39 Comments

• seanomelb | Jul 09, 2012, 07:34 PM EDT

  Post failed to appear..Deano your inability to condemn a jailed right wing fascist dictator who stole children is disconcerting to say the least.If you are annoyed it may be because you cannot bring yourself to condemn Bignone as you may then have to condemn other South American pro USA fascist dictators.Or is this just a bridge to far for your right wing views.

• seanomelb | Jul 09, 2012, 12:28 AM EDT

  Was that not Che's middle name.Deano!Very disappointing for a Christian not to condemn the child stealing general. What are you a Christian in name only,but not to worry this atheist will condemn the general in your stead.

• seanomelb | Jul 08, 2012, 07:07 PM EDT

  Therefore Deano you support the child stealing of General Bignone or the murders of the Contras.You're a lovely human being Hitler would be proud of you.

• pilib04 | Jul 08, 2012, 02:11 PM EDT

  DeanJackson, you are repeating the same old LIE! You can't vote in Communism in America. You can't even vote in Socialism in America. Every time it was attempted we has another RED SCARE. Democracy was trampled on during WWI. Socialist leader Eugene V. Debs won over a million votes in the 1916 election and he was put in prison for his vocal opposition to WWI. In 1919, crypto-fascist, J Edgar Hoover exiled 900 socialists, Anarchists and bolsheviks to Russia. No care was given to their "democratic rights!" Emma Goldman, the most famous of all American radicals was shipped off without so much as a how do you do! The McCarthy period revived the Red Scare and destroyed tens of thousands of lives based on lies and perjury. Don't you dare try to say that Communism or Socialism can be brought to power in the USA. That is a bald-faced lie! Even your American history books backs me up on this one.

• seanomelb | Jul 07, 2012, 09:12 PM EDT

  Deano you forget Che was fighting fascist dictatorships in south and central America, therefore you accept right wing dictatorships who murder any one who protested.I suppose dictators like General Bignone(Argentina) who murdered protesters and gave their babies to his childless friends!! but you are OK with that as you are a right wing apologist.

• Stiofain | Jul 07, 2012, 12:40 PM EDT

  DeanJackson: Economics move and grow like a living being. Tribal/Clan to monarchy,monarchy to feudalism, feudalism to capatalism,capatilism to -?-(socialism?.)While Adam Smith had a great idea(capitalism)in the 18th century we are again moving. Despots will always take advantage of new systems (robber barons on capitalism, Stalin communism). But for now we a talking socialism...slippery road to communism...maybe. But, capitalism is a dying system, unless we become an oligarchy(GOP),even then its doomed. Che, was a mass murderer. If he hadn't done what he did ,the executions would have been far worse. He put the mantel of authourity/law/discipline on the atrocity, by so doing stopping an anarchic rampage, riots of revenge and retribution.(seanomelb,before you say it.Yes,I know I am an idiot!)

• jamthecat | Jul 07, 2012, 12:03 PM EDT

  Ilena's too busy setting up her own brand of dictatorship to care about the rights of others. "Do what I tell you," is her attitude, "and I don't care if your disagree; you're wrong and I'll make you wish you'd done what I demanded." Sieg heil, lady, and small wonder you so despise Che; he's your mirror image.

• eiriamach | Jul 07, 2012, 09:09 AM EDT

  It would be laughable if it were not so ironic! Ileana wants people "to stand up for the rights, liberty, and basic dignity which Che took from them” while she trashes the great American tradition of freedom of expression that still draws immigrants to the US from places like Cuba.

• DrTrelawney | Jul 07, 2012, 07:50 AM EDT

  Does this idiot not realise that her statements are totally counterproductive? I was, to this point, unmoved about the statue, but, since this twit has begun sticking her nose in our business, I have become convinced that, just to spite the old hag, we should sling it up as soon as possible. It's nothing to do with you. Mind your own bloody business.

• Stiofain | Jul 06, 2012, 09:00 PM EDT

  pilib04: You got right on all three comments.sirpeter and seanomelb, too!

