While we're talking about the real football, the New York Times had this article about the CONCACAF World Cup Qualifier between Cuba and the USA, which is happening while I write this post. Here's a key point:
In the last six years, about a dozen members of the Cuban national team have defected. That total includes a handful of players who requested asylum in the United States during the regional Olympic qualifying tournament in Florida last March. A repeat is already a concern for Cuba’s trip to Washington for another World Cup qualifier on Oct. 11.
Obviously that's not a concern this weekend. There is this that I noticed, however: the USA is leading 1-0 on a goal by Clint Dempsey after the goal was scored, the camera panned over several American fans cheering the goal. Their faces were covered, but they were on their feet.
Why were their faces covered? Because of the travel ban to Cuba. Allow me to quote from a Republican, Congressman Jeff Flake of Arizona:
”If my travel which I think is my human right is going to be restricted, then it seems to me that a Communist government ought to be the one doing the restricting -- not my own government of the United States of America.”
This makes us look bad as well as stupid. It doesn't help the cause of freedom in Cuba at all.
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