1.      Barack Obama (President of The United States of America)

On one occasion, Barack Obama once admitted that he had a smoking habit and smoked 7 to 8 cigarettes a day. His smoking habit was sharply highlighted when he was running for president. He is reported to stop smoking and he is now a non smoker.

2.      Soekarno (the first President of Indonesia)

In many of his diplomatic activities with world leaders, he was often seen enjoying his cigar. He was a smoker, and at present, the country he used to lead becomes one of smokers’ heavens with the death rate of more than 400,000 cases per year.

3.      Kim Jong-il (North Korea)

He used to be North Korean leader who died of stroke, diabetes and coronary disease in 2011. He passed away at the age of 69. During his life, he was known to be a heavy smoker and attempted to give up smoking in 2007.

4.      Joseph Stalin (Soviet Union)

This world figure was also well-known as a chained smoker. He headed Soviet Union till 1953. He died of coronary disease. In 1952 he tried to quit smoking but came to no avail.

5.      Fidel Castro (Cuba)

As of today, Cuba has been famous for her best cigar production. However, Fidel Castro, President of Cuba, had to give up smoking cigars in 1985 for health reasons.

6.      Mao Zedong (China)

In the past, China was headed by a heavy smoker, Mao Zedong and now has a significant number of smokers reaching 25% of China’s total population. The death rate due to smoking reaches 1 million cases per year.

Source: DetikHealth (translated with some modifications)

This isn’t news, this guy has been saying nutty things for years. The difference is, this time, he angered his team’s fan base.

It has been a few days now, and it seems that the uproar over comments regarding Fidel Castro which were made public in a Time Magazine article has begun to die down. He has apologized, and been served a 5 game suspension. We will have to see whether that pound of flesh will prove sufficient. Some are still calling for him to be fired by the Miami Marlins.

In a nutshell, Ozzie said that he loved Fidel Castro. He went on to say that he admired him since people have been trying to kill him for years, but he is still around.

Fidel Castro becomes the leader of Cuba as a result of the Cuban Revolution (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

It is unclear what Ozzie’s feelings are regarding Castro’s wardrobe choices.

Can we just be honest here a moment about his comments? Is this really that big a deal? The whole thing has been blown way out of proportion. Any rational person can look at his comments and realize that it was a bit tongue-in-cheek. The comments were certainly ill-advised, and poorly worded, but the fact that his job has been placed on the line is a bit much.

Don’t misunderstand-I’m not pro Castro. I realize that he is this generation’s Hitler. I get it. The thing is Ozzie was clearly not saying that he loved or respected Castro’s politics or leadership style. It is clear that Guillen, who has been on the hot seat more than once, respected the fact that though many were trying to take Castro out, or get him out of power, yet he was able to persevere. Why wouldn’t Ozzie admire that? That toughness in and of itself is to be admired. In a vacuum, Fidel Castro should be admired for that. Of course, we don’t live in a vacuum, and Castro has caused much harm to many, many people, but let’s look at this a bit closer.

What if Guillen was saying he admires Castro? What then? Isn’t it more than a little hypocritical for Americans to be up in arms when someone says they admire someone we have allowed to remain in power? We know the atrocities there in Cuba. We see the affects of Castro’s regime. We witness the refugees risking their lives to escape his brutality. We see their desperation caused by this tyrant and yet we call the refugees the criminals labeling them “illegal immigrants”. If we simply allow him to continue in his evil ways, is that much different than admiring him? We can say we detest his actions, but why don’t we do anything about it? Aren’t we culpable in the least? If Cuba was oil rich, would we be as complacent?

Similar to many righteous ovrthrowing of regins before theirs they always ends up in similar fashion in time. When Bastiste was president of Cuba during the fifties and allegedly taking payment, from the mobsters that made his country their home away , from America. Many probably thought highly of him. Although, many people was suffering under this leader too.

Sure, it seems Guillen picks controversial people to admire in his eyes. But, what bothers us probably doesn’tbother him. Notice, the many wealthy supporters, of the Nazis, under that little dictator.

