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NDP MPP Jagmeet Singh On Fidel Castro "uplifted the lives of millions"
November 27, 2016 - 11:53am
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NDP MPP Jagmeet Singh tweeted about the passing of Fidel Castro by writing
He saw a country wracked by poverty, illiteracy & disease. So he lead a revolution that uplifted the lives of millions. RIP #FidelCastro
https://twitter.com/theJagmeetSingh/status/802734505920524289
I think this is a poorly considered post from a political point of view.
These words could have been well contained in a context of a statement but under the character limitation of Twitter I think this was unwise even if technically true. It appears to dismiss what you cannot dismiss. An MP who considers running for leadership has to reach a very high standard of balance in a case of a statement like this about a figure such as Castro and I don't think you could do that in 144 characters.
I would have prefered he place a more fulsome statement on his website that could have included exactly these words but acknowledged more. His Tweet could have directed people to it.
Castro should not be whitewashed. While his motivations were obvious and many of his accomplishments admirable, particularly given what his country faced, it is difficult to see how a Canadian politician says this without at least acknowledging the existence of excesses, dictatorship, the deaths. We can understand the motives here and many of the actions but they ought not to be presented without any context at all.
Castro fought against great injustice and repression and he, in turn, cause some. He raised the literacy of his country and provided amazing medical care under the circumstances. He did not share our values of democratic freedoms and expression or human rights. There is much to disagree with and to admire. Without doubt he is significant and the people of Cuba have lost a leader many loved.
There's already a thread on Castro's death in international politics.
If you want a thread on Jagmeet Singh praising Castro, you should also open one on Pierre Trudeau doing the same.
Or I could just repond to this one about the Jagmeet's statement.
And why should I create a thread on Trudeau? I would not consider voting for him and do not expect good judgment from him.
But sure this is one way to deflect a post without actually engaging with the content.
The pattern of you are with us or against us is very strong on babble. You are supposed to be loyal ignoring anything you disagree with or be considered the enemy. That's how it is here. Bullshit really. Makes the whole point of this site irrelevant.
I had no objection to the initial post, but it could have gone in the Fidel Castro thread, which already included reactions to the event.
Which is the reason why I didn't create one
Yes but this is from the viewpoint of a Canadian who is a potential NDP leadership contender. & his comments are getting quite a bit backlash on twitter
My post addressed to the person who opened the thread, not you, Sean.
I am 100% certain taht Jagmeet Singh is getting less blowback than Justin Trudeau for his comments.
Oh ok thanks. I agree. But I do think that political people should be careful of Twitter as it does not leave room for nuance when at time you need it. A link to a statement is sometimes better.
Nice meta-chat, rabblers.