How about some expert opinions on the Castro photos?

[Arni Heimir]

Your childish characterization of those you disagree with shows you know absolutely nothing about international relations, which is the purvey of grownups.

 

I was watching TV the other day and I saw a report on Iceland wanting to give money for the lebanese reconstruction. And it struck me. Iceland hasn't complete paving our main highway. There are 200 people waiting for a cardio vascular surgery and many of them will die unnecessarily. The minister of foreign affairs has sent ten peace keepers into arms way to Sri Lanka. With more on the way in the future. Why is Iceland (and Norway) going halfway around the world. To police a country we have no authority over?

 

Needless to say. If one wants law and order and human rights in these former colonizes. Wouldn't it be best to colonize them again?

 

Study comparative political science, dgoulder. You will see that the former colonizes that embraced captialism first and foremost (not necessarily democracy) are the most prosperous in those regions.

 

I see institution such as the UN and the Red Cross to be self serving and an industry in its own right.

 

I can't believe I am posting under my own identity. Brave me I guess. I'd appriciate some moral support from those who agree with me.

 

Funny how cinematography.com has become so poltical.

 

P.s. In defense of Soviet Russia and Communism in general. They did make some terrific anamorphic lenses.

 

Gee, thanks. It does SO much to raise the quality of a debate when you throw derogatory slurs into the mix. Maybe you'd like to be called a fascist or Nazi or something else unpleasant and inaccurate to boot.

 

David. We've spoken on the phone. I like you a lot and think very highly of you. I am assuming that the nazi comment was a rhetorical question. I wouldn't want to pigeonholedwith Mel Gibson.

 

I think you are thinking of the term anarchist. I'll gladly accept that terminology.

[David Mullen ASC]

I'm just saying that I hate it when these discussions degrade into calling someone a Nazi or fascist, so I don't think it's any better to call people Commies here either.

 

As you said, it IS a derogatory slur, so why start using it here? Do you really want us to all start coming up with derogatory slurs to refer to each other as? You seem like a bright person, so I don't understand why you want to head down that road. You should be above that sort of nonsense.

[Dan Goulder]

Study comparative political science, dgoulder. You will see that the former colonizes that embraced captialism first and foremost (not necessarily democracy) are the most prosperous in those regions.

I'm well versed in political science, thank you. I don't know how or why my remarks have been characterized as "anti-capitalism". I wasn't even addressing that issue. I was addressing this ugly supremacist attitude that's been creeping into the national dialogue. Furthermore, we should be able to address these issues without having to make it personal.

Edited August 15, 2006 by dgoulder

[Arni Heimir]

I'm just saying that I hate it when these discussions degrade into calling someone a Nazi or fascist, so I don't think it's any better to call people Commies here either.

 

As you said, it IS a derogatory slur, so why start using it here? Do you really want us to all start coming up with derogatory slurs to refer to each other as? You seem like a bright person, so I don't understand why you want to head down that road. You should be above that sort of nonsense.

 

Sorry David. I sincerely and truthfully apologize to everyone who took offense to that. I was out of line. I quess I've been watching to much foxnews. Which incidentally is the source of all my news.

 

Having neocon poltical believes makes you very unpopular in certain circles.

 

I understand that not having health care insurance and not qualifying for medicaid at the same time must a state of limbo.

 

I have no idea how to sort that in America. Because I am not from America. But one could phase out socialised medicine by offering those you buy private health care insurance tax breaks.

 

There is this one girl in many of the classes I take (an open communists) who raves Cube for its socialized medicine. What good is a healthcare system which can't afford to give its recipients aspirin.

 

Cuba belongs to a different time. And its certainly not the future. A lot of people praise Cuba and blame America. Which I disagree with entirely with.

 

I'm well versed in political science, thank you. I don't know how or why my remarks have been characterized as "anti-capitalism". I wasn't even addressing that issue. I was addressing this ugly supremacist attitude that's been creeping into the national dialogue. Furthermore, we should be able to address these issues without having to make it personal.

 

My intention wasn't to be snotty. No offense. Although I don't understand what you mean by "supremacist attitude that's been creeping into the national dialogue". Are you reffering to me? And my statements?

 

Please clarify it for me.

[Chad Stockfleth]

I quess I've been watching to much foxnews. Which incidentally is the source of all my news.

 

Having neocon poltical believes makes you very unpopular in certain circles.

 

Arnih, you almost seem to be bragging about having only ONE source for all your news. Doesn't that seem like a very narrow sampling. I believe most news networks are biased in one way or another, but for me, the idea is to take in several of them and then try to distill what I think is the truth. How do you justify it?

 

Cheers!

[Arni Heimir]

Arnih, you almost seem to be bragging about having only ONE source for all your news. Doesn't that seem like a very narrow sampling. I believe most news networks are biased in one way or another, but for me, the idea is to take in several of them and then try to distill what I think is the truth. How do you justify it?

