Jose Contreras says his family was barred from lea

[el_profe]

Associated Press
MANAGUA, Nicaragua -- New York Yankees pitcher Jose Contreras says his family was barred from leaving Cuba, the newspaper La Prensa reported Monday.



Contreras



Contreras told the newspaper that Cuban officials had twice refused permission for his wife Miriam Murillo to go to Nicaragua and that she would have to wait four years before applying again.


He told La Prensa that Nicaragua had given a visa to his wife and daughters Naylan, 11, and Naylenis, 3, but that it had expired.


Contreras was a star with the Cuban national baseball team before defecting and signing with the Yankees in December 2002.


He has legal residence in Nicaragua, though he also has a house in Tampa, Fla. He spoke to the newspaper at a hotel in Managua.


"While they call me a traitor, I don't feel that I'm a traitor," Contreras told La Prensa. "I have not committed any offense, any crime. I took the decision to leave the island. It was a personal decision, and my daughters and my wife should not have to pay any price. They aren't guilty of anything, even if any guilt exists.


"For eight years, I gave my best for my country and now they treat me this way. I'm not a politician. I'm a sportsman, and if my country had treated me better, I would not be here, I'd be in Cuba."


Once again proving that cuba is like a jail, amazing how somone cant leave on there own and need permission from CUba, and all of you support this. :blink:

[Comrade Ceausescu]

He obviously left not because he hated it, but because he was a money hungry bastard. The level of play of baseball in Cuba is very high, he obviously did it for the money, not because the American baseball leauges are soo much better-because they are not. He is a traitor.

[el_profe]

Originally posted by Comrade [email protected] 20 2004, 01:29 AM
He obviously left not because he hated it, but because he was a money hungry bastard. The level of play of baseball in Cuba is very high, he obviously did it for the money, not because the American baseball leauges are soo much better-because they are not. He is a traitor.
He is not a traitor, and no, the cuban baseball league is not better then the MLB.

[Vinny Rafarino]

Once again proving that cuba is like a jail


I'm glad you feel that the newspaper is is the "final word" that proves your viewpoint.


Guess what kid, I just saw that the bat-boy was found in another cave.

[MiDnIgHtMaRaUdEr]

Well, isn't it odd that right-wingers would sooner eat hot coals then support immigrants...until one of them happens to be rich. I don't see the American government rushing to allow all the Cubans in, so why should this guy get any special treatment?

[el_profe]

Originally posted by [email protected] 20 2004, 03:29 AM
Well, isn't it odd that right-wingers would sooner eat hot coals then support immigrants...until one of them happens to be rich. I don't see the American government rushing to allow all the Cubans in, so why should this guy get any special treatment?
Cuba does not let them out, and his family wanted to go to nicaragua.

[MiDnIgHtMaRaUdEr]

Thats funny, I don't exactly see the Cubans exactly breaking their backs to make sure that anyone else doesn't leave Cuba... I'm sure if instead of a Cuban baseball star, this happened to a regular Cuban laborer, then I'd bet you would be a little more supportive of his immigration policy then :/

[Comrade Ceausescu]

Well, isn't it odd that right-wingers would sooner eat hot coals then support immigrants...until one of them happens to be rich. I don't see the American government rushing to allow all the Cubans in, so why should this guy get any special treatment?

Because the Americans know he is a perfect example that they can use of someone "oppressed" by the Cuban government. He is perfect for them because he is in the spotlight-a famous star who excells at what he does. They can also just add in that he was a 'victim' of Communist oppression in Cuba.

[redstar2000]

He doesn't "feel like a traitor"...what exactly does a traitor "feel like"?

Perhaps if he agreed to sign over to the Cuban government all the money he's making above the major league minimum ($135,000 a year, I think), they'd let his family go.

Somehow, I think he'd prefer to keep the money. :lol:

http://anarchist-action.org/forums/images/smiles/redstar.gif

The RedStar2000 Papers (http://www.anarchist-action.org/marxists/redstar2000/)
A site about communist ideas

[el_profe]

Originally posted by [email protected] 20 2004, 04:53 AM
He doesn't "feel like a traitor"...what exactly does a traitor "feel like"?

