When we criticize Cuba for trampling human rights (which it does), we must not pretend that the US or other countries respect them properly.

The US respects human rights more than Cuba does. A person who rejects injustice really can run for president in the US and at least have a chance at winning. In Cuba, that is impossible. In the US, people campaign to influence government policy (see the Urgent Action notes on this site); in Cuba, though the constitution says that is allowed, in practice people are treated terribly for doing that.