Many, many years ago, having come to the United States after the Communists took over Cuba, as a young man I would go to small events where American intellectuals would declare that China’s Cultural Revolution, or Castro’s takeover of Cuba were wonderful. Being naive (embarrassingly so), I actually thought their salivating admiration was due to ignorance of what Communism really was. But what is so striking now, as it was many years ago for me, was how deep their lack of self-awareness runs. So, I would present them with facts about the censorship, indoctrination, and political repression. Nothing made any impression on them. Facts, logic, reasoning slid off their faces like they were coated with Teflon. Even more bizarre, they, who were Americans and not Cubans, and who had no knowledge of Cuban history, culture, or geography, and did not speak one word of Spanish, were arguing with me, who was Cuban. They believed they were speaking on behalf of the Cuban people. The same pattern is being presently replayed regarding the recent events in Venezuela. That country was the richest country in South America because of its vast oil deposits. After Hugo Chavez and Nicolas Maduro incrementally implemented Communism, the economy became moribund and censorship and repression became permanent. Criminal gangs loyal to the regime further terrorized the citizenry, and hunger was widespread. As happened before with other Communist regimes, millions fled the country. Like Cuba. Last year, Maduro was also about to invade neighboring Guyana — it too, has vast oil deposits — but Trump warned Maduro against doing so and the dictator backed down. Maduro’s regime also became involved in narcotrafficking, and forming close ties with America’s enemies. Now that Trump removed Maduro from power, Venezuelans worldwide have become delirious with happiness, celebrating like it was New Year’s Day in 2020. You can see images of these celebrations in Spain, Chile, Florida, Argentina, Australia, Perú. Venezuelan Nobel Prize laureate, Maria Corina Machado publicly thanked Trump. Predictably, American liberals, including Democrat politicians, automatically became outraged and instantly formed demonstrations in San Antonio, New York, DC, Denver and Chicago with their premade signs demanding the dictator be returned to power, denigrating America, condemning Trump, and claiming that removing the dictator was really about taking over Venezuela’s oil. And, of course, their incurable parroting of slogans. Oh, and they also claimed to be representing the Venezuelan people. The fact that Venezuelans were thanking Trump and flying the American flag must have choked some American leftists. But what is so striking now, as it was many years ago for me, was how deep their lack of self-awareness runs. They don’t realize how ridiculous, how bizarre their support for a dictator is. It is very much like their shrieks in support for illegal immigrant felons facing deportation, and it speaks volumes about them. In all these many years, they have not changed. What has changed, though, is now we have Instagram and X, and Venezuelans are using these platforms to roast American supporters of the dictator. READ MORE from Armando Simón: The Nobel Peace Prize Hits Rock Bottom Reminder: Voter Fraud Needs Our Attention Trump’s 180-Degree Turn on Putin