Are there no cigar-smoking Communists around here?

[MontrealRon]

I'm tired of being the only one on this Forum who defends the Cuban gov't in any way.

Being an Anarchist/Buddhist, this is not an easy role for me.

While I see some validity in most every political position, I have my critiques of each one as well.

I share with the Left a concern for the greatest good for the greatest number, and the value of community; and with the Right, the idea that power corrupts, that more government means less freedom, and the value of the individual.

It is hard to have a vigorous debate on Cuba-related questions with no one to defend the Cuban government's position.

So, come on, guys. There are nearly six thousand of us in all, and hundreds who are active.

Surely, there must be one commie among us. All we need is one.

If we cannot find one, then perhaps El Pres should appoint somebody to the position (PLEASE not me!!)

What do you think? Any volonteers???

[IShotAManInReno]

It is hard to have a vigorous debate on Cuba-related questions with no one to defend the Cuban government's position.

I doubt a true "commie" would defend the Cuban government.

Keep in mind. Labels can be misleading. While I am by no means a Poli Sci expert, I do believe that most people do not understand that communism, socialism and facism are all different terms that have very different meanings.

[Tampa1257]

Political Debate is not encouraged here on FOH, typically it goes directly to name calling such as you used in your thread title when you used the slang for someone from a Communist country.

Should this topic continue, remember argue the topic, not an individual.

[Bartolomeo]

I dont know enough about either side of the debate to chime in, my focus is on figuring out what Cuban cigars I like the best right now, which is hard enough ......but I do know one thing, I will visit Cuba one day

Bart

[Jesuscookies]

Political Debate is not encouraged here on FOH, typically it goes directly to name calling such as you used in your thread title when you used the slang for someone from a Communist country.

Should this topic continue, remember argue the topic, not an individual.

Thank you dear leader.

[Colt45]

Political Debate is not encouraged here on FOH

Agreed.

What do you think?

I know that our host has banned political threads.

I think he allows them to go on until they inevitably go out of bounds.

I'm pretty sure that intentional instigation gets one a boot in the buttocks.

[anacostiakat]

Thank you dear leader.

[MontrealRon]

Political Debate is not encouraged here on FOH, typically it goes directly to name calling such as you used in your thread title when you used the slang for someone from a Communist country.

Should this topic continue, remember argue the topic, not an individual.

Please don't misunderstand my point.

"Commie" is merely a short form of Communist, and refers to a member of the Communist Party, not someone from a "communist" country. They can be from any country.

In fact, I grew up around a few proud Communists, who would often refer to themselves as "commies".

I have no less respect for Communists than I do for Liberals or Conservatives.

Besides, this thread was meant to be a light-hearted refreshment after the heavy emotions of the Obama/embargo thread.

Can nobody tell a joke around here?

[maalouly]

Please don't misunderstand my point.

"Commie" is merely a short form of Communist, and refers to a member of the Communist Party, not someone from a "communist" country. They can be from any country.

In fact, I grew up around a few proud Communists, who would often refer to themselves as "commies".

I have no less respect for Communists than I do for Liberals or Conservatives.

Besides, this thread was meant to be a light-hearted refreshment after the heavy emotions of the Obama/embargo thread.

Can nobody tell a joke around here?

Unfortunately no ... especially Colt.

[El Presidente]

Many of us here would love to have a political discussion. Invariably they go to crap as generally nice and intelligent people become keyboard shock jocks both on the left and right of the divide.

The rule should be no discussion of American politics by any member given that is where the problem always occurs.

This is a Cuban Cigar Board were the CUban Government owns 50% of the marketing arm and 100% of cigar cultivation and development.

The Cuban Government is fair game for discussion.

I can't see why anyone would defend the Castro administration. Speak your mind but tread carefully as members here have lost family and friends to Castro.

[Colt45]

Can nobody tell a joke around here?

Unfortunately no ... especially Colt.

why did the chicken cross the road......

[PigFish]

Yeah... I'll dress up an play communist.

Hmmm... who should I be? Mao, Marx, Stalin... maybe Saloth Sar. Hey we all think and act alike is there really a difference?

