by James Thompson

According to the Washington Post: Donald Trump has weighed in twice on the death of former Cuban leader Fidel Castro.

The president-elect offered up a four-word tweet shortly after 8 a.m. Saturday, saying simply: Fidel Castro is dead!

Trump followed that up a few hours later with a lengthier statement, in which he called Castro a ˜brutal dictator who oppressed his own people for nearly six decades” and said he hoped Castro’s death gave Cuban Americans “the hope of one day soon seeing a free Cuba.”

“Fidel Castro’s legacy is one of firing squads, theft, unimaginable suffering, poverty and the denial of fundamental human rights,” the statement said.

“While Cuba remains a totalitarian island, it is my hope that today marks a move away from the horrors endured for too long, and toward a future in which the wonderful Cuban people finally live in the freedom they so richly deserve.”

Trump added: “Though the tragedies, deaths and pain caused by Fidel Castro cannot be erased, our administration will do all it can to ensure the Cuban people can finally begin their journey toward prosperity and liberty.”

Shortly thereafter, Vice President-elect Mike Pence chimed in on Twitter, saying: “The tyrant #Castro is dead. New hope dawns.”

The United States has a long history of disrespecting the sovereign nation of Cuba. One of the pivotal events leading up to the revolution occurred in Havana when a US soldier stationed there in support of the brutal dictator Batista urinated publicly on a statue. The rest is history.

Trump and Pence’s words are a recapitulation of the public urination years ago. No other leaders of major nations humiliated themselves and their country by such disrespectful words about the death of Fidel Castro.

Fidel Castro led his country in a revolutionary struggle against a truly brutal dictator, Batista. Castro led the struggle to make education and healthcare accessible to all people in Cuba. Castro led the struggle against US imperialism in Cuba. Castro led the struggle to provide housing for all in Cuba. Castro led the struggle against organized crime, drugs and prostitution in Cuba. These are but a few of the progressive changes Castro implemented for the benefit of the Cuban people.

It would be nice if the President-elect and vice president-elect of the United States would lead struggles for the goals achieved already in Cuba.

Trump and Pence’s reactionary insults only underline the insensitivity of their leadership style.

These insults come from a savage politician who has made fun of disabled people. We must remember that these insults come from a man who has disrespected women and publicly made fun of them by making reference to women bleeding. We must remember that these insults come from a man who has called women “fat pigs.” We must remember that these insults come from a man who has the full support of the KKK as well as neo-Nazis in the USA and Nazis in Greece. We must remember that these insults come from a man who has insulted and lied about the hard-working immigrants in this country. We must remember that these insults come from a world-class swindler who will soon become the leader of the USA.

Working people must unite and fight to resist this negative influence on the consciousness of people in the USA. The destiny of humanity depends on it.