First let me state that I as far as I know I have ZERO Cuban ancestry. I don't think I even know someone from Cuba. The TRUTH has never had Cuban food. My only association with Cuba is Teddy Roosevelt and the Rough Riders, Ricky Ricardo, and well...yea Fidel Castro.

As a student of history I am fully aware of the oppressive regime created by Castro. I know that people have had lives ruined, some have been murdered, some have been forced to live a life akin to indentured servitude. I recall reading about former pitcher Danys Baez. His parents both possessed advanced degrees and worked in the field of academia. Both pulled in the US Dollar equivalent of $25.00 per month. So life isn't pleasant in Cuba, I get it. I also understand the culture of the greater Miami area in that the largest population of Cubans reside there and NOT in Cuba.

What I don't get is the fuss created by Florida Marlins skipper Ozzie Guillen? You have heard of Ozzie I am sure...a colorful fellow who has previously used homophobic slurs, called Americans lazy, and has taken the usage of profanity to an artform. He tends to say outrageous things, got it.

 But again why the fuss? Here is Ozzie:

"I love Fidel Castro, A lot of people have wanted to kill Fidel Castro for the last 60 years, but that [expletive] is still here."

No where in this comment do I read Ozzie to say he thinks Castro is a good leader or that life in Cuba is really a misunderstood version of Mayberry. He doesn't condone Castro's politics. He just acknowledges that for nearly 60 years Castro has remained despite numerous attempts on his life, many of which were funded by the United States government. Ozzie is saying that he admires El Presidente's moxy for hangin' in there.

Ozzie gets suspended for 5 games, and that is wrong. I realize this was an edict handed down by Ozzie's employer and not MLB, so it is really a case of the company saying "we do not like your alienating our customers".

Here is what the TRUTH sees...the Marlins just opened a $634 million dollar ballpark that is located smackdab in little Havana. The Marlins know a large majority of ticket buyers will be of Cuban or Latin descent, and that these potential customers will likely be offended by Ozzie's comments more than anyone else, oh, and yes you too Bill Plaschke.

Ozzie was suspended for business reasons, and for nothing else. The Marlins got this wrong.

That's it...the TRUTH is out

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