So what is there not to love about your local communist? We strive to rot your civilization from within and call it education. Tyranny is the oldest form of government but we call it progressive! We stifle the human spirit, we kill individuality, belief in God and replace it with the State. The people we don't enslave for the collective good we murder though mass starvation, imprisonment or execution. But what is a little genocide between friends after all red is our color! Do you think that I have covered the all the bases, or have I left anything out?

We are certainly leaders in our chosen profession. I believe we have killed upwards of 100 million people to get where we are today yet Hitler still takes top billing and he was only a National Socialist. Poser!

The fact is many, many roads lead to our camp, so read the signs carefully and if you ignore them... that is okay. You will end up in our camp eventually because the longer you are complacent with your freedom, the more of it you trade for a larger more intrusive government, the closer you get to our camp. Our doors are always open... well unless you want to leave. We can wait it out; just ask my friend Fidel about it. Take my advice though and keep any criticism to yourself.

-the Red Pig

Interestingly enough... I find no humor in communism but I am a little constipated from some of the recent political talk and was looking for a little relief!!! Moderators, if I have crossed the line take this one out.

[MontrealRon]

Yeah... I'll dress up an play communist.

Hmmm... who should I be? Mao, Marx, Stalin... maybe Saloth Sar. Hey we all think and act alike is there really a difference?

So what is there not to love about your local communist? We strive to rot your civilization from within and call it education. Tyranny is the oldest form of government but we call it progressive! We stifle the human spirit, we kill individuality, belief in God and replace it with the State. The people we don't enslave for the collective good we murder though mass starvation, imprisonment or execution. But what is a little genocide between friends after all red is our color! Do you think that I have covered the all the bases, or have I left anything out?

We are certainly leaders in our chosen profession. I believe we have killed upwards of 100 million people to get where we are today yet Hitler still takes top billing and he was only a National Socialist. Poser!

The fact is many, many roads lead to our camp, so read the signs carefully and if you ignore them... that is okay. You will end up in our camp eventually because the longer you are complacent with your freedom, the more of it you trade for a larger more intrusive government, the closer you get to our camp. Our doors are always open... well unless you want to leave. We can wait it out; just ask my friend Fidel about it. Take my advice though and keep any criticism to yourself.

-the Red Pig

Interestingly enough... I find no humor in communism but I am a little constipated from some of the recent political talk and was looking for a little relief!!! Moderators, if I have crossed the line take this one out.

Thank you, thank you Comrade Red Pig.

Finally, someone who understands what I have been trying to do.

Now, we just need someone to play the bloated, blood-sucking, cigar-chomping Robber Baron...

Ken???

[Ken Gargett]

why did the chicken cross the road......

to see gregory peck?

[Ken Gargett]

Thank you, thank to Comrade Red Pig.

Finally, someone who understands what I have been trying to do.

Now, we just need someone to play the bloated, blood-sucking, cigar-chomping Robber Baron...

Ken???

my pleasure.

[Ken Gargett]

Many of us here would love to have a political discussion. Invariably they go to crap

unbelievable. after everything of recent, that is the word you choose?

where are your sensibilities?

[Morientes50]

Communism always loses. need proof? Just watch Rocky IV. That big Russian lost to the tiny American. USA! USA! USA!

I was called a communist by a group of Cuban expats in Miami just for voting for Obama. But thats not the worst part. The worst part is they were all related to me.

Which brings up the topic: If capitalism is so good, why does it produce so many wankers? Need proof? Just look at any young teeny bopper in america listening to god awful music and trying to copy paris hilton.

I remember a joke they told in post Soviet Russia: A guy is depressed after the fall of communism. His friend asks him, "Why are you so sad?" The man replies: "Everything they told us about Socialism was a lie. But thats not the worst part. Everything they told us about Capitalism is true"

[Colt45]

Which brings up the topic: If capitalism is so good, why does it produce so many wankers? Need proof? Just look at any young teeny bopper in america listening to god awful music and trying to copy paris hilton.

So, if everyone listened to the same music as you, and had the same fashion sense as you, that would be OK - they'd not be wankers?

Everyone the same...... sounds communist to me.

[Padrino]

So, if everyone listened to the same music as you, and had the same fashion sense as you, that would be OK - they'd not be wankers?

Everyone the same...... sounds communist to me.

Otherwise known as the "herd mentality"........no ? not necessarily Communist, just a lack of soul.

[Colt45]

Otherwise known as the "herd mentality"........no ? not necessarily Communist, just a lack of soul.