Perhaps if he agreed to sign over to the Cuban government all the money he's making above the major league minimum ($135,000 a year, I think), they'd let his family go.

Somehow, I think he'd prefer to keep the money. :lol:

http://anarchist-action.org/forums/images/smiles/redstar.gif

The RedStar2000 Papers (http://www.anarchist-action.org/marxists/redstar2000/)
A site about communist ideas
youre an asshole, he prefers money over family? i doubt it.
What is so bad that he wants to make money?

Arent you looking for a better job or have looked for a better paying job? probably yes, does that make you a greedy bastard? in your eyes it does :lol: :lol:

[Sabocat]

Originally posted by COMRADE [email protected] 19 2004, 11:20 PM

Once again proving that cuba is like a jail


I'm glad you feel that the newspaper is is the "final word" that proves your viewpoint.


Guess what kid, I just saw that the bat-boy was found in another cave.
Holy shit! Did you just say batboy was found?

BBBAaaaaatttttBooooyyyyyyy LIVES!

[LuZhiming]

I personally think this is likely an action of paranoia committed by the Cuban government.

[Saint-Just]

If he is decent he will return to Cuba, perhaps now his wife's application for a visa has been turned down he will.

[el_profe]

Originally posted by Chairman [email protected] 21 2004, 10:33 PM
If he is decent he will return to Cuba, perhaps now his wife's application for a visa has been turned down he will.
if he returns they will probably throw him in jail and/or he wont be let out of cuba again.

[Urban Rubble]

The issue shouldn't really be whether Contreras is an asshole/traitor for leaving. The issue is, why is his family not allowed to leave ? I support the revolution, but I there is always things to critisize. Castro's emigration laws need to be revised, to say the least. There are many people who have a very hard time getting out of Cuba. And the thing about having to wait years to re-aply happens quite often from what I've read.

In my opinion Castro is making a huge mistake. It has nothing to do with that baseball player.

RedStar's comment is valid though, he could be trying much harder to get them out. As bad as it sounds to say, forfeiting some of that money would probably help. The man makes millions, can you honestly tell me that he could not live very comfortable with $100,000 a year ? Is his work (playing baseball and lifting weights) somehow harder than a logger's work ? A logger risks his life everyday and works harder than most of you ever have, and they get paid dick. Not even one measly percent of what a good baseball player in this country makes. Is that right to you ? Is that O.K ? That people risk their lives and bust their ass while these guys make 1000 times what they need to live for playing a game ?

[Y2A]

We are talking about the right to leave a country here. Even if it is for "greed" as you fools say, so what??? He has the right to leave a country, it is a human right.

[Urban Rubble]

That's exactly what I just said.

[Osman Ghazi]

El profe, there is a slight difference between going from $6 to $7 an hour and $100000 to $250000.

[el_profe]

Originally posted by Osman [email protected] 23 2004, 12:39 AM
El profe, there is a slight difference between going from $6 to $7 an hour and $100000 to $250000.
No way, really, The point is any cuban should be allowed to leave cuba whenever they want to, without being called traitors.

[Osman Ghazi]

you see, the difference is that $250000 is more than anyone actually needs, while $6 an hour is less.

[Urban Rubble]

you see, the difference is that $250000 is more than anyone actually needs, while $6 an hour is less.

Read very carefully, this isn't an issue of whether this guy is greedy or not, he most certainly is. The issue is, people should be able to leave as they please, regardless of if they have character flaws or not.

Like I said, I admire the revolution greatly, but this is a mistake on Castro's part. On a political level and on a basic rights level.

[redstar2000]

you're an asshole, he prefers money over family? i doubt it.

Doubt all you please. If he preferred family over money, why did he defect?


What is so bad that he wants to make money?

In your eyes, not a thing. Guys with your attitude sell their little sisters on the streets of Lima every day.

Professional athletes in Cuba live an above- average working class life--an apartment or small house, a used car, etc. They probably eat better than many Cubans do.

