Fidel Castro's divisive legacy that provided an impoverished nation with free health care and education for all, which even the US cannot boast, did not erase his past sins.
But perhaps it can arguably at least offset the wrongs committed.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau recently was on the receiving end of a fierce storm of criticism after comments he made following the death of Cuba's former communist revolutionary leader.
His statement was reported by the CBC to commemorate Castro as “larger than life” and a “remarkable” leader, as well as “a legendary revolutionary and orator” who made significant improvements to the education and health care of his island nation.
“Canadians are left reconciling Trudeau's efforts to be a human rights defender with his expressions of admiration for a dictator,” reported the CBC, which despite being accused by many of being a left-wing propaganda machine does criticize the Liberals.
Interestingly enough, however, no one really seemed to care when the free world's leaders — including former Prime Minister Stephen Harper — praised Saudi king Al Saud following that ruler's death last year. Yet today, Trudeau's words unleashed a tsunami of self-righteous outrage.
Judging from the backlash against the prime minister's comments about Castro, I get the impression many people seem to think Cubans would apparently have been better off under the continued corrupt, crony, capitalistic rule of Batista. The CIA and mafia puppet president would have ensured corporate domination of the country and its people, who instead have world-class literacy rates and free health care. No wonder there were 600 or so attempts on Castro's life, many funded by our friends at the CIA.
It's rather perplexing to me how a country that covertly — and sometimes overtly — topples governments it doesn't agree with and helps to fund assassination attempts as well as militant movements like the Contras and the Taliban, could actually have the audacity to condescendingly and self-righteously look down at others. Let's also not forget that America, the alleged “land of the free,” has more people incarcerated per capita than any other country on earth — including China — and most of the convicts are non-violent drug “offenders.”
To be sure, Castro is no doubt responsible for resorting to some extreme measures over his decades in power that should not be overlooked. However, no more ignored should be his demonstrable devotion to his people that compelled him to ensure they have access to health care and are well educated.
Cuba is known around the world for providing top class medical professionals and even volunteering them in times of dire need. All this was achieved in spite of decades of embargoes and economic suffocation by the world's mightiest nation, which allows millions of its own people who do not have access to affordable health care to wallow in misery.
How many people have successive US administrations over recent decades allowed to die by denying them treatment despite being literally the wealthiest nation on earth? A recent study estimated about 40,000 Americans die every year from lack of access to affordable health care. This is arguably indirectly killing people, yet Castro's conveniently painted as the bad guy.
While there were celebrations in Miami after the dictator's death, many people in Cuba respectfully observed a period of mourning. As with the passing of any leader, there are those who gleefully celebrate and those who somberly reminisce.
“Fidel Castro was a very important character in Cuba. Whether you loved him or hated him, whether in Havana or in Miami, everyone is affected” by his death, young civil engineer Javier Morales told the BBC's Cuba correspondent Will Grant while waiting in the queue to pay his respects.
“Old people and young people, we all have something to thank him for. We have free education, we have free medical care, we have free social assistance thanks to him.”
Perhaps we should be wary of standing high and mighty above leaders like Castro, labelling them ruthless dictators while centuries later still conveniently ignoring the dark past involved in the founding of our own country and its original inhabitants. To this day there remains a great effort ahead to demonstrate sincere reconciliation to a culture and way of life that our government once strove to obliterate.
Until we can ensure equal access to the same kind of education and health care to our most downtrodden as Castro attempted to provide for his people, it might be worth reflecting on our own position before passing any judgments.
If we are to shame our prime minister, it should be for his government's failure to provide said education and health-care rates for all Canadians, especially marginalized First Nations peoples. Not because he praised a leader who despite it all did just that.
Before passing a guilty verdict on a leader who elevated his humble nation's people to the world stage on numerous respectable attributes in the face of mighty adversity, perhaps we should consider looking upon our own leaders and their less than exemplary track records.
“He (Castro) gave me everything I have,” said Angela Suarez Narajo, a nurse, through her tears when speaking with the BBC correspondent.
“He was like a father to us.”
I wonder how many Canadians share such sentiments about our prime ministers — past and present.