“The Marlins announced today the suspension of manager Ozzie Guillen for five games and will be applied immediately. The Marlins recognize the seriousness of the comments attributed to Guillen. Pain and suffering caused by Fidel Castro can not be minimized, especially in a community full victims of the dictatorship, “said the statement of the entire state of Florida.

“The last days have been quite difficult. Only God and my family know what we went through. What I meant was how a person who has hurt so many years is still” Guillen said at a news conference. “Still I’m sorry for everything and I apologize. Why I’m here.”

Guillen added that Hugo Chavez is “doing the same damage in Venezuela Fidel in Cuba. I’d rather be dead than vote for Chavez. Capriles have to vote for it is the only competition that will make you” topped the World Series champion in 2005 . “Today is the last time you talk about politics,” he said.

The strategist warned that the last thing that matters right now is its suspension with the Marlins. “What I want is to fix this with the community first.”

Guillen, speaking in the Marlins’ dugout earlier than immediately’s game at Philadelphia, mentioned he plans to fly again to Miami tomorrow morning to face the media and public.

He says he feels “responsible” and “embarrassed” and wants to address questions personally after sparking controversy along with his remarks to Time magazine.

“I need to make all the things clear what’s going on. Then individuals can see me and know what I believe,” Guillen said. “I feel it’s the right factor so people can see my eyes.”
“I need to get the factor over with. I instructed the Marlins I need to fly (again) as soon as I can, and tomorrow’s a day off. I don’t want to (discuss it) in Philadelphia.”
“I need to be in Miami and clear all the things up.”
“I need them to know I am towards the whole lot 100% – I’ll repeat it again – the best way this man (has been) treating people for the final 60 years.”
“I need the folks there. Whoever feels about it, ask me any questions. I would like you to ask what you ask, because I feel unhealthy? Yes. I feel embarrassed? Yes.”
It remains to be seen if that may assuage the masses. A Cuban-American advocacy group in Miami, Vigilia Mambisa, has already called for him to be fired.
Guillen told Time final week that he admires and respects Fidel Castro for staying in power so long. He then stated he felt sick over the feedback in print.
He was self-conscious enough to appreciate the response he’d get.
“No, not really. I talked to the media already in Cincinnati about it, and I expected this was going to occur,” he stated when asked if he was surprised.
“I feel badly, because I don’t wish to say (it was taken) out of context. I feel it was kind of an inexpensive shot. However I’ve bought to face it,” Guillen told reporters.
“Like I stated, I feel sad and (for) a couple days, I feel sick to my stomach, not because of what I did. Simply because I know I harm a lot of people.”
The Marlins issued a press release clarifying that they haven’t any respect for Castro, “a brutal dictator who has brought on unthinkable ache for greater than 50 years.”

“The Israeli government has openly declared his intention to attack Iran Uranium mill. The U.S. government has investedhundreds of millions of dollars in bomb-making for that purpose, “he wrote.

“I’m worried and I do not harbor the slightest doubt the UnitedStates will make the biggest mistake in the history of the world”,said the leader of the Cuban revolution.

85 year-old politician said Washington should think twice if you want to attack Iran. Iran has armed with weapons of the famousreligious principles and a strong tradition that is always ready for war, and of course it can be a powerful tradition of crippling the U.S. without having to get out of bullets and guns are superexpensive.

In the article Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz was also defendingTehran’s nuclear energy program. Castro believes Iran has anuclear weapons from Tehran over its proprietary technology toenrich uranium is not equal to producing nuclear weapons. Castroalso criticized the West’s nuclear double standard, namely thatIsrael has nuclear weapons with the help and coordination of the United States.

As President Raúl Castro watched from the front row, Benedict focused on the need for Christian love in a country that has been under dictatorship for 50 years and until recently was officially atheist.

He referred to a biblical account of how children persecuted by the Babylonian king preferred to face death by fire rather than betray their faith.

“Cuba and the world need change, but this will occur only if each one is in a position to seek the truth and chooses the way of love, sowing reconciliation and fraternity,” he said.

