Hollywood's Love Affair With Castro

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Hollywood's Love Affair With Castro
by Dave Gibson, Columnist

May 24, 2003

Dave Gibson The embracing of Fidel Castro by Hollywood's elite, speaks volumes about their feelings for the United States . This enemy of freedom (Castro) is so loved by the liberals of 'tinsel town' that it forces one to wonder...What the hell is wrong with these people?

Recently, actor Danny Glover joined singer Harry Belafonte in signing an open letter which appeared in the May 1st edition of the Cuban government-run paper 'Granma'. This letter praised the Cuban dictator and announced that a U.S. led invasion may be forthcoming . In Glover's case, the American people have spoken, they let MCI know how they felt about the antics of their spokesman which led to the dumping of this 'Fidel lover'.

Hollywood for many years, has been enamored with the aging totalitarian, as evident by the visits that so many celebrities have made to Havana. Some of the notables who have made a 'pilgrimage' to the headquarters of this 'original gangster' are Oliver Stone, Robert Redford, and Steven Spielberg. In fact Spielberg was so thrilled with meeting Castro, he refers to his visit as : "the eight most important hours of my life".

I would like for Glover to spend some time in Miami, meeting with some of the surviving veterans of the Bay of Pigs invasion as well as some recent arrivals to this country...perhaps he would then gain a different perspective. Every year thousands of Cubans risk their lives to escape their country and come to the U.S. They often set sail for this nation's shoreline on homemade rafts and just about anything that will float, many die trying to make the 90 mile journey to freedom. Doesn't Glover wonder why these people are willing to go to such lengths to leave Fidel's 'workers' paradise'?

Castro has now returned many parts of Cuba to the days of segregation, something which he claims was a driving force behind the overthrow of his predecessor (Battista). Castro originally demanded for all Cubans: access to all hotels, restaurants, and beaches...places that under Battista had been reserved strictly for wealthy tourists. Today, there are 'tourist only' cafes, hotels, and nightclubs ( NO CUBANS ALLOWED!). Surely, the American leftists who praise Castro and even visit him know about this policy. Why don't they express their outrage over Castro's decision to discriminate against his own people? Are they too busy bashing President Bush? I suppose that outrage is a limited resource...reserved only for the right.

Ten years ago, UNICEF reported that no less than 50 percent of Cuban infants suffered from anemia and vitamin deficiencies. The average Cuban worker makes about ten dollars a week. AIDS patients are quarantined and denied the right to leave that country and seek out adequate health care. Recently, Castro imprisoned over 70 writers and journalists who made the mistake of publicly disagreeing with this thug. Once again, I ask... Where is the outrage?

Castro's reign has been that of a brutal dictator, he murders or jails anyone who refuses to kneel at his feet. Under his regime, Cuba's economy and infrastructure has collapsed. He sits by and allows his people to live out their lives in hopeless, grinding poverty. However, he is a communist and has a great hatred for the U.S., so of course he has a great deal in common with the elite of Hollywood! ***

Photo of Dave Gibson courtesy of staff files