You know, I'm sitting here having a chuckle, not at any of us in particular. But were I a betting man, I'd have to believe that Ayala left for the

weekend feeling "dismayed" over the past week's political debacle. Now, he'll come back Monday morning to find the potential for another

brewing! Were it not a bit sad, it'd be brilliant!

And I know I've showed him a lack of respect for participating in the turmoil even though we've been asked more than once to desist. And

though I take my share of blame, I think it's fairly clear that the bulk should fall on Gargett.

Anyway for the members who shall continue to carry the flag of socialism, I propose this special cap (weren't many takers first time around):

[PigFish]

I myself wrote more than one sharp tongued reply to the other thread and chose not to post them. I crafted a response to one of the comments above but I don't think that I will share it either. Being heard is often a double edged sword. I certainly don't believe in political correctness but there is an overlapping boundary where the courtesy to others, good manners, political correctness and ill intent seem to blend together as gray. Many of us see that gray area more, or less clearly defined. Others, perhaps the wiser of all of us shun the topics altogether.

There is what people write and there is the perception of what people write. There is also a perception of what people, "don't write." If you don't understand the comment, well I am not going to explain it today. I am certainly not neutral. I choke often on the neutral for the sake of civility. Sometimes I spit it all out and pick up a bat! -Piggy

[bassman]

OK I'll bite. Communism is an economic system, not a type of government. I would argue China is now capitalist, but is a single party state run by the now misnamed Communist party. Some would say the communists are now in the USA.

[Morientes50]

So, if everyone listened to the same music as you, and had the same fashion sense as you, that would be OK - they'd not be wankers?

Everyone the same...... sounds communist to me.

First off, wanting to be like paris hilton (or this weeks celebrity twit) makes you a wanker in my book. Has nothing to do with the fashion sense.

Second, You should have been able to tell from the emoticons that I was speaking "tonque and cheek". If I wanted to make a point with the post (which I didn't) it would be that there is no perfect system (though some are better than others). Maybe next time i'll use more emoticons for you colt

The post was for a chuckle...but I guess nobody laughed

My whole family comes from Cuba. I couldn't be comminist even if I wanted to (which I don't).

As for my actual opinion: I think Churchill said it best when he said that "Capitalism is the worst economic system in the world, except for all other systems, which are even worse".

THIS IS WHAT I ACTUALLY THINK. (I include this last sentence for Colt's understanding)

[Morientes50]

OK I'll bite. Communism is an economic system, not a type of government. I would argue China is now capitalist, but is a single party state run by the now misnamed Communist party. Some would say the communists are now in the USA.

Actually, it is socialism that is the economic system. Communism is a type of Government that is authoritarian/one party system. China is capitalist and communist. Or in other words: Democracy is the opposite of Communism and Socialism is the opposite of Capitalism.

[MontrealRon]

Actually, it is socialism that is the economic system. Communism is a type of Government that is authoritarian/one party system. China is capitalist and communist. Or in other words: Democracy is the opposite of Communism and Socialism is the opposite of Capitalism.

In my understanding, what we know as Communism is a political expression, based on the idea that a "vanguard" revolutionary party can seize the state, and impose socialism, (the economic system) by force. This theory of the "dictatorship of the proletariat" means that the government is supposed to represent the interests of the working class. The fatal flaw, of course, is that power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. The "vanguard" party represents no one but themselves, and all their efforts go to maintaining control at all costs.

If you must be eliminated, it is for your own good!

It is quite possible, and all too common, to have non-Communist dictators as well.

Right-wing dictatorships often justify themselves as representing the interests of landowners, upper classes etc., just as left-wing ones claim to represent the poor and oppressed.

While either might begin with some truth to their claims, they both quickly degenerate to the same basic position, the maintainance of power for its own sake.

A plague on both their houses!!!

To the Anti-Castro folks, I say that Cuba was no paradise before Fidel.

To the Pro-Castro types, I say that Cuba has not become a paradise since Fidel.

Both systems had some positives, along with way too many negatives.

What Cuba, and the world, really needs is a social system that can balance care for the poorer and weaker among us, along with the freedom for each individual to develop their full potential, on their own terms.

Call me Utopian if you will, but I really believe that the human race is intelligent enough to, eventually, work this out.