Post by face it on Oct 21, 2004 18:56:41 GMT -5
*Liberal media is whining about their buddy Fidel Castro having an accident! It is time for someone else to rule the cigar capital of the world!!----------------------
Castro takes tumble, breaks
knee and arm
Cuban president stumbles on step leaving stage
The Associated Press
Updated: 3:02 p.m. ET Oct. 21, 2004
HAVANA - President Fidel Castro tripped and fell after leaving the stage at a graduation ceremony, breaking his left knee and fracturing his arm, Cuba's state-run television reported Thursday.
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A medical examination confirmed that Castro suffered a broken left knee cap and a hairline fracture in his upper right arm in Wednesday night's fall, said an official notice read early Thursday on state television. Castro asked that the note be made public, the statement said.
Castro’s off-camera tumble after a speech in the central city of Santa Clara was certain to launch a new round of speculation about the 78-year-old communist leader’s health after 45 years of rule.
Speaking live on state television less than a minute after his fall, Castro told television viewers across the island of 11.2 million people that he thought he had broken his knee “and maybe an arm ... but I am all in one piece.”
‘I can continue my work’
“I will do what is possible to recover as fast as possible, but as you can see I can still talk,” he said, sweating profusely into his olive green uniform as he sat in a folding chair. “Even if they put me in a cast, I can continue in my work.”
SPECIAL REPORTS
• Cuba bets heavily on tourism
• Cuban fans back Yankees' pitcher
• No lack of anger, frustration in Cuba
• Artist finds room in Castro's Cuba
• Trade chief issues warning to U.S. farmers
• Cuba barely blinks at U.S. debate
An Associated Press photographer at the scene said Castro tripped on a concrete step after he finished walking down the stairs from the stage, then fell onto the ground on his right side, first hitting his knee and hip, and then his elbow and arm.
He was immediately surrounded by scores of security agents and others who rushed to help him up.
Television viewers could not see what happened after Castro wrapped up the speech at a graduation ceremony for arts instructors, though several of his security men were shown running off to the side, evidently to assist him.
As he has grown older, Castro’s knees have seemed more wobbly, his step less steady. Nevertheless, he maintains a busy schedule that frequently includes all-night meetings with aides and visitors.
Castro’s health has long been closely watched — particularly by his political enemies in Miami, home to a large Cuban exile community.
A fainting spell in 2001
Such speculation was particularly fierce three years ago when he apparently fainted during a speech under a scorching summer sun before a crowd of thousands.
Jose Fuster, artist
Jose Fuster, artist
"The revolution will go on after Castro. If you ask me what is going to happen if there is no more revolution, it will be a total eclipse of the sun. What will happen when Castro dies, it will be a partial eclipse of the sun."
Vladimiro Roca, dissident
Vladimiro Roca, dissident
"For a political atmosphere to exist, there must be different parties, different choices to make. That’s not the Cuban situation."
Tubal Paez, head of the journalists' union
Tubal Paez, head of the journalists' union
"There is a baseball game and [Castro] is leading our team. Because we cannot win without him, why take the manager out."
Oscar Gonzalez, vice minister for tourism
Oscar Gonzalez, vice minister for tourism
"We have not reached a perfect society and it's difficult to do that in the present world. It doesn't mean that we will try to stop or hope for wishing for better conditions for people, to have more opportunities."
Osvaldo Paya, dissident
Osvaldo Paya, dissident
"[The government's political power] infiltrates and controls with fear and lies all the dimensions of life except the spirit. That cannot be submitted to [political power]; it is a source of liberation from that power."
Mayito, lead singer of rock band Van Van
Mayito, lead singer of rock band Van Van
"We musicians think we are part of a society that made us what we are. And if that means politics, then maybe that's part of the politics. But what we do is art, music. ...We want to make people dance and make them happy."
Lester Campa, artist
Lester Campa, artist
"I admire [Castro] as a man, his capacity, his abilities. He is a hero ...[But] his generation doesn't understand the changes we need. That generation can't change its ways. He is too old to change. But we have to change the economy, bring in privatization, improve public services."
Photos: Roberto Leon / NBC News • Print this
Many people in the crowd burst into tears after watching Cuba’s commander in chief start to collapse behind the podium several hours into that speech on June 23, 2001.
Castro returned minutes later to assure people in the audience — and millions more watching it live on television — that he was fine.
But the incident prompted many average Cubans to reflect for the first time on their leader’s mortality and the future of their country after he dies. Shortly after the 2001 incident, Castro confirmed that he views his younger brother, Raul, head of Cuba’s armed forces and No. 2 in the political hierarchy, as his successor.
Local coverage
• WTVJ-TV reports
The Wednesday night incident seemed far less serious.
Castro on Wednesday asked Cubans to forgive him for “any suffering this may have caused.”
Castro noted the presence of international photographers and television camera crews at the event.
“The international press has captured it and surely tomorrow it will be on the front pages of the newspapers,” said Castro.
