Monday, October 13, 2008

"Drive me far away"

The United States beat Cuba 6-1 in soccer in a World Cup qualifying match on Saturday night. Before the game, two Cuban players left their Arlington, Virginia hotel and decided to stay in the United States. One gave an interview to the Washington Post where he tells what happened after he slipped out of the lobby: “I ran and ran and then told the taxi driver to ‘Drive me far away’…I was so nervous. I didn’t know where we were going, but I knew I was in a free country and everything would be okay.”

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

The comments from the trainer coach are the best propaganda for the "revolution" I have ever heard:
"Well we cannot keep them handcuffed to the bed, can't we?"
That comment says it all.

Anonymous said...

Freedom 2, Castro 0

Anonymous said...

That story very nearly made me cry. I hope this young fellow is able to start anew as quickly as possible.

Regards,

Anatasio

leftside said...

Just like the other recently defecting soccer players who survived on hand outs and are making $25k a year in the 2nd tier soccer league here or in Puerto Rico, these 2 will soon find out an alternative meaning of freedom in this country. Freedom to struggle for food and a decent roof over your head. Fortunately for them, they will not be considered illegal and therefore have such an opportunity, unlike defectors from any other country in the world.

Anonymous said...

I think all of the leftist Peruvian guerrillas should be shot in Peru by the regime of Alan Garcia.
If a Peruvian has the gall, the nerve and pretends to give us Cubans lessons about how to conduct affairs in our country, I am entitled to my opinion too about the Communists in Peru.

Anonymous said...

hey you walking piece of human excrement leftside, first you used to smear defectors because you said they did it for the money. Now here come two young Cuban athletes who didn't do it for the big bucks and you still try to find a way to run them down. what goes on in a warped mind like your's?

leftside said...

You really don't think these two defected out of some notion that they'll be better off economically as a Pro?? Come on now, lets be honest. If they really defected for political reasons ("freedom"), don't you think they would be smart enough to say that they were rooting for the US, rather than Cuba, in the recent match?

My only point is that too often Cuban athletes or musicians end up disappointed how that ends up here. Even rare people who make it big like the boxer Casamayor or El Duque, do so after many years of depression. It is a huge gamble, and I say best of luck to those who try. I just wish Cubans better understood their prospects in the US. Agents and exiles fill their head with nonsense. It is not easy to make it here and there is little sympathy (or safety net) for those who don't.

Anonymous said...

www.notihabanacuba.com

Lo unico que hemos hechos los cubanos del 59 hasta hoy es " salir de Cuba"

Anonymous said...

your problem leftside is that you have absolutely no clue what goes on in the minds of real Cubans because they can see a Castro bootlicker coming a mile away and will tell you NOTHING. Don't fret -- if you ever did -- about Cubans fleeing your beloved dictator's tender mercies. Any of them will tell you sweeping a broom in McDonald's is better than the life in the prison you so ardently defend.

leftside said...

Well one thing I do know is that once a migrant makes a decision to leave anywhere it is almost impossible for that person to consider it a "mistake." The risk was too big, the decision too monumentous to allow one's mind to go down that path. A few do fess up to their emotions and return home - whether it is to Mexico or Cuba or Brazil. Most migrants will lie to their family about their circumstances, lie to themselves even, before admitting such a colossal mistake (that they were likely warned about by family members before leaving). That said, many do not leave for themselves, but for their family. It is an impossible calulus that most prefer to keep out of mind (I used to work with immigrants and have interviewed hundreds of them).

Anonymous said...

fine, whatever, but there is no comparison between the risks taken for fleeing Cuba and emigrating from "Mexico" or "Brazil." Mexicans and Brazilians don't have to fear winding up in a Cuban dungeon if they are caught nor do they have to fear government retaliation against innocent family members for leaving their countries. They also have the freedom to return if they wish. Cubans do not, except in very rare circumstances and then you have to live pinned with the scarlet letter: "traitor." No, leftside, Cubans are not just your garden variety "immigrants."