Boycott Cuba

There are endless stories in the media about the US denial of visas for Cuban baseball players. Why shouldn't Cuba be allowed to participate in the  classic?  This is why, and this.   

Here are four examples of castro's sportsmanship, four out of tens of thousands. From Netforcuba:

ESTANISLAO GONZÁLEZ QUINTANA Assassinated while under arrest. 9/12/ 1995. Location: Police Unit of Consolación del Sur, Pinar del Río. had been detained on September 8, 1995 on charges of "unlawful economic activity." Relatives were informed four days later by officers of the Consolación del Sur police unit that he had died of a heart attack. The victim's corpse, however, displayed visible bruises and a profound gash in the forehead.
Sources: U.S. Department of State, 1997, p. 11. Organization of American States, InterAmerican Commission on Human Rights, 1997 Annual Report, p. 692. U.N. Commission on Human Rights, 7 February 1996, p. 16. U.N. General assembly, 24 October 1995, p. 27.

LYDIA PÉREZ LÓPEZ - Age 25, eight months pregnant, and UNBORN CHILD.
Assassinated in prison, 07-07-61. Location: Guanajay National Women's Prison, Pinar del Río province. Kicked in the stomach by prison guards 30 days before her due date, she lost her baby, received no medical attention, and bled to death.

JOSÉ RAMÓN GUIT CRUZ. Age 16.
Assassinated by police on 03-71. Location: City of Camaguey. High school student. After painting his alias, "Agapito" (for Eros, the Greek god of love) on Camaguey city walls, he was detained on false charges of painting anti-Castro slogans. His arrest radicalized him and he started to organize public protests. He was arrested several times and, finally, shot dead by the revolutionary police. During his funeral, the government sent tanks to the streets to contain a large protest.

OWEN DELGADO TEMPRANA. Age 15.
Assassinated on 23-03-81 in an assylum attempt. Location: G-2 State Security police headquarters at Villa Marista, Havana. Entered on 13-02-81 with his family the embassy of Ecuador asking for political assylum. Seven days later, on 21-02-81, Cuban Special Forces stormed the embassy and took the entire family into custody. At State Security headquarters, as members of his family endured beatings, Owen yelled for them to stop. He was brutally beaten, suffering severe blows to the face and head, one which nearly severed his ear. Taken to the Pinar del Rio hospital, he lapsed into a coma and died two days later. The government refused to return his body to the family for burial.

As you read this, castro's state security thugs are hard at work arresting Cuban citizens for the crime of practicing a basic human right.  The question should be why isn't there a South African style blockade against castro's repressive apartheid regime?

To support the visa denial, email the OFAC ofac_feedback@do.treas.gov

Comments

[Charlie Bravo]

Because kagasstro and el che huevera are the darlings of the American Left. They will support that murderous regime as far as they can. And when they can't, they will lie to still support it.
We should be throwing all the traitors in jail.

[alfredo]

Exactly Ziva! Where is all the outrage, the reggae songs, and international pressure? I guess it's not cool or hip to stand up against communist thugs. I am one of the few who believes Cuba should not play in the classic. all those years the dictator boasting that they were the best "amatuers" while the players were in their 30's playing college kids. now it's poor me they want to play in a professional classic.

[Marc]

The comparison with South Africa is a good one, especially in how it exposes the hypocrisy of the left. It really is sad on so many levels to see the general public's ignorance of the situation in Cuba.

But another valid comparison is with the Soviet Union and China during the Cold War. Cultural and sports exchanges helped expose those societies to the freedom of the West and eventually helped bring real changes there.

I think Cuba should be allowed to play in the WBC, to give freedom a chance to leak back onto the island. Is that naive, especially since no games will be played on the island? Perhaps, but I think the potential benefits for Cuba, and the world, far outweigh any possible gains for Castro.

If nothing else, it will be fascinating to see whether that SOB Castro will follow through on promises to donate any profits to Katrina relief.

[ziva]

Marc, you say my comparison with South Africa is good and then dismiss it. Cuba is an apartheid state. castro's only purpose for wanting to participate in the classic is to add to his propaganda arsenal and to legitimize his (sic)presidency. The Island has cultural and sports exchanges with countries all over the world. Canadians, Europeans, and Americans legally and otherwise visit Cuba. Most do not wander far from the tourist areas where Cubans are not allowed. Do you think he’s just going to let the US flood Cuba with Americans spreading democracy? Yes, I think that is naïve. It's not lack of knowledge about freedom that oppresses Cubans, it's castro's iron fisted policies. You're right, the games won't be played in Cuba and even if they were, how would that benefit the average Cuban? Why do you want Cuba to participate? I personally could not stomach watching the Cuban team play knowing that their families are held captive back in Cuba, that they're surrounded by castros' security goons. Watching slaves play in a state mandated game is not my idea of sport. Sorry, I just completely disagree with you.