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Calling it a "great injustice," today Fidel Castro told a Mexican newspaper that he accepts responsibility for Cuba's persecution of its gay citizens, thousands of whom were rounded up and placed in internment camps during his regime.
Castro said that the revolutionary government's actions represented "a great injustice – a great injustice! – whoever committed it. If we committed it, we committed it. I am trying to limit my responsibility in all that because, of course, personally I don't have that type of prejudice."
The interviewer paraphrases him as saying that "everything came about as a spontaneous reaction in the revolutionary ranks that came from the nation's traditions. In the old Cuba, blacks were not the only ones discriminated against; there was discrimination against women and, of course, homosexuals."
Was the Communist Party to blame, the interviewer asks. "No," Castro responds. "If anyone is responsible, I am. True, at that time I couldn't concern myself with the subject. I was deeply and mainly involved in the October Crisis, the war, the political issues. But in the end, if responsibility must be assumed, I assume mine. I'm not going to blame others," Castro says.
Many will likely credit Castro's niece Mariela for today's statement as she has led Cuba's burgeoning LGBT rights movement in recent years. Havana has staged gay pride parades for the last two years.
Former Cuban President Fidel Castro Photo By Reuters
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timmy
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Has no life at all |
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13800
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While the statement has, of itself, no power, it does take the blame.
How good would it be if Ratzinger did the same for the abused kids globally?
Author of Queer Me! Halfway Between Flying and Crying - the true story of life for a gay boy in the Swinging Sixties in a British all male Public School
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Benji
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Likes it here |
Location: USA
Registered: August 2007
Messages: 297
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Actually I'm amazed that he even took this upon himself to declare his fallacies, could be his niece, could be his trying to leave a legacy! I don't really know, sometimes age makes a person reflect on his past. In no way would I exonerate him for his treatment of his people, yet this is strange coming from him!
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His specific mention of the gay issue is fascinating, I would love to see the entire article (in English of course, maybe I can find it)
The US/Cuba relationship has caused Mr. Castro quite the headache over the years. Communism this close to our shores made everyone nervous, but I often wonder what the truth is behind the isolation we imposed.
The US eventually traded with the USSR and opened lines of communication, but not so with Castro. Many often wonder at the association of Castro's Cuba and the gunman who shot President John Kennedy. The public will never know what really happened there, the embargo on Cuba still speaks volumes of the emnity between us.
I agree, Benji...he wants to leave a better legacy than a long list of corruption and economic failure. Cuba is still very much a third world country with a failed infrastructure in agriculture and public utilities. Beyond Fidel's rule I don't think the people see much of a change, but I think it will happen.
The Church is already on it's way back in to the country which doesn't give me much hope for the LGBT community to progress. Maybe if the doors were opened and nations like Brazil and Mexico can assert greater influence then the gay community will have less to fear. But homophobia is deeply ingrained in so many Latin countries. Forgiving Castro will not resolve the issues.
Age appears to be best in four things; old wood best to burn, old wine to drink, old friends to trust, and old authors to read. (Sir Francis Bacon 1561-1626)
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Castro: I Take Responsibility For Cuba's Persecution Of Gays 
