There are themes throughout history that appear in various different places and in very different timeframes. Comparing the similarities and differences between ideological shifts that took place worlds away is essential to understanding the world we live in. In Fidel Castro’s An Interview with Dan Rather, Maximillian Robespierre’s Revolutionary Speech, and Charles de Gaulle’s Comments on Algeria one can examine the similarities and differences in ideological shifts. Each differed in the transition of their political beliefs and the ethnic background of their movements while remaining strikingly similar in their desire for political sovereignty and economic equality.
Like most colonies in the Americas, Cuba had a turbulent past that included …show more content…
Castro’s concerns were with the people of Latin America. In the interview he not only identified as Cuban but also as Latin American. He sympathized with the people of other Latin nations. He supported their rebellions and wished the same for all people living under repressive Latin American regimes (Castro). As people with a common identity he wanted freedom from oppression for all. Robespierre and the French revolution had a different background. His inclusion of liberty was for all men not just those of French birth. Liberty was indiscriminate and applied to all people and it was the goal of the revolution to ensure that (Robespierre). There was no distinctive ethnic background to gather people together as in the cases of Cuba and Algeria. The people of Algeria rallied around their African cultural background. They celebrated their heritage and used it to unify themselves as a nation. This inclusive celebration was too powerful to be ignored by the French. De Gaulle recognized their unity and said that they have a right to self-determination and to be the masters of their own fate (de Gaulle). It was not the place of people with no identity to a nation to run it like it was their …show more content…
Castro rose to power by promising rent ceilings and nationalized businesses (McKay 980). He wanted a command economy that would guarantee prosperity for all of Cuba. In his interview he spoke on how the blockade and the anti-Cuban policies of the United Stated hindered that economic freedom (Castro). In his mind the United Sates was oppressive and obstructed his goal of bringing economic equality to his people. Similarly, Robespierre argued that commerce should be a source of public wealth and not “the monstrous opulence of some few houses” (Robespierre). Economic inequality was one of the main factors of the French revolution and Robespierre envisioned a republican France where the mass disparity in wealth did not exist. Just Castro and Robespierre, de Gaulle mentioned economic freed for Algeria. France’s control of Algeria was for mainly economic purposes. In Algeria there existed large economic differences between the Europeans and the Africans living in country. This inequality drove the National Liberation front to fight for independence from France. De Gaulle touched on this saying that France reaped the economic benefits of Algeria and, while drastically building the countries industry, offered little to the people (de Gaulle). De Gaulle wanted to give the people the power to create a system where Algeria could potentially ease economic inequality. He went so far as to offering France’s resources to
Like most colonies in the Americas, Cuba had a turbulent past that included …show more content…
Castro’s concerns were with the people of Latin America. In the interview he not only identified as Cuban but also as Latin American. He sympathized with the people of other Latin nations. He supported their rebellions and wished the same for all people living under repressive Latin American regimes (Castro). As people with a common identity he wanted freedom from oppression for all. Robespierre and the French revolution had a different background. His inclusion of liberty was for all men not just those of French birth. Liberty was indiscriminate and applied to all people and it was the goal of the revolution to ensure that (Robespierre). There was no distinctive ethnic background to gather people together as in the cases of Cuba and Algeria. The people of Algeria rallied around their African cultural background. They celebrated their heritage and used it to unify themselves as a nation. This inclusive celebration was too powerful to be ignored by the French. De Gaulle recognized their unity and said that they have a right to self-determination and to be the masters of their own fate (de Gaulle). It was not the place of people with no identity to a nation to run it like it was their …show more content…
Castro rose to power by promising rent ceilings and nationalized businesses (McKay 980). He wanted a command economy that would guarantee prosperity for all of Cuba. In his interview he spoke on how the blockade and the anti-Cuban policies of the United Stated hindered that economic freedom (Castro). In his mind the United Sates was oppressive and obstructed his goal of bringing economic equality to his people. Similarly, Robespierre argued that commerce should be a source of public wealth and not “the monstrous opulence of some few houses” (Robespierre). Economic inequality was one of the main factors of the French revolution and Robespierre envisioned a republican France where the mass disparity in wealth did not exist. Just Castro and Robespierre, de Gaulle mentioned economic freed for Algeria. France’s control of Algeria was for mainly economic purposes. In Algeria there existed large economic differences between the Europeans and the Africans living in country. This inequality drove the National Liberation front to fight for independence from France. De Gaulle touched on this saying that France reaped the economic benefits of Algeria and, while drastically building the countries industry, offered little to the people (de Gaulle). De Gaulle wanted to give the people the power to create a system where Algeria could potentially ease economic inequality. He went so far as to offering France’s resources to