[Lordarminius]

> The US government has been the primary proponent of progress, spreading free markets and democracy around the globe

Who would have guessed? The Iraquis, libyans, Chileans (after 1972), maybe the people of Zaire under Mobutu,or the oppressed blacks in apartheid South Africa , heck forget that look at the blacks in America!, and the native American Indians!!, how great their lot is; the list of people who have 'enjoyed' American democracy is long.

> Fidel was a brutal dictator and his memory deserves to be pissed on. Any who celebrate him are ignorant, evil, or fools.

I guess that includes me and many others on HN and around the world. Have a nice night :)

[sabertoothed]

Interesting how you did not address his/her first point...

[Lordarminius]

The issues are complex. Castro lived in the shadow of US aggression for 50 years.

But in summary, not in all cases does freedom of speech, free elections,'free market' etc favor national stability.

Singapore did very well under Lee kwan Yew in what was essentially a one party state. So did Libya so is modern Rwanda. Not every country will blossom under western democratic prescriptions. A friend of mine whom I had a conversation with a few years ago, pointed out that universal suffrage and free elections if adopted in China would be the fastest way to destroy the country.

There's a lot of room for debate here.

[sabertoothed]

I would not call freedom of speech and free elections "western democratic prescriptions". If that is what you meant.

But I would (honestly) like to thank you for your response.