They don't, however, have the chance to become multi-millionaires--the only "freedom" that you've ever shown much interest in.

So this guy says "screw my family, I'm going for the big money".

I hope the bastard gets hammered on his next trip to the mound and every trip thereafter.

Indeed, any time I listen to a ball game on the radio or on the internet and a gusano player is in the lineup, I wish catastrophe on them: IP 1/3 H 7 R 6 ER 6 SO 0 BB 3.

Something like that would be about right.

And may they end their careers pitching for the Fargo Buffalo Chips in the Barren Plains League.

http://anarchist-action.org/forums/images/smiles/redstar.gif

The RedStar2000 Papers (http://www.anarchist-action.org/marxists/redstar2000/)
A site about communist ideas

[MiDnIgHtMaRaUdEr]

Originally posted by el_profe+Jan 22 2004, 08:55 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (el_profe @ Jan 22 2004, 08:55 PM)
Osman [email protected] 23 2004, 12:39 AM
El profe, there is a slight difference between going from &#036;6 to &#036;7 an hour and &#036;100000 to &#036;250000.
No way, really, The point is any cuban should be allowed to leave cuba whenever they want to, without being called traitors. [/b]
Americans can&#39;t go to Cuba&#33; There you go, America is denying its own citizens the same thing that Cuba is denying theirs. The only difference is that in Cuba, you can pretty much ignore that and go anyways and get away with it because the Cubans don&#39;t have a huge military and coast guard like we do. Where as in America, if a person tries to go to Cuba (aside from Cuban-Americans, because they will go and tell them how "great" American is, we can&#39;t have a policy without a little racism), they get slapped with a &#036;100000 fine and up to 5 years in jail.

[Urban Rubble]

Americans can&#39;t go to Cuba&#33; There you go, America is denying its own citizens the same thing that Cuba is denying theirs.

You couldn&#39;t be more wrong. Cuba denies many (not all) the people to leave the island, period. No Mexico, Nicaragua, nowhere. Americans can go anywhere they want, except Cuba. I can leave this country right now and go anywhere in the world, all I have to do is work for a week or two to buy a plane ticket.

See the difference ? It isn&#39;t the same, Americans go almost anywhere, Cubans can go nowhere. I am not saying it&#39;s O.K that Americans can&#39;t go to Cuba or that America has a better system, far from it. All I am saying is that you shouldn&#39;t try to justify every repressive policy a leader makes just because he is a Socialist. Castro has made many great decisions as leader, this is not one of them, this is wrong. Just because America has some fucked up policies it does not mean Cuba&#39;s fucked up policies are O.K.


The only difference is that in Cuba, you can pretty much ignore that and go anyways and get away with it because the Cubans don&#39;t have a huge military and coast guard like we do. Where as in America, if a person tries to go to Cuba (aside from Cuban-Americans, because they will go and tell them how "great" American is, we can&#39;t have a policy without a little racism), they get slapped with a &#036;100000 fine and up to 5 years in jail.

Are you actually trying to say that it is easier to leave Cuba that it is for me to leave the U.S and go to Cuba ? You&#39;re retarted.

If I want to go to Cuba, all I have to do is drive up tp Canada and take a plane. True, I should not have to go to Canada, I should be able to go from here, but that isn&#39;t the issue at hand.

If I want to leave Cuba, I cannot just go. I have to make a raft, I have to sneak out. You are dead wrong kid, in this case, the American system has the advantage.

Oh, and you ***** about being hit with a fine on coming back to the states, well think about this for a moment, if you leave Cuba you cannot go back. No chance. If, by some small chance you are allowed back, you will have to publicly stroke Castro&#39;s balls and you will still be branded a traitor for life.

Stop being so blind in your support, you must critisize anyone who makes a mistake in their policies, even if it is a great man like Fidel Castro. He is mistaken in this instance, get over it. He isn&#39;t God, he isn&#39;t infallible and completely right in all cases. Though I wouldn&#39;t expect someone with a Lenin avatar to understand that.

