From: Randall Parker 

In article ,
blucy{at}mediaone.net says...
> > No it isn't. Books and mags and newspapers are key to a healthy civil
> > society.
> So, prior to the 17th century society wasn't civil?

Well then, I guess we don't need books. Lets return once again to that idyllic life.

> I read an excerpt. Have you seen how the Cuban government are releasing some
of
> their dissidents from jail? And none complained of ill treatment while there?

Maybe they don't release the ones they feel a need to torture.

> I don't really want to be a devil's advocate for Castro, Randall. But I also
> don't think he deserved to be demonized.

I do.

>What Canada and the EU have done is
> open up the possibility of a change in the way things are done in Cuba. Our
> stilted position does nothing but allow Fidel a reason to continue being who
he
> is.


I'm in favor of ending the embargo. But I don't need to pretend that Castro
is a civilized human being in order to come to that position.


> I don't think it's a meaningless term. But we continue to labor under a
> definition of "free" which puts me as an individual at risk
every time I step
> onto the streets.

Huh? What are you talking about? Gun control? Crime drops in areas that
adopt laws that make it easy to get concealed carry permits.

However, your comment seems like a digression.

> Juan Miguel Gonzalez does not have a government job. He does not appear to be
> starving.

But he does have a job. There are people in Cuba who have lost their non-
gov't jobs because of their stated political beliefs.

In any event, the bulk of the economy in Cuba is owned by the government.

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