• pilib04 | Jul 06, 2012, 08:37 PM EDT

  DaleVM, you have heard of James Connolly our great Socialist leader and founder of the first Red Army (Irish Citizen Army)? Are you really sure you want to go there. If so, I can tell you the history of the Limerick Soviets.

• pilib04 | Jul 06, 2012, 08:34 PM EDT

  Is it just me or is this story devoid of any new quotes. It seems to be a rehash of existing stories. Was it a slow news day at IrishCentral?

• pilib04 | Jul 06, 2012, 08:33 PM EDT

  Will someone shut this woman up, please. What Galway does is none of her concern. She doesn't like Ireland anyway.

• sirpeter | Jul 06, 2012, 07:52 PM EDT

  So he had the values of an all American marine Boy then.So Cuba gave America a kick in the nuts.It was only a small kick in the ass.He is a bit of an Icon.Anybody who stands up to the US military and all their dirty black ops is good enough for me.Rights,liberty,and basic dignity.Half of Americans don't even have those.Chairman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen he has Irish blood and he represents resistance.Sorry but we gotta have him.Besides America is getting more fascist by the day.Someone ought to do something about that before ye get us all killed.

• seanomelb | Jul 06, 2012, 06:39 PM EDT

  Mind your own business Lehtinen you represent a party of murderers,Cheney,Rumsfeld Ollie North and a myriad of fascists.

• aloistmartin | Jul 06, 2012, 05:53 PM EDT

  Celebrity Booby, Sectarian Politics, Cabinet Ministers, Years of Plenty and Years of Famine, Come and Go; But an Ideal, can be the envy, of Time Itself !

• Fearbruscar | Jul 06, 2012, 03:09 PM EDT

  Gerry McLoughlin was a great rugby player but he is the idiot mayor of Limerick. Just consider the fact that the Irish government spends loads of taxpayer money on the "new people" in Ireland. They are given, the dole, money for a car,mobile phone, free housing, entertainment money and myriad other things. The poor out of work Paddy gets the dole . . .that's it. So putting up multilingual street signs is consistent with government largesse, as is erecting a statue to another foreigner while the Irish people go hungry. Just get on the phone to Angela Merkel and ask for more money!

• WoundedKnee | Jul 06, 2012, 03:01 PM EDT

  This little vignette puts a spotlight on the problem faced by progressives such as myself in the forthcoming election. Obama has let us down badly, both at home and overseas. I will never vote for him. But this woman gives us an indication of the kind of people who will be running the country if Romney were to be elected. I've even heard that the quite crazy John Bolton could be named Secretary of State. We thought we had kicked out the neo-cons, but they'll be back in force if Romney is President.

• WoundedKnee | Jul 06, 2012, 02:54 PM EDT

  I'd be far likelier to visit Galway, Che statue or no, than to go to Limerick if the imbecilic mayor of that city goes ahead with his plan to put up street signs in Yoruba, Swahili, Polish, latvian etc.

• Stiofain | Jul 06, 2012, 02:47 PM EDT

  Rep Ros-Lehtinen should stick to what she and GOP do best suppress the voting rights of Americans!

• seanfer7 | Jul 06, 2012, 02:09 PM EDT

  America thinks it can tell the world what is acceptable

• Fearbruscar | Jul 06, 2012, 01:57 PM EDT

  Look, it is your city and of course you have the right to erect a monument to anyone you like. The thing is that you may well offend many who enjoy visiting Galway. Here in NYC we have gone out of our way to make Irish people feel at home. Over the centuries we have provided jobs, apartments, friendship and security for countless Irish expatriates. So now you spew hatred at us when one of our politicians tries to give you a "heads-up." Cad iad grúpa daoine beag olc libh go léir! So go ahead, build a statue of the murdering Dr.Guevara or Dr. Mengele or Oliver Cromwell or anyone else you like. Just have the courage of your convictions and ask Bord Failte to include the Ché Guevara monument in all of the American travel brochures!

• durtymurphy | Jul 06, 2012, 01:32 PM EDT

  Watch out for Drones over Galway.

• NickOHara | Jul 06, 2012, 01:19 PM EDT

  It is really way too arm in Florida. Unbelievably hot. Let us forgive US Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen for going nuts over something that is none of his business. Let us all be equally thankful that he is not demanding, instead, a monument to Oliver Cromwell, the "stalwart protector" of the rapacious empire.

