Fidel Castro has died aged 90.

[vandermolen]

Can't believe that he was leader when I was 4!
Any views?
Especially interested in what our American friends here think.
Will it make any difference to anything?

[kishnevi]

For once, I think Trump's full official statement is perfectly on target.
For what Cuban exiles are thinking, I suspect Gloria Estefan's statement is a good summary
https://m.facebook.com/gloriaestefan/photos/a.10151036376221673.423063.74681301672/10153846991641673/?type=3&source=48

[Todd]

Will it make any difference to anything?

It will probably make further normalization of relations between the US and Cuba an easier and smoother undertaking.  I'll say that's a good thing.

Also, Castro's death provides a much needed hit for the Death List for this year, which has been very slow since summer.

[Ken B]

For once, I think Trump's full official statement is perfectly on target.
For what Cuban exiles are thinking, I suspect Gloria Estefan's statement is a good summary
https://m.facebook.com/gloriaestefan/photos/a.10151036376221673.423063.74681301672/10153846991641673/?type=3&source=48

Indeed.

[ahinton]

It will probably make further normalization of relations between the US and Cuba an easier and smoother undertaking.  I'll say that's a good thing.

Also, Castro's death provides a much needed hit for the Death List for this year, which has been very slow since summer.

Then who might you hope or expect to be next and how soon?

[Todd]

The who might you hope or expect to be next and how soon?

Kinda.  The Death List.  A cheerful British site.  2017 names are already being discussed. 

[Turner]

Corbyn, Junker, Higgins, Khamenei, Trudeau -
five delusional statements following the dictator´s death:
http://reason.com/blog/2016/11/26/five-worst-responses-fidel-castro-death

[ComposerOfAvantGarde]

I've always had mixed feelings about his leadership and conservative viewpoints, but he has certainly been a figurehead in 20th century politics especially for his speeches about poverty, and in the 90s his stance on climate change and anti-apartheid views. I am sure that he will be missed.

[ComposerOfAvantGarde]

Corbyn, Junker, Higgins, Khamenei, Trudeau -
five delusional statements following the dictator´s death:
http://reason.com/blog/2016/11/26/five-worst-responses-fidel-castro-death

It's kind of dumb to only talk about the positive aspects of any leader's policies and personality. Castro did many wrong things for the right reasons though, and I personally dont like his leadership style very much. For progressive politicians who are praising a much more socially conservative leader just goes to show that the principle of 'the ends justify the means' is unfortuantely common worldwide, not just within single party systems.

[Ken B]

I've always had mixed feelings about his leadership and conservative viewpoints, but he has certainly been a figurehead in 20th century politics especially for his speeches about poverty, and in the 90s his stance on climate change and anti-apartheid views. I am sure that he will be missed.

He was a murderer who had children shot. Did you not know this or did you not care?

[ComposerOfAvantGarde]

He was a murderer who had children shot. Did you not know this or did you not care?

I do know and do care about this. As I've stated, I'm don't like the things he has done. He did things which I abhor, he held views which I find terribly socially conservative and worryingly nationalist, and through this he was able to create a nation with admirable education and healthcare and environmentalism. Ultimately I would say that despite all the good he intended and achieved, this doesn't erase the human rights violations that occurred because of him. In my own country there have been politicians whom I admire for some things but absolutely despise due to the human rights violations that they have imposed on the most vulnerable members of our society. No politician is completely good and no politician is completely bad. I hate having the appearance of being a fence sitter, but what I hate even more is when politicians are receiving only universal praise or universal disgust.

[Gurn Blanston]

Corbyn, Junker, Higgins, Khamenei, Trudeau -
five delusional statements following the dictator´s death:
http://reason.com/blog/2016/11/26/five-worst-responses-fidel-castro-death

Geez, about what you would expect, I guess. If they were intelligent, they wouldn't be in politics.

I've always had mixed feelings about his leadership and conservative viewpoints, but he has certainly been a figurehead in 20th century politics especially for his speeches about poverty, and in the 90s his stance on climate change and anti-apartheid views. I am sure that he will be missed.

A nicely political view. In fact, nearly everyone hated him, because they feared him. There is a large wave of Stockholm Syndrome, which is always apparent in countries in that situation. Look at North Korea for a good example of this.  Walk around Miami and talk to some of the old people who were able to flee, leaving everything behind, including family who were often imprisoned for life to pay the price for their escape. 

I'm going to assume you are being sarcastic in your last sentence... Please lord, let it be sarcasm... 

[Monsieur Croche]

For once, I think Trump's full official statement is perfectly on target.
For what Cuban exiles are thinking, I suspect Gloria Estefan's statement is a good summary
https://m.facebook.com/gloriaestefan/photos/a.10151036376221673.423063.74681301672/10153846991641673/?type=3&source=48

Indeed, and well said, Ms. Estefan.

[Florestan]

Indeed, and well said, Ms. Estefan.

+ 1

Justin Trudeau, on the other hand, might have achieved the top of idiocy by calling Castro as Cuba´s "longest serving president". As TheReason.com comments, "[this is] a feat less impressive when you factor in the fact that Castro's one-party government never held a free election."

Bottom line, one brutal tyrant less in the world. Several others still to go.

[vandermolen]

Very interesting replies - thanks.
BBC's coverage was balanced this morning I think.

[ahinton]

Kinda.  The Death List.  A cheerful British site.  2017 names are already being discussed.

Cheerful to those who apparently have nothing better to do than either compile or update or read it, one could say.

By the way, has that nice chap Bobby Mugabe commented yet?

[Ken B]

+ 1

Justin Trudeau, on the other hand, might have achieved the top of idiocy by calling Castro as Cuba´s "longest serving president". As TheReason.com comments, "[this is] a feat less impressive when you factor in the fact that Castro's one-party government never held a free election."

Bottom line, one brutal tyrant less in the world. Several others still to go.

http://news.nationalpost.com/news/canada/canadian-politics/fidel-castro-dies-justin-trudeau-issues-statement-much-hilarity-ensues-trudeaueulogies
More here. Scroll down for Canadian replies, including about Romania.

[Florestan]

http://news.nationalpost.com/news/canada/canadian-politics/fidel-castro-dies-justin-trudeau-issues-statement-much-hilarity-ensues-trudeaueulogies
More here. Scroll down for Canadian replies, including about Romania.

Though not universally liked by his compatriots, Mr. Ceausescu was a leader in urban design and affordable housing. 

[Spineur]

[Parsifal]

Everything I know about Castro comes from Woody Allen's old film Bananas