 

Cheers!

 

I was joking :) But I do like Fox News. But I also frequent huffingtonpost.com. Odd though.

 

After I saw the Katrina news report with Geraldo Rivera in the forefront, I said to myself: "Geraldo Rivera for president!" Now he would make a colorful presidency.

[Dan Goulder]

My intention wasn't to be snotty. No offense. Although I don't understand what you mean by "supremacist attitude that's been creeping into the national dialogue". Are you reffering to me? And my statements?

 

Please clarify it for me.

No. This has nothing to do with you, personally. My reference was to the mass network communications in this country that have become so divisive and political. We have entire broadcast networks, some TV and most of radio, whose entire stock in trade is to make the American people hate each other, and hate everybody else on the planet. You know..."everybody's either a Nazi or a Commie"...that sort of thing. It's infantile. We should be above that.

[Arni Heimir]

No. This has nothing to do with you, personally. My reference was to the mass network communications in this country that have become so divisive and political. We have entire broadcast networks, some TV and most of radio, whose entire stock in trade is to make the American people hate each other, and hate everybody else on the planet. You know..."everybody's either a Nazi or a Commie"...that sort of thing. It's infantile. We should be above that.

 

The term commie has never really been an American one. Or rather directed towards Americans. Even the most left of the democratic party wouldn't be considered communists by Europeans.

 

George Wallace famously said that there wasn't a dime's worth of difference between the democratic and the republican party.

 

Again, sorry of the commie remark. I'll refrain myself in the future.

[Rafa]

Hi Guys

I'm a Cuban cinematographer and I really enjoy reading your opinions about CINEMATOGRAPHY, but I can tell you that I'm very dissapointed in your opinions about Cuba. Take note that I'm not choosing any side. What surprises me is not that some people defend Cuban socialism and others criticize it, that's great and definitely that is something we cannot do in Havana, but I am very shocked by the lack of understanding and knowledge about the topic. :blink:

[Jon-Hebert Barto]

Who cares if the pic is real? Castro is a "nobody". We waste our time hating him, his star has passed its zenith in regards to how his policy really affects what any other country but his does.

 

He is a worthless piece of mule dung and we've done nothing but popularize the steaming pile by playing silly little games with him. America used to be open to countries so we could have a possitive effect in the public minds view of what an economy other than a communist one is capable of. Somehow we left that behind....

 

Our action/inaction toward Cuba has nothing to do with its communist government, it has to do with our rabid fascination of "bringing down" Castro the man.

 

I have a friend who was born their and he's estatic over the possibility that Castro might bite the big one. I ask him, "What then?" His reply is, " Castros death is for my father!"

 

Ya, what about your children....? I'm not trying to be disrespectful, after all his fathers family no longer exists, but you can't feed off the past forever.....

 

I only hope when this piece of crap dies we can stop with the b/s and get down to beginning an open dialogue with some real change on the table, both sides.

 

 

 

 

Hi Guys

I'm a Cuban cinematographer and I really enjoy reading your opinions about CINEMATOGRAPHY, but I can tell you that I'm very dissapointed in your opinions about Cuba. Take note that I'm not choosing any side. What surprises me is not that some people defend Cuban socialism and others criticize it, that's great and definitely that is something we cannot do in Havana, but I am very shocked by the lack of understanding and knowledge about the topic. :blink:

 

 

Hey Rafa! :) Nice to have you add to the board. I'd like to hear more of your views on this topic..

 

In regards to your comment, are you really surprised by any americans lack of knowledge regarding foriegn affairs? I mean our understanding of our world neighbors views? It seems to me we don't know a whole lot about what other people think and that they don't really understand us, either. Sad situation, really. :( Unfortunately media at large has failed "the people" all over the world. At least thats my thoughts...

 

Glad to have you, -Jonnie

[Hal Smith]

Hi Guys

I'm a Cuban cinematographer and I really enjoy reading your opinions about CINEMATOGRAPHY, but I can tell you that I'm very dissapointed in your opinions about Cuba.

I find it somewhat ironic living in my country where 90% or so of our consumer goods are made in a Communist country, China and at the same time our government denounces Communist Cuba, a country with a western outlook and a great culture. Internationally I'm a lot more worried about China's intentions than Cuba's.

[Jon-Hebert Barto]

Word, Hal. Word.

 

(thats how the kids say, "well put") :)

[Guest shutter bug]

ok,heres my two cents worth of bitching...and cubans in the usa

 

 

going by only what the topic subject line says....that photo of him in a tracksuit loks terrible. he doesnt look right out of fatigues. makes him look lazy hehehe. what a cool job to go to work everyday in greens while ya rule the roost.

