Comments on: Gitmo facts before jumping to conclusions

By: Dallas

Dallas — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 20:45:47 +0000

Great piece of writing. Informative, sarcastic, smart, rude, funny, etc., all we’ve come to expect. But the headline! Oh my, you’re the best.

By: E.L. Sidney

E.L. Sidney — Thu, 28 May 2009 23:22:49 +0000

Not only facts, but true facts? Real research? Even footnotes? What has likethedew become? I’m going to have a Cuba libre and contemplate this turn of events. (But nice job, Mr. Leslie.)

By: Lee Leslie

Lee Leslie — Thu, 28 May 2009 21:59:55 +0000

With all dew respect, the story was about our (USA) human rights abuse, torture, arbitrary imprisonment, and unfair trials. I don’t doubt you are right on Cuba’s. Instead of spinning positive in the 2 sentences I included about modern Cuba, I should have a mention the notorious problems.

By: jonathan peterson

jonathan peterson — Thu, 28 May 2009 21:39:14 +0000

I consider myself a liberal and think that Cuba has certainly done some things right just as we’ve done many things wrong in Latin America. But the amount of lipstick you’ve slapped on a tremendously represive country is offensive.

I’ll just paste from wikipedia –
International human rights organizations accuse the Cuban regime of systematic human rights abuses, including torture, arbitrary imprisonment, unfair trials, and extrajudicial executions (a.k.a. “El Paredón”).[1][2][3]

Cuban law harshly limits freedom of expression, association, assembly, movement, and the press. There is no due process; the judicial system is constitutionally subordinate to the government. The government maintains tight control on religious institutions, affiliated groups, and individual believers[1]. Censorship is tight, resulting in one of the lowest ratings on the 2008 Press Freedom Index.[4] Internet censorship is enforced by surveillance and permits.[5] Most emigration is illegal.

By: Fibberdegidget

Fibberdegidget — Thu, 28 May 2009 16:53:40 +0000

You have enlightened me with this piece. I appreciate learning the background on Guantanamo, specifics on status of the various prisoners, and the photo of “Camp Justice,” in particular. The sign suggests a summer camp for kids to learn about diversity, fairness, laws and ethics. Guess not.

My first reaction to these sentences (The Spanish brought with them infectious diseases and Christianity. Those indigenous people who didn’t die from one, died from the other.) was to get huffy on the suggestion that the indigenous people died as a result of Christianity, but upon learning that their deaths were related to their failure to convert, I must admit it was appropriate, AND is ironic in the face of GITMO.