Come on, Margaret--a bit of context, please. Castro was a failure, as you say, fair enough. But Pierre was the only Western leader who held a mirror to the American face. During a time where the U.S. supported  as many dictators as the Soviet Union did, Trudeau went out of his way to advertise his 'friendship' with Fidel. The rest of the club pretended that Washington needed to sponsor thugs, as a counterweight to  Moscow-sponsored ones. (As an aside, we've had ample evidence that America is still on the same program, despite the disappearance of the Soviet Union). 

Has Justin disgraced himself? Maybe, but I still prefer a man who says what he believes to the tepid non-sense Obama and most of Europe's leaders spouted. Give our Prime Minister a break; like you say, he was conditioned by his dad--as are you and as am I. My view is this: Pierre Trudeau was a giant--if his son picked up the lessons and insights that his father taught him, we'll be the better off for it.