Once upon a time there was a man named Karl Marx. This guy set the foundation for communism, and what I’ll refer to as “Hitler’s economics plan” (*cough* *cough* socialism *cough* *cough*). He put forth the ideology that the only purpose in life is to further the greater good of a nation, whether that costed people their lives or not. In many marxist nations religion was outlawed, because according to Karl Marx “religion is the opium of the masses.” Those who practiced a religion were seen as a threat to the marxist society because they would have a purpose to life separate from their government’s demands. Marx saw religion as something that blinded people, since all he saw was material and thought people’s life purpose was to achieve power for their country. The man who greatly impacted Russia with this ideology was Vladimir Lenin and had such a huge part in creating and spreading this worldview that in modern day people may refer to marxism also as Marxist-Leninism. Lenin created a one-party communist state, that one party being the Russian Communist Party. Russia remained communist up until the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. During WWII the Soviet Union actually killed millions more innocent people than Adolf Hitler killed in his lifetime.

So I think it’s obvious to say that Marxist-Leninism isn’t too friendly of a worldview. Not only did it kill millions of people for their beliefs, or for the suspicion of having differing beliefs, but it holds such an authoritarian view of government that they inevitably try to take over surrounding nations. For a quick example, after Hitler’s regime fell the 4 allied powers controlled a portion of Germany. While France, Britain and the United States wanted to return Germany to a free and independent nation over time, the Soviet Union had other plans. Communists being communist, they refused to lose any control and built a wall across Berlin. The outcome of this was an East Germany and a West Germany, and thousands of friends and families divided for four decades. Leading by example West Germany thrived through free markets and more legal protection for the people’s rights, while East Germany suffered under the oppressive laws and economy of communist rule. People trying to flee East Germany had the chance of being killed by soviet guards.

Meanwhile in Cuba Fidel Castro lead a Marxist Revolution to oust their authoritarian government. Something that I’ve realized a lot about this world is everything isn’t so black and white. It’s obvious that Adolf Hitler was a bad guy, and the Soviet Union helped us take down the Nazis… but that didn’t really make the Soviet Union “good” either. This was probably the reasoning behind early Americans promoting the idea that America should be a “friend to all, ally to none,” since in some cases your friend against a common enemy may not be such a great permanent ally. We’re arming rebels in Syrian currently in hopes of taking down their oppressive government and gaining a future ally, but the rebels aren’t exactly friendlies in return. Some have shown more interest in taking down Israel next than fighting ISIS, and the Syrian National Council has been influenced by the same group that influences Hamas. Not to mention the Al-Quada somewhat favor the rebels as well. Sometimes both sides are bad and you can either stay out of it, or make your own side. So back to the communists. They gained power in times of oppression as well. When the people are held down by something bad, anyone who offers hope may look like a better option. Sadly sometimes the better looking option might be just as bad or worse than the previous one. Fidel Castro took out a tyranny in Cuba and replaced it with a socialist government in 1959 (becoming a Communist Party in 1965). Overtime the Cubans probably felt much like East Germany, being free from one dictator then places under a new one. In 1962 Cuba requested nuclear missiles from the Soviet Union in order to have power over the United States. This call wasn’t answered until Khrushchev saw value in it once the United States had placed ballistic missiles in Italy and Turkey. Castro and Khrushchev met, nukes were placed in Cuba, and thus began an armed, nuclear, standoff. Lucky John F. Kennedy negotiated us out of a nuclear war, but this proved that Cuba wasn’t fooling around.

So what was Fidel Castro’s rule like? Visually it’s very easy to tell since Florida for decades was taking in Cubans who came to America on makeshift rafts trying to escape Castro’s rule. Actually some of these families rejoiced just the other night when we learned of Castro’s death. And by rejoice, I mean they literal filled up streets in Miami and celebrated. So what were they escaping? How about a economy destroyed by socialism, a justice system destroyed by the lack of virtues and oppressive laws that would punish or kill those who disagreed with them. Including but not limited to, forcing homosexuals into work camps, destroying churches and killing/ imprisoning people who spoke against the regime. This is what Fidel Castro built, and this is why it is disgusting on all levels when liberal politicians are coming out praising this man’s “legacy”. Yes, I kid you not. Starting with Canada’s Prime Minister issuing a statement on Castro’s death in which he called him a “legendary revolutionary” and that his “father was very proud to call him a friend”. It’s bad enough that for the past 3 years the media has given into calling the Cuban dictator a “president” but now people of significant authority are praising a Marxist Revolutionary? I never thought that day would come. 8 years ago socialism was universally seen as wrong, and now we have famous people speaking highly of a dead communist. Jill Stein (the Green Party candidate that for some reason was aloud in the polls but not Darrell Castle) is leading a recount in key swing states, and also tweeted just recently, “Fidel Castro was a symbol of the struggle for justice in the shadow of an empire.” Did I also mention Hillary Clinton is getting involved in the recount now? Yay, maybe Stein and Clinton will be marxist buddies or something. And our old friend Colin Kaepernick of course had to jump on the bus for some reason and just recently was booed in Miami for his praise of Castro. Meanwhile guess what people of actually CUBAN heritage are saying:

I do not believe we should be happy about anyone’s death, it is sad that this man lost his life without ever coming to Christ or recognizing his wrongs. However it is one thing to love all life, and another to justify every action made by someone who was one of the world’s examples of evil. Dear Liberals, stop praising communists. As conservatives have been saying for the past ten years, commies aren’t cool.