Benedict said people find freedom when they seek the truth Christianity offers, but the pursuit of truth must be voluntary. “There are those who wrongly interpret this search for the truth, leading them to irrationality and fanaticism. They close themselves up in ‘their truth’ and try to impose it on others,” the pope said from the altar in front of an image of Cuba’s revolutionary hero Ernesto “Che” Guevara, a Marxist who oversaw the execution of scores of political opponents of leader Fidel Castro.

The retired Cuban leader — a onetime altar boy who was educated by Jesuit priests — met with the pope for 30 minutes after Wednesday’s Mass.

Fidel Castro essentially interviewed Benedict, asking him about the changes in church teachings since he was a child, what it’s like to be a pope and the challenges facing humanity, said the Rev. Federico Lombardi, spokesman for the Vatican. Benedict raised issues such as the role of freedom and liberty, Lombardi said.

The meeting began with some jokes about their ages. Fidel Castro is 85, and Benedict will reach that milestone next month. “Yes, I’m old, but I can still do my job,” the pope said, according to Lombardi.

The U.S. State Department said it asked the pope to ask Cuban officials about the case of U.S. contractor Alan Gross, who is serving a 15-year prison sentence for helping Cubans obtain Internet access. The Vatican said the pope made a “humanitarian request” of Raúl Castro but did not say whether specific cases of political prisoners were discussed.

Benedict began his trip Friday in Mexico. He arrived in Cuba on Monday and left Wednesday afternoon to return to Italy.

At the morning’s Mass, banners large and small filled the plaza, and many people took shade under umbrellas as announcers shouted, “Viva Cuba! Viva el Papa!”

“It’s a privilege for this country. We Catholics feel very honored,” said Maira Bisciedo, 60, who, along with three friends, wore white Pope Benedict XVI T-shirts and caps. “I hope there’ll be changes after this visit.”

Antonio Juan, a doctor, said Fidel Castro’s hostility toward the church is in the past, but it is not up to Catholics to change Cuba for the better. “It can’t depend on the pope whether things change more after this,” he said.

He said the Cuban people need improvements, such as in medical care. “We don’t have everything we need in the hospital,” Juan said. “We work but with great difficulty. There’s a lot of things we can’t get hold of because we don’t have resources.”

“The pope is something big for Cubans,” said Carlos Herrera, a tourism worker who came to the plaza with his wife. “I come to hear his words, wise words for the Cuban people. That helps us. It gives us peace, it gives us unity.”

Some Cubans said they were told to attend by their employers. The country is accustomed to organizing mass events, usually meant to show support for Fidel Castro.

The Vatican said the Plaza of the Revolution holds 600,000 people. It appeared nearly full.

Oswaldo Payá, a Nobel Peace Prize-nominated activist and a Catholic, said many of his fellow activists who work for human rights and democracy were prevented from attending the Mass.

“The government repressed the arrival at the Mass of them,” he said. “I’m sad about that.”

Payá and other members of the Christian Liberation Movement founded the Varela Project, which collected more than 10,000 signatures from Cubans calling for a national referendum on political and economic change.

During the Mass, a man in the crowd shouted, “Pope, don’t leave until communism falls!” He was led away by men in plainclothes. The incident was similar to another during the pope’s Mass in Santiago on Monday, when a man shouted anti-government slogans before being beaten and hustled away.

“The state controls everything. The pope’s right. We need more independence,” said Jorge Rodríguez, 44, a hospital worker who was eating ice cream in central Havana. Rodríguez said religious freedom opened up a bit after a visit from Pope John Paul II in 1998, but not the economy. “People can own a private bed and breakfast, but the state controls it. I don’t think the visit will change anything,” he said.

Margarita Florez, 32, was selling hot dogs in central Havana and said the pope wasn’t speaking about Cuba in his homily. “He was talking about the entire world needing to find its freedom. I feel free here. I can do what I like. I can walk around at 3 a.m. In other countries, I’d be killed,” she said.

