Cuban communist tyrant Fidel Castro died over the weekend at the age of 90. He was a terrible human being who killed thousands of people, imprisoned thousands more and left his citizens to suffer while he lived in luxury and had sex with scores of women. Much like other dictators around the world, he led a revolution that was meant to lead to freedom and prosperity for the island nation.
Of course, like other revolutions, it just led to even more suffering.
With all of that being said, there were an immense sum of reactions from across the globe. Everyone seemed to have commented on the news of Castro’s passing. The ones that are generating the most headlines, though, are from the world leaders who are referring to Castro as a hero, inspiration and revolutionary.
Here are five of the worst reactions so far about Fidel Castro’s death from world leaders:
From Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau:
“It is with deep sorrow that I learned today of the death of Cuba’s longest serving President.
“Fidel Castro was a larger than life leader who served his people for almost half a century. A legendary revolutionary and orator, Mr. Castro made significant improvements to the education and healthcare of his island nation.
“While a controversial figure, both Mr. Castro’s supporters and detractors recognized his tremendous dedication and love for the Cuban people who had a deep and lasting affection for “el Comandante”.
“I know my father was very proud to call him a friend and I had the opportunity to meet Fidel when my father passed away. It was also a real honour to meet his three sons and his brother President Raúl Castro during my recent visit to Cuba.
“On behalf of all Canadians, Sophie and I offer our deepest condolences to the family, friends and many, many supporters of Mr. Castro. We join the people of Cuba today in mourning the loss of this remarkable leader.”
This led to #TrudeauEulogies trend on Twitter. He is now beginning to backtrack from his earlier praise.
From European Union Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker:
With the death of #FidelCastro, the world has lost a man who was a hero for many. https://t.co/u0ULZoG8Fl
— Jean-Claude Juncker (@JunckerEU) November 26, 2016
Was he drinking a bit too much alcohol when he sent out that tweet?
From Syrian President Bashar al-Assad:
“A great leader [who has] led the struggle of his country and people against imperialism and hegemony for decades, and that his steadfastness has become an example and an inspiration for leaders and peoples everywhere in the world. The name Fidel Castro will remain etched in the minds of all generations, as an inspiration for all the peoples seeking true independence and liberation from the yoke of colonization and hegemony.”
What else can you expect from a fellow tyrant?
From Chinese President Xi Jinping:
“With his death, the Chinese people have lost a close comrade and a sincere friend. His glorious image and great achievements will be recorded in history forever.”
Anything for a fellow communist…
From Peter Hain, former member of the British cabinet and anti-Apartheid campaigner:
“Although responsible for indefensible human rights and free-speech abuses, Castro created a society of unparalleled access to free health, education and equal opportunity despite an economically throttling USA siege. His troops inflicted the first defeat on South Africa’s troops in Angola in 1988, a vital turning point in the struggle against apartheid.”
What good is free access to healthcare and education if the conditions are dilapidated, the supplies are limited and the patients are unhappy?
There were a lot more comments like these reactions from our esteemed representatives. It is sad, disgusting and befuddling that so many world leaders have celebrated the life of Castro. They set aside his violation of human rights, his firing squads and thievery as rare cases of bad manners. He is just another dictator who will be celebrated by the left and millennials in the same way Mao Tse-Tung, Joseph Stalin, Vladimir Lenin and Che Guevara are today.
The only world leader who put out an eloquent and honest response was United States President-Elect Donald “We Did Good” Trump:
“Today, the world marks the passing of a brutal dictator who oppressed his own people for nearly six decades. Fidel Castro’s legacy is one of firing squads, theft, unimaginable suffering, poverty and the denial of fundamental human rights.
“While Cuba remains a totalitarian island, it is my hope that today marks a move away from the horrors endured for too long, and toward a future in which the wonderful Cuban people finally live in the freedom they so richly deserve.”
One can only hope that the neocons in Trump’s administration refrain from trying to embark upon a 21st century version of the Bay of Pigs invasion.
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