Dear Editors,

With all do respect, I believe Mr. Padilla's comments on Suckling's article were spot-on sources based on his family's first-hand experiences under Castro (which I found fascinating). They were merely dismissed with a "Where's the love...?". This is seemingly very disrespectful due to Mr. Padilla and the myriads of other Cubans and Cuban refugees that have suffered due to the tyranny of the "revolution". Mr. Suckling lives the "good life" as a pompous "European" editor of a magazine that speaks less and less about cigars and more about toys of the rich. I appreciated his blogs on his visit to Cuba and usually the articles by Mr. Savona, Mott and Shanken - but I constantly get the feeling that Mr. Suckling idolizes the tyrannt Castro, which diminishes the plight of all those that suffer. Truly I ask him "Where's the love...?"

As I wrote to you before in my blog, Cigar Aficionado is not for you. Just go away. I have nothing but respect for Cubans, both on the island and abroad. And I have a deep understanding of their country's history and current situation. How stupid to say I idolize Fidel Castro. Moreover, how ridiculous to write that I speak less and less about cigars. I am sure you don't even smoke cigars. If you subscribe, I would be happy to refund your subscription personally. Or may be you would like a gift subscription to Parenting, or something along those lines...

This message has been edited. Last edited by: James Suckling,

Ooooh! Fight, fight!

James, your recent blogs have been great-- this from a dyed-in-the-wool-I-love-the-USA-capitalist with little use for Fidel Castro and and his ilk. But, temper, temper...

quote:

Originally posted by TomHagen:
Mr. Suckling lives the "good life" as a pompous "European" editor of a magazine that speaks less and less about cigars and more about toys of the rich.

I thought cigars were a big part of the good life. If you don't aspire to the good life, then Suckling's right -- why are you here? Cigar Aficionado is a lifestyle magazine, for crying out loud.

I don't know if Suckling's pompous or not because I've never met him but I don't find his writing pompous. If you're complaining that Cigar Aficionado doesn't contain enough cigar coverage, why would you complain about the guy who's done more writing (and blogging and posting) about the Cuban cigar industry than anyone else?

quote:

Originally posted by TomHagen:
Dear Editors,

With all [due] respect ... pompous "European" editor of a magazine...

Wtf? That's funny.

quote:

Originally posted by James Suckling:
As I wrote to you before in my blog, Cigar Aficionado is not for you. Just go away. ... Or may be you would like a gift subscription to Parenting, or something along those lines...

That's eveny more funny!

Keep up the good work, James.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: aphexafx,

To even suggest that James Suckling was being insensitive To Mr Padilla is ludicrious. I'm sure it had a different meaning then what you are taking it as.
James Suckling I'm sure knows more about the history of Cuba, cigars and of Mr Padilla's family history within Cuba than you will ever know.
I never thought I would be writing in defence of James Suckling but in his latest writings and blogs he has been bringing his A game.
Kudos also to Mr Padilla for sharing his feelings with us.
Intence situations call for intence writing.
It has been fascinating.

I hate stupid people who sign up to the forum just to say crap like that!
Next thing you know he'll be asking for Suckling's online Sources...

James if I told you that you are an idol to me would that make you feel any better? I am a English Lit./Journalism major.

James, have you ever considered a position in customer service or telemarketing? You have such a way with customers.

quote:

Originally posted by Coriolanus:
James, have you ever considered a position in customer service or telemarketing? You have such a way with customers.

Agreed. Telling a customer to take his business elsewhere just for having a criticism/opinion contrary to yours is just bad business. Just my opinion as a businessman, of course.

See though he verbally attacked Mr. Suckling as himself, not Mr. Suckling as the European Editor of CA. So therefore Mr. Suckling should respond professionally as an Editor, but strong as a person as well. Mr. Suckling did not reply incorrectly in my opinion.

Why did the original poster put European in quotes? James Suckling is the European editor, by using quotes it makes him sound like he's in the mafia or an undercover CIA agent. You know, like when Tony Soprano said he was in "waste management". Are you saying European is really a metaphor for something else? I don't get it .

Anyway, even if James did idolize Castro, which he obviously does not, I highly doubt he would speak publically about it in a blog considering he's in a business where he deals with people that were forced to leave Cuba by Castro. It would be career suicide if he did that.

I thought that was a classic response by Mr. Suckling and I came back here because I was hoping to hear the counter response. I just love how he complained location and didn't get the response he wanted, so he responded in another response and got a harsher response.

Mr. Suckling's reporting is ALWAYS on the mark! James, please keep it up. This is a very emotional issue to most, James provides excellent, unbiased reporting. I thank him.

quote:

Originally posted by jms2788:
Why did the original poster put European in quotes? James Suckling is the European editor, by using quotes it makes him sound like he's in the mafia or an undercover CIA agent. You know, like when Tony Soprano said he was in "waste management". Are you saying European is really a metaphor for something else? I don't get it .

Anyway, even if James did idolize Castro, which he obviously does not, I highly doubt he would speak publically about it in a blog considering he's in a business where he deals with people that were forced to leave Cuba by Castro. It would be career suicide if he did that.

If I recall correctly, Mr. Suckling is an American who is (was?) married to a European. So he lives in Europe but has an American passport (?)

I am not up on my Suckling biography, but I seem to recall him talking about this somewhere.

He can call himself Mercurian Editor for all I care (he certainly is mercurial *groan*).

quote:

Originally posted by The Peacemaker:

quote:

Originally posted by Coriolanus:
James, have you ever considered a position in customer service or telemarketing? You have such a way with customers.

Agreed. Telling a customer to take his business elsewhere just for having a criticism/opinion contrary to yours is just bad business. Just my opinion as a businessman, of course.

CA doesn't seem to need customers, at least not a certain type of customer. Seems to me they would want as many people as possible to think that the magazine is for them. Apparently that is not the case.

I was looking at James's most recent blog and this Tom guy got on there and started to put down James and his beliefs and telling him that he is a Castro-head. So this is Tom I guess going more public with his beliefs in that James Suckling is a man whom idolizes Fidel Castro and all Fidel has done.

Which I disagree with Tom. Every blog James has posted about Cuba was completely about Cuban history and cigars. So for him to say that he talks less and less about cigars and more about toys is ridiculous. If someone could point out a toy that James has talked about in these last few blogs please tell me.

Tom Hagen is the Godfather's consigliere.

I think that some people are confused with what I do for the magazine. I am not a businessman. I am a journalist and cigar critic. I do my job with passion and integrity. And just because some cabrone pays for his subscription, doesn't give him the right to personally attack me in public without a response. By the way, I am American and damn proud of it too!

Word.