[Osman Ghazi]

I agree 100%. People need to stop idealizing socialist leaders. They aren&#39;t perfect. They have admiracble qualities, but they, like all humans are far from perfect. Personally I think that Castro has betrayed us and the Cuban people by becoming a sadistic, power-hungry murderer.

[Urban Rubble]

Personally I think that Castro has betrayed us and the Cuban people by becoming a sadistic, power-hungry murderer.

I wouldn&#39;t go that far.I support Castro and the ervolution.

[Osman Ghazi]

Not me. I support the Revolution but anytime you give a man the chance to become rich and powerful, he will almost always take it. There have been very few people who can resist. Pancho Villa was one of them. He was also a very great man. Also I think if Che had the chance, he would have resited the urge also.

[el_profe]

Originally posted by MiDnIgHtMaRaUdEr+Jan 23 2004, 02:50 AM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (MiDnIgHtMaRaUdEr @ Jan 23 2004, 02:50 AM)
Originally posted by [email protected] 22 2004, 08:55 PM

Osman [email protected] 23 2004, 12:39 AM
El profe, there is a slight difference between going from &#036;6 to &#036;7 an hour and &#036;100000 to &#036;250000.
No way, really, The point is any cuban should be allowed to leave cuba whenever they want to, without being called traitors.
Americans can&#39;t go to Cuba&#33; There you go, America is denying its own citizens the same thing that Cuba is denying theirs. The only difference is that in Cuba, you can pretty much ignore that and go anyways and get away with it because the Cubans don&#39;t have a huge military and coast guard like we do. Where as in America, if a person tries to go to Cuba (aside from Cuban-Americans, because they will go and tell them how "great" American is, we can&#39;t have a policy without a little racism), they get slapped with a &#036;100000 fine and up to 5 years in jail. [/b]
bs, like Urban Rubble said:

You couldn&#39;t be more wrong. Cuba denies many (not all) the people to leave the island, period. No Mexico, Nicaragua, nowhere. Americans can go anywhere they want, except Cuba. I can leave this country right now and go anywhere in the world, all I have to do is work for a week or two to buy a plane ticket.

See the difference ? It isn&#39;t the same, Americans go almost anywhere, Cubans can go nowhere. I am not saying it&#39;s O.K that Americans can&#39;t go to Cuba or that America has a better system, far from it. All I am saying is that you shouldn&#39;t try to justify every repressive policy a leader makes just because he is a Socialist. Castro has made many great decisions as leader, this is not one of them, this is wrong. Just because America has some fucked up policies it does not mean Cuba&#39;s fucked up policies are O.K.

And what a moron to think its easier to leave Cuba than the USA.
And i think americans should be allowed to go to cuba, but once again commies ignoring the question and bringing the USA into the conversation.
The point here is that: Cubans cant leave there country "legally" whenever they want to, that is why they risk their lifes to get out of cuba.

[Osman Ghazi]

I agree with what Castro did in the Revolution but now he is only concerned with holding on to power. All the people on this forum who try to justify his authoritarian actions are living a lie. The truth is that he doesn&#39;t limit people&#39;s freedoms to &#39;protect them from counter-revolutionaries&#39;, he does it to maintain his own power. Castro can only take Cuba so far.

[Urban Rubble]

I agree with what Castro did in the Revolution but now he is only concerned with holding on to power. All the people on this forum who try to justify his authoritarian actions are living a lie. The truth is that he doesn&#39;t limit people&#39;s freedoms to &#39;protect them from counter-revolutionaries&#39;, he does it to maintain his own power. Castro can only take Cuba so far.

I&#39;m very critical of Castro, but I still support him.


And i think americans should be allowed to go to cuba, but once again commies ignoring the question and bringing the USA into the conversation.

Yes, people tend to do that when they are confronted with the ugly truth, but it&#39;s hardly a phenomenon of leftists only. I however, am telling you, this is wrong what Castro is doing. That doesn&#39;t mean he hasn&#39;t greatly improved Cuban&#39;s living standards. I will forever respect him for that alone, ignornig all the other positives. Health care, the best doctors in the world, education, respect for you fellow humans.