Ozzie Loves Fidel

"I love Fidel Castro. I respect Fidel Castro. You know why? A lot of people have wanted to kill Fidel Castro for the last 60 years, but that son of a bitch is still there." - Ozzie Guillen

"Shame on you Ozzie!"

So let me get this straight. We have a man who, admittedly might be slightly crazy and is most definitely brash (but oh so fun), who says he respects Castro because the man just won't die even though everyone has been trying to kill him, and people freak out over it?

Even though this is the second time he's brought up his respect for Castro in this sense, even when he said he doesn't agree with Castro's politics?

Even though he is the same guy who eviscerated Sean Penn for getting cozy with and defending Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez because of all the horrible policies he's brought upon Ozzie's home country?

For starters, people are taking his "I love Fidel Castro" statement way out of context. I don't think you're going to be seeing Ozzie doing photo ops with Fidel. I don't even think Ozzie probably likes Fidel as a person.

I look at it the same way I hold disdain for Teddy Roosevelt's economic policies and imperial aspirations that set the foundation for our current political class, but admiring the fact that he was total bad ass. He got things done.

Walk quietly and carry a big stick? You're not going to mess with a man like that.

In fact, Teddy and Fidel really aren't that different. The irony that Teddy is so beloved but Fidel is eviscerated is quite hilarious.

All this proves is 1) people are too stupid or too ignorant to understand what Ozzie is saying (this can also be attributed to so many other subjects such as Hoodies, Trayvon, and Geraldo), and therefore get immediately insulted over something that isn't even important, and 2) local Miami politicians will not hesitate to jump at the chance to get cheap political points thanks to that same public's stupidity/ignorance. That part is rather sickening.

If I was Ozzie, I would've gone to the podium and said the following: "I'm sorry my words were taken out of context. I do not agree or respect Fidel's politics or policies. They have been devastating for Cuba, just as Chavez's have been for my home country of Venezuela. I was just admiring the fact that the man is still alive and in power after all these years."

Then he should've gone to town on the local Miami politicians taking advantage of the public on this subject.

This suspension is pathetic. The Marlins is an organization that has built itself off lying to and fleecing the Miami public for tax payer dollars going on two decades now. They really have no moral leg to stand on when it comes to the comments made by Guillen.

But what is more troubling is the outrage. People, whether American or Cuban or whatever, need to stop getting so offended for very mild comments. They need to stop jumping immediately to the worst possible conclusion. They need to start trying to understand the context in which words are said. When all of this is done, maybe we'll live in a world where we don't hate each other so much. A world where politicians can't garner more power and support by taking advantage of us. I would love to see that day.

Sadly, it doesn't look like we're getting any closer to it.

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