 

as for socialism/communism...and this is not an insult...just an observation....but americans dont understand socialism. they dont understand the difference between socialism and communism. many americans seem to thnk they are the same thing..funny how there are two words for the same thing. is there a difference between film and video? they both take pictures....

 

on medical systems...OVERALL...france keps winning out..amazing when you consider the dr's there smoke in the hospitals next to the no smoking signs..you gotta love the french hehe

 

on the cuban cigar thing, you can get them in the usa. this guy regularily ships them to the states and 95% get through. its worth a shot. if you want em just say somebody from the family sent you.

 

http://www.goodfellascigarshop.com/

[Jon-Hebert Barto]

Dude, this place is in canada!

 

America is the one with the import problem. Pun intended! Wait, was that a pun?

[Jordan Brade]

Wow, I don't think too many people can handle a joke. <_<

 

Truth be told, this is a pretty interesting time to be living in. Castro's been in power for a long time, and his death could possibly mean something entirely different for the people of Cuba.

[Guest shutter bug]

yes, i know its in canada, notice how i said the guy "ships hem to the states" meaning they are not originating in the states. then i said 95% get through, meaning 95% get through the postal system. i think his sucess rate is actually much higher tha 95%the odd time that a box doesnt et through,customers generally just phone back up and order another box and they get through hehehe

[Jon-Hebert Barto]

Ok, I'm stupid.... :(

 

But I'm still reporting your ass.. :)

 

The pic looks real enough and thats all that matters...

 

Oh, just kidding about reporting you. The FBI is probably on their way to your house right now anyway...

[Guest shutter bug]

id prefer a cia visit since i apparently aleady show up on homeland seurity computers funny thing is what does anybody want to talk to me for, i aint selling the smokes! order away folks

[Bob Hayes]

Cuba is a time bomb waiting to happen. In the eyes of most Americans it is an oppressive Communist regime waiting to fall and a downtrodden unhappy populace waiting push it to Capitalism and Democracy. The problem is if Cuba goes peacefully into Capitalism and Democracy all of the rich Cuban exiles who have great influence over Florida politics won?t get their land back. It would be much better for them if a violent insurrection takes place in Cuba with freedom fighters supported by the US and Cuban exiles. Then the US Cubans could reclaim their plantations and nightclubs. Off course there are many international companies who have investments in Cuba who would loose out.

[Guest shutter bug]

Cuba is a time bomb waiting to happen. In the eyes of most Americans it is an oppressive Communist regime waiting to fall and a downtrodden unhappy populace waiting push it to Capitalism and Democracy. The problem is if Cuba goes peacefully into Capitalism and Democracy all of the rich Cuban exiles who have great influence over Florida politics won?t get their land back. It would be much better for them if a violent insurrection takes place in Cuba with freedom fighters supported by the US and Cuban exiles. Then the US Cubans could reclaim their plantations and nightclubs. Off course there are many international companies who have investments in Cuba who would loose out.

 

i think the world knows the american view on cuba. i love the way people 'know' how a population of people they have never met are unhappy. shrinks used to know the unhappyness of potential patients in the 50s on one meeting, or none, and got them comitted easily.

 

im sure american-cubans would love to go to cuba and reclaim land...even if it wasnt theirs.thats how it happens, the winners of 'war' write history and decide who the worthy 'managers' of the new land are. therefore they are usually from their own land ofcourse, or those given positions of power have direct links to the conquror. its kinda like the palestinians that have owned homes in isreal for 80 years and all of a sudden the government takes the place away...to give to an isreali (an isreali without palestinian bloodlines ofcourse).

 

funny thing is i have met quite a few cubans that have left. i ask them their opinion of castro and every one i have met has been in two minds.they dont like a lot of whats going on but then they understand what castro has been given and what he has ahd to work with,therefore understand why things are the way they are.these are not cubans who have move to the usa.

 

id rather see cuba go more like continental europe in terms of its 'socialism'.for the sake of cubas people, the worst thing that can happen is for american style capitalism to be pushed on them.

 

and hey, if a gov doesnt like communism, then why deal with them? america seems to love to deal with china as has been ponted out. they have a far worse human rights record than cuba...these dudes are really bad, yet they still dump their products on american soil. if the usa hates communism so much how come they dont try and change china? probably cause they know they would get their ass kicked. i guess its cooler to pick on the little guy...theyve done it often enough and the population gets a feel good response from it like look we won AND helped them out! uhhuh. this is not a dig, but i think americans really need to get passports and travel far more than they do.

 

as for fidel, im lucky enough to be three people away from the guy,three strong links...im 100% better than the six degrees of seperation thing hehehe i hope to go there soon, and see if i can do some business with the place.id rather help it out through business then doing a panzer division job.

