"The Left" in Latin America and the former Soviet Union

[GeminiProgressive]

We have been reading a lot lately about Bush's speech to the UN slamming Cuba for human right violations. While it is true that Cuba is far from perfect we are not anyone who should be lecturing them, in my opinion. Cuba is seen by most of the world as a much more positive force than the US. they have inspired the rest of Latin America to elect left wing and socialist governments and they helped bring down Apartheid in South Africa.

I have also noticed that what some would call "the left" in the former Soviet states is making a comeback. In Moldova the communists have been re-elected, and in this years elections in Russia the Communists came in very strong..winning many elections and coming in second in others. Now they are poised for a comeback in the Ukraine as well. I strongly oppose the former Soviet Union's repression of civil liberties and corruption but is there anyone on this board that comes fromt hese Eastern countries or has friends/family there? Did the people in Eastern Europe really want the crony capitalist system that has been foisted on them or were they naive enough to think that the West would allow them to have some form of democratic socialism? I have always heard negative stories about the communists in the media and in my classes but it seems as though they always perform very well in the elections in these countries. Why is this?

[LakeSamish706]

1. Not only was it Cuba, but he also had something to say about..

Myanmar... Geez, if that ain't the kettle calling the pot black, I don't know what is!