• jflanagan | Jul 06, 2012, 12:47 PM EDT

  http://www.collegiatetimes.com/stories/10820/column-che-guevara-exposing-myths-about-a-murderer Ireland has a lot of courageous people they can honor without honoring someone like this. Who is next, Idi Amin Dada?

• Nicomax | Jul 06, 2012, 12:33 PM EDT

  Ros-Lehtinen would be more inclined to erect a statue of Bautisa in South Beach to remind her kind of all the goodies they got while the rest of Cuba starved.

• DaleVM | Jul 06, 2012, 11:56 AM EDT

  How can we turn this degenerate monument into a permanent pigeon roost?

• DaleVM | Jul 06, 2012, 11:49 AM EDT

  Erecting a statue to this communist monster? Any Irish patriot should smash this disgusting "tribute" to this mass murder! Wake Up From Your Slumber, O Emerald Isle!

• KevinKehoe | Jul 06, 2012, 11:29 AM EDT

  Go suck on an egg Ros-Lehtinen and keep your unwanted nose out of Irish affairs.

• biggles008 | Jul 06, 2012, 11:22 AM EDT

  FORGET THE STATUE AND GIVE THE MONEY TO THE POOR.

• Fergus Finn | Jul 06, 2012, 11:20 AM EDT

  Get your own house in order Ms Ros-Lehtinen before you start interfering in the affairs of the Irish people. "Che was bloodthirsty, power hungry, and a human rights violator who took pride in taking innocent life" Change Che to USA in the above quote Ms Ros-Lehtinen and you would be right. For your information Ms Ros-Lehtinen if the citizens of Galway wish to erect a statue to whoever, its there right to do so. So butt out and leave us to run our own affairs here in Ireland.

• Fergus Finn | Jul 06, 2012, 11:20 AM EDT

  Hey Yanks, Away on, and mind yer own fecken business.

• ciaradexy | Jul 06, 2012, 11:05 AM EDT

  Americans are waterboarding people all over the world and youre getting on your high horse about a statue that may or may not be put up in Ireland? Seriously America, get your priorities right!

• mlchellus | Jul 06, 2012, 10:53 AM EDT

  Purely daft to erect the statue......Does anyone study history?...Does anyone know what this man did?..Supported? Get back with your conclusions........and you will NOT be supporting a statue to him. Supporters can raise money in his name and help a poor family pay their mortgage.

• ChrisVogel | Jul 06, 2012, 10:47 AM EDT

  Do you suppose this dingbat is referring to all the murder and mayhem that the United States inflicted on poor little Cuba, after they had overthrown the Dictator (Batista) that the United States had kept in power there for decades? He inflicted a lot of murder and mayhem, too, thanks to the likes of Ros-Lehtinen.

• Betterworld | Jul 06, 2012, 10:38 AM EDT

  Unfortunately michaelcollins, she is for real. I know its hard to believe but this muppet is actually in charge of the US Congerss' Foreign Relations Committee! Thats like putting Jackie Healy-Rey in charge of buying fine art for the national gallery, or Peter Robinson in charge of the investigation into the Bloody Sunday murders. Bulls and china shops apply. (Oh and her daddy had to leave his well paid job as a henchman for the Batista mob when Castro came to power - mustn't have got his rightful share of the 400million USD that Batista robbed from the central bank on his way to Miami. Its the money, stupid, its always the money).

• TheOldPerfessor | Jul 06, 2012, 10:25 AM EDT

  Maybe if I talk real slow and use small words, powerful Republican Ileana Ros-Lehtinen can get this - Ireland is a sovereign nation and they can do what they want. If she is still confused, she can look it up in Wikipedia.

• michaelcollins | Jul 06, 2012, 10:10 AM EDT

  is this muppet for real or what????? human rights???? what does america know about human rights when it come to illegal wars and guantanamo bay and water boarding people

• Portia777 | Jul 06, 2012, 09:49 AM EDT

  There is no sugar coating either re Paddy the Patriarch being a slave trader and murderer- no one objects to statues of him, so why this man?