He then encouraged those at the event to continue with their televised musical program, which they did.
© 2004 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
le’
Castro takes tumble, breaks
knee and arm
Cuban president stumbles on step leaving stage
The Associated Press
Updated: 3:02 p.m. ET Oct. 21, 2004
HAVANA - President Fidel Castro tripped and fell after leaving the stage at a graduation ceremony, breaking his left knee and fracturing his arm, Cuba's state-run television reported Thursday.
advertisement
A medical examination confirmed that Castro suffered a broken left knee cap and a hairline fracture in his upper right arm in Wednesday night's fall, said an official notice read early Thursday on state television. Castro asked that the note be made public, the statement said.
Castro’s off-camera tumble after a speech in the central city of Santa Clara was certain to launch a new round of speculation about the 78-year-old communist leader’s health after 45 years of rule.
Speaking live on state television less than a minute after his fall, Castro told television viewers across the island of 11.2 million people that he thought he had broken his knee “and maybe an arm ... but I am all in one piece.”
‘I can continue my work’
“I will do what is possible to recover as fast as possible, but as you can see I can still talk,” he said, sweating profusely into his olive green uniform as he sat in a folding chair. “Even if they put me in a cast, I can continue in my work.”
SPECIAL REPORTS
• Cuba bets heavily on tourism
• Cuban fans back Yankees' pitcher
• No lack of anger, frustration in Cuba
• Artist finds room in Castro's Cuba
• Trade chief issues warning to U.S. farmers
• Cuba barely blinks at U.S. debate
An Associated Press photographer at the scene said Castro tripped on a concrete step after he finished walking down the stairs from the stage, then fell onto the ground on his right side, first hitting his knee and hip, and then his elbow and arm.
He was immediately surrounded by scores of security agents and others who rushed to help him up.
Television viewers could not see what happened after Castro wrapped up the speech at a graduation ceremony for arts instructors, though several of his security men were shown running off to the side, evidently to assist him.
As he has grown older, Castro’s knees have seemed more wobbly, his step less steady. Nevertheless, he maintains a busy schedule that frequently includes all-night meetings with aides and visitors.
Castro’s health has long been closely watched — particularly by his political enemies in Miami, home to a large Cuban exile community.
A fainting spell in 2001
Such speculation was particularly fierce three years ago when he apparently fainted during a speech under a scorching summer sun before a crowd of thousands.
Jose Fuster, artist
Jose Fuster, artist
"The revolution will go on after Castro. If you ask me what is going to happen if there is no more revolution, it will be a total eclipse of the sun. What will happen when Castro dies, it will be a partial eclipse of the sun."
Vladimiro Roca, dissident
Vladimiro Roca, dissident
"For a political atmosphere to exist, there must be different parties, different choices to make. That’s not the Cuban situation."
Tubal Paez, head of the journalists' union
Tubal Paez, head of the journalists' union
"There is a baseball game and [Castro] is leading our team. Because we cannot win without him, why take the manager out."
Oscar Gonzalez, vice minister for tourism
Oscar Gonzalez, vice minister for tourism
"We have not reached a perfect society and it's difficult to do that in the present world. It doesn't mean that we will try to stop or hope for wishing for better conditions for people, to have more opportunities."
Osvaldo Paya, dissident
Osvaldo Paya, dissident
"[The government's political power] infiltrates and controls with fear and lies all the dimensions of life except the spirit. That cannot be submitted to [political power]; it is a source of liberation from that power."
Mayito, lead singer of rock band Van Van
Mayito, lead singer of rock band Van Van
"We musicians think we are part of a society that made us what we are. And if that means politics, then maybe that's part of the politics. But what we do is art, music. ...We want to make people dance and make them happy."
Lester Campa, artist
Lester Campa, artist
"I admire [Castro] as a man, his capacity, his abilities. He is a hero ...[But] his generation doesn't understand the changes we need. That generation can't change its ways. He is too old to change. But we have to change the economy, bring in privatization, improve public services."
Photos: Roberto Leon / NBC News • Print this
Many people in the crowd burst into tears after watching Cuba’s commander in chief start to collapse behind the podium several hours into that speech on June 23, 2001.
Castro returned minutes later to assure people in the audience — and millions more watching it live on television — that he was fine.
But the incident prompted many average Cubans to reflect for the first time on their leader’s mortality and the future of their country after he dies. Shortly after the 2001 incident, Castro confirmed that he views his younger brother, Raul, head of Cuba’s armed forces and No. 2 in the political hierarchy, as his successor.
Local coverage
• WTVJ-TV reports
The Wednesday night incident seemed far less serious.
Castro on Wednesday asked Cubans to forgive him for “any suffering this may have caused.”
Castro noted the presence of international photographers and television camera crews at the event.
“The international press has captured it and surely tomorrow it will be on the front pages of the newspapers,” said Castro.
He then encouraged those at the event to continue with their televised musical program, which they did.
© 2004 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
le’