Raul Velascu, 52, who was selling sweets in the street, said the problem with Cuba is the economy. “We have great difficulties with the economy, but education, health is good.”

Official language: Spanish

Land area: 42,427 sq mi/109,886 sq km

Population:  11,265,000

Dominant religion:  Christianity

Capital:  Havana

Current leader:  President Raul Castro

Cuba is an island country located in the Caribbean Sea, at the mouth of the Gulf of Mexico. It is about 90 miles (145 kilometers) south of Key West, Florida. It consists of one large main island and some 1,700 smaller offshore islands, most of them uninhabited. Cuba’s main island is the largest island in the Caribbean Sea. For more than 50 years it has had the distinction of being the only communist-ruled country in the Western Hemisphere.

 Almost all Cubans are of either mixed Spanish and Native American ancestry or African and Spanish ancestry. Some are a mixture of all three. About 99 percent of the population lives on the main island. Most Cubans are Roman Catholics although the government tries to keep a lid on religion, fearing that it could undermine the government’s authority.

 Cuba is the world’s leading sugar cane exporter. Other major crops are bananas, oranges, mangoes and tobacco. Cuba is known worldwide for its high-quality cigars.

 Despite being a very poor country, due in part of the strict U.S. embargo, in many ways, Cubans enjoy relatively comfortable standard of living. It has one of the world’s high literacy rates. Education is free and schools are plentiful. Health care is also free and its health care system is considered to be one of the best in the world.

 Except for a brief spell from 1762 to 1763, when it was seized by the British, Cuba was a Spanish colony from the early-1500’s to 1898, when it was acquired by the United States from Spain following the Spanish-American War. The U.S. granted the country independence in 1902.

 During the 1930’s and 1940’s Cuba flourished as Latin America’s main center of culture and arts and was a top destination for the wealthy. However, this also helped create a frighteningly large gap between the rich and poor, the later becoming increasingly resentful. Rebels, led by Fidel Castro, who was aided by Che Guevara, drove then-dictator Fulgencio Batista y Zaldivar from power. Castro assumed leadership and began slowly dismantling individual freedoms and taking complete control of the economy. Relations with U.S. deteriorated and Castro sought closer ties with the Soviet Union.

 In 1962, Cuban became ground zero for the most fearful moment during the Cold War when he allowed the Soviets to station nuclear-tipped guided missiles in the country. U.S. President John F. Kennedy ordered an immediate naval blockade of the country to stop the movement of Soviet missile. For thirteen harrowing days the world stood on the brink of the long-feared war between the world’s two most powerful countries. After feverish talks, the Soviet Union backed down from its decision to place the missiles in Cuba.

Image via Wikipedia

In Cuba, at the age of 88 years died Angel Castro, the elder sister leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro and his brother Raul, Reuters reported, citing the statement of another sister of the Castro brothers – Juanita, who left Cuba in 1966. Official confirmation of this information by the authorities of Cuba have been reported.

According to Juanita Castro, who lives in Miami, Angela Maria died after a long illness in hospital.

Angel Castro was the eldest of seven brothers and sisters, and Castro have never traveled outside of Cuba. She has also never held high office in the government of Cuba, which was headed by her brothers.

85-year-old Fidel Castro has ruled Cuba 49 years, until in 2008 is not handed over power to Raul, who has turned 80.

Image via Wikipedia

Castro returned to Cuba the next year with a band of guerrilla fighters (soldiers who specialize in small, hit-and-run raids). A party of 80 landed in Oriente Province. All but 12 were killed or captured. Those who were left hid in the Sierra Maestre Mountains, and from this small number Castro’s forces grew to several thousand. They began winning important victories over Batista’s forces. Castro occupied Havana on New Year’s Day of 1959, Batista fled, and Castro was named prime minister.

Castro seized property owned by wealthy Cubans, Americans, and others. He favored the lower classes and made Cuba a Communist state. Though reliant on Soviet aid, Castro maintained his independence. He improved Cuba’s health, housing and education facilities but did not solve its economic problems. With the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the island’s economic problems worsened.