2,3,4,6,8 and 9 in particular have nothing to do with being on the Left or on the Right, just with being a dictator...

[eh?]

Posted by TATA:
"George Bush 1
Pushed a ruthless dictator out of Kuwaiit and subdued him, supported by almost every country in the Middle East,Europea and much of the rest of the world."

And remind me what he replaced that dictator with? Ah yes, the Kuwait Royal Family. How did they do in the elections?

I'll pass over the rest of your life, most of whom are dictators you appear quite happy to justify (even Idi Amin and the Saudi Royals).

[Alex]

I can't believe there are people trying to apologise for Castro's human rights breaches by listing the breaches of other dictators who were allegedly supported by the Tory party.

Are these people complete morons? This blog is about Castro - trying to justify his behaviour by saying "oh, well there have been worse than him" makes me utterly sick.

It's amazing the things the left will try to brush aside just to keep their heroes on pedestals.

I would write a paragraph by paragraph rebuttal of those listed, but Tata has already done this admirably.

No doubt the disapprovers of said list will disagree over a heavily subsidised (by the rest of us) pint of snakebite in their SU bar!

[Heiko Khoo]

Why do rightwinger commentators determine who heros of the left should or should not be?

[Eric Dickens]

I listened to one of Castro's political prisoners, Armando Valladeres, at the PEN Club in Stockholm some twenty years ago. There were a few atrociously naïve Swedish Commies baiting him and arguing with him. In those days, Sweden was a cushy place for armchair revolutionaries to debate with a man who had spent 22 years in prison.

Details about him on the Wiki at:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armando_Valladares

[Tim J]

I'm "of the left" but Castro certainly isn't a hero of mine.

[roy ormond]

Cuba has survived all that 'democratic' America has thrown at it. What 'democratic' country resorts to attempted assasinations against those opposing cola colonisation?
l look forward to the day when the USA is a democratic country where elections are not decided by million of cash but by millions of people seeking a just society.

[Rich]

Michael Moore's SiCKO had no intention of praising Castro. The whole point was to shame America. If a documentary film maker shows an old woman eating cat food while her caretaker eats prime rib, the film maker is not praising the caretaker's gourmet sensibilities.

Pay attention, please. The American left did not "support" Castro. But equally true, the American left does not support nor detest anyone or anything simply because government officials say they should. The left thinks for itself. The right has "faith" and believes their leaders are always correct, even when they're not.

[Charlie]

Just because someone is born middle or upper class does not mean they can be left-wing. What is this tosh about "class traitor" or "betrayal". A person brought up in a wealthy or comfortable environment can feel injustice in class differences, just as someone brought up on a working-class environment can become right-wing (witness The Sun readers!).
About Castro, he is not a hero to the left - he is a dictator who, to hold onto power (admittedly with an aggressive superpower neighbour), has committed many crimes. But the Cuban people overall are probably better off than if an American puppet (like Batista) were in charge, and the Cubans servants to American landowners. And remember, Cuba has the world's best health system and better literacy ratings than its rich neighbour.

[John O'Brian]

So, tell me about the right:Bush in america, Franco in spain, Hitler in germany...Its not about left or right, it is about the person an their ideals taking to an extreme.We should live in peace helping each other.

[John Botha]

Point 10. Left wing revisionists at work here I'm afraid. Check the losses Cuito Cuanavale (the battle most often cited as "crushing the will of Apartheid". Please people, never forget that SA's new dispensation came about due to and internal negotiated settlement. Cubans? What Cubans? Oh, the ones who got spanked in Angola, those Cubans!

[benjmain]

this man is murder and dictator and stand against the ideas of being left wing , I for one do not worship or find this man 'cool' . the men of history I adore (Dr King) fought for human liberty not oppressed it! he is not hero of left but traitor are very ideals!

[colin]

Sounds like he's very left wing to me.

[John Chuckman, Toronto, Canada]

Why do you reduce the issues around Castro to such truth-distorting simplicity?

Your approach here is a slight variation of George Bush saying, "you're with us or agin' us."

Castro is a complex individual, and he can only be understood in the context of a complex and often unpleasant time.

I don't defend dictators, but there are qualities about Castro every open-minded person must admire.

I was a young man when he first liberated Cuba, and many of my generation first regarded him as a heroic figure. It is not widely known now, but the style of military cap he wore became for a while a pop-culture item in the United States.

He stood up to American bullying, and he did it with flair and intelligence. Who does not admire the little guy who stands up to bullying?

American interests in Cuba had been to a great extent gambling, nightclubs, prostitution, and other dark activities. Castro did largely end this, making an enemy of the American Mafia interests who owned what had been goldmines.

Castro did genuinely try to help his people, and he did some very worthwhile things.

In a poor country, the average 8th grader is better educated, by far, than he or she is in the United States. Tests and observations have shown this many times. His health care system and medical training were remarkable achievements.

He resisted numerous attempts on his life by the CIA and its agents, he resisted an invasion, and he withstood a senseless embargo.

These facts tell us something about Castro not widely appreciated in the U.S. He was a popular figure despite having opponents just as all politicians do.

I was looking on the Internet for information on Cuban travel a couple of years ago, and I came across some comments from Americans who had managed to sidestep the ridiculous restrictions on travel. One man wrote, I'll never forget, along the lines, "It's a great place. Get there quickly before the U.S. gets back in and screws everything up."

He stands at the center of several major historical events of the 20th century. The Missile Crisis, of course. His position in this was not as unreasonable as Americans often think. He simply wanted the same security that American tactical weapons offered Western Europe at the time. The U.S. never stopped threatening him, attempting to kill him, and supporting and arming some vicious Cuban émigrés who regularly shot things up from boats and blew things up in Cuba. It was a bigger terror establishment by far down near New Orleans and other locations than the mountain redoubt of Osama, and it was government sponsored to the tune of millions.

And there can be little doubt that at least part of the plot to assassinate Kennedy revolved around an effort to discredit Cuba, perhaps making an invasion possible. I’ve always thought the violent émigrés who came to hate Kennedy for his settlement with the Soviets were behind the assassination.

[I CRAUSE]

Quite telling the attitude behind the the comments whereby a number of leftwingers from anything other than poor backgrounds are referred to as 'class traitors' by those on the right.
I don't understand.
Are you saying that those of you in possession of sufficient money to separate you from the poorer part of society have an obligation to obstruct those who live in various states of poverty from accessing a decent standard of living through state help?
Wow.Lucky for us you well educated middle class types are children of the enlightenment, isn't it?
I shall down my nightly 30 cans of White Stripe with a new found peace of mind.

[I CRAUSE]

John Chuckman, try looking up David Sanchez Morales.

[Phil Hoy]

Harriet Harman still considers Fidel her hero? Not so much NuLabour after all? It seems the leopard didn't change its spots, merely painted them blue and hoped we wouldn't notice.

[Serf]

....."He stood up to American bullying, and he did it with flair and intelligence. Who does not admire the little guy who stands up to bullying?".....

You mean like Cuban dissidents standing up to the communist regime???

Whilst there are individuals willing to sing the praise of some of them, there are no Right Wing dictators who are universally feted like Castro is on the left. There is a simple reason for this.

Conservatives believe in individual freedom, whereas Socialists see individuals as simple pawns of society or the state.

[Margaret on the Guillotine]

Look, we have a very simple reason why the Left loves Castro:

1. Castro doesn't like America. And America doesn't like Castro. And, brilliant wheeze, Castro has even managed on occasion to worst America. Ho ho!

Nothing else matters, of course. He can do what he likes to his own people; pah, such mere pawns. Who cares? Cocking a snook at the Yanks though - now you're talking!