A tyrant has died in Havana to the regret, it seems, of quite a few.
Pope Francis: “Sad news”
Jeremy Corbyn, leader of Britain’s Labour Party: “He will be remembered both as an internationalist and a champion of social justice.”
Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the EU Commission: “A hero to many.”
Federica Mogherini, EU ‘foreign minister’: “Heartfelt condolences”.
Irish president Michael Higgins: “Great sadness…Fidel Castro will be remembered as a giant among global leaders whose view was not only one of freedom for his people but for all of the oppressed and excluded peoples on the planet.”
Justin Trudeau, hero of Davos: “Deep sorrow”
Jimmy Carter, clown: “We remember fondly our visits with him in Cuba.”
A book to read today might be Against All Hope by Armando Valladares, a brave, brave man incarcerated in disgusting conditions by the Castro regime for over two decades:
The next morning, they welded the doors shut. Lieutenant Cruz, head of the Political Police, told us Castro had personally ordered it done. We were told we’d stay in those cells not for months, but for years.
Valladares at least survived. Countless Cubans were not so lucky.