[Rafa]

My two cents on this, but I want to make clear than being cuban doesn't mean I understand the country better than anybody. The only diference is that I visit it every year and my family is down there.

First, Cuban socialism failed. That's true and I don't think anybody question that. Cuba haven't being able to produce enough food to feed the population of the country even when we got mor money from Soviet Union that the whole post-WWII with the plan Marshall. Right now Cuba it's a very poor country totally isolated from the world with a very unhappy population waiting for something to change in their life. On the other hand, pretty big hand, the USA embargo has a huge role on this. Somebody mentioned in this forum that the embargo it's just for american companies, that's just plain ignorance. The USA embargo to Cuba makes sure that any company that negotiates with Cuba can not make bussiness with american companies for a year, and any ship that goes to cuba can't touch american ground for another year. On top of this, USA doesn't buy anything that use any cuban parts, not even a single screw. That means that cuba can't buy from 90% of the companies in the world, because nobody wants to miss the american market, it means Cuba can not sell any of their products ( it's more than cigars in Cuba) because nobody is going to use it and any negotiation with cuba implies very dificult and expensives way to bring products to the country. This is a little portrait of what's goign on. I have two questions. Why Castro decided to big a world class leader instead of taking care of his own country first? Why USA choose the starvation of cubans as a weapon to defeat a single guy?

Ahhhhh, don't answer the second one saying because Fidel is a cruel dictator. he is, but he killed a lot less people than dictators in Chile, than in Argentina, Brazil and Guatemala. And United states gave these goverments a good amount of cash to help them to kill young people on the street.

 

castro's photos look real to me, but I hope he is weaker that how he looks. Something should change in my country.

I see you in another forum talking about lights and lightmeters. I enjoy that more that talking about castro, I'm very tired of that guy

[Zuma]

I'm not a socialist but it seems to me that Castro has give most of his life to Cuba. How many of

our world leaders could make a similar claim for their country. Now I'm damn sure

Castro isn't a saint and he probably loves being the boss just like Bush but he's not Satan either and

any sober assesement of his tenure as leader bears this out. In Australia, the

mass media has always treated Casto in one of two ways- firstly as a fanatical tyrant and more

recently as an eccentric crotchety old fool. Neither I suspect are anything like the real man so

maybe we shouldn't be too quick to condemn him just because he thumbs his nose at us once in awhile.

 

Interestingly there was a noticeable if fleeting shift in awareness to all things Cuban when Wender's

Buena Vista Social Club had its run here. Apart from this film I can't remember Cuba ever getting any

positive exposure here. Just finally on the subject of : "Is it a fake photo"? Well its like any other political

statement eminating from on high - open to various interpretations. So is he in heaven, or is he in hell ? An

old Aussie saying "Suffer in your jocks" might go someway to explaining the Cuban strategy behind

the release of the pic. Regards Z

[Matt Pacini]

Rafa: "...First, Cuban socialism failed. That's true and I don't think anybody question that. ..."

 

Oh, quite the contrary. LOTS of people question that. I keep hearing about their free health care, for instance, as if that's 100% of what makes a country great.

That to me is faint praise, on par with the statements about how at least Mussolini made the trains run on time. BFD.

By the way, our infant mortality rate has MUCH to do with the fact so many immigrants from third would countries come over here, with their kids already sick with diseases they brought with them, so it's a bit silly to use that statistic to proclaim Americas health care is bad. If it's so bad, why do people come from all over earth to get treated here?

And we do have FREE HEALTH CARE FOR THE POOR in America. It's called Medicare & Medical.

Before you make idiotic accusations that I'm making it up, Google those two words please. What we don't have, is free medical care for everyone who can afford to pay for health insurance.

Most countries with free health care, it's either so bad, and/or the wait is so long, that a huge private health industry has sprung up that they usually use instead, if they want to get better, quicker treatment. So they're paying for it twice. Doesn't sound free to me.

 

I'm not a socialist but it seems to me that Castro has give most of his life to Cuba. ..

Regards Z

 

Egads!

A guy overthrows a country, and sets himself up as "dictator for life" continues to murder political dissenters, and that's defined as somehow GOOD thing?

Using that same logic, I guess we should admire Hitler, since he gave his very life for his country, right?

 

MP

[Leo Anthony Vale]

Using that same logic, I guess we should admire Hitler, since he gave his very life for his country, right?

 

---Hitler did not give his life for his country.

Though he gave the lives of many others for his country.

 

Hitler died of embaressment.

The idea of being paraded around and called a loser was more than he could handle.

[David Mullen ASC]

I don't always agree politically with Matt, but I think his point is correct -- "successful" dictators by their very nature are very good at holding onto power, so I don't think it's a necessarily a virtue when they devote most of their life to oppressing a country... otherwise we should also thank Stalin and Mao for their many years of "unselfish service."