A letter from a Cuban fan inside Cuba

Sunday, November 8, 2009

The ignorants who censor us

The Cuban Insider reporting inside Cuba

Every October reminds me of the phrase associated with this month. October stands for “World Series”. This article is for those like me who have fought agaisnt the censorship in order to keep alive the dream of watching MLB.

Since I was born, there have been no transmision of any Major Leagues games in Cuba. The newspapers do not cover National League games. The TV play by play announcers have never called a home run in the American League. No Media outlet have published the stats for a MLB season. There have not been any reference anywhere in the Media about the World Series Champion in more than four decades. This has been going on for too long. It is an absurd aberration, but it is reality.

During the WBC I and II, the Cuban Media made sporadic and despective references about MLB. The Communist media uses the euphemism term “the so called Major Leagues” to refer to MLB. The Cuban authorities pretend to forge a doubt in Cuban people minds about the mere existence of MLB. They have been living in denial for all these years. However, their quest falls short. I am sure they even lose their sleep trying to block any news about MLB.

Every year, some Cuban fans manage to circumvent the censorship in order to watch our favorite MLB teams and players. We employ many unconventional methods and resources to watch a MLB games. Even the French philosopher, mathematician, physicist, and writer, René Descartes, could not match our inventions. Therefore, blocking access to blogs, web sites and emails is a lost cause for those who have the power and use it to censor.

Cubans were following MLB baseball anyway we could. A few friends are willing to share information among each other so we could be informed about the World Series. Baseball is our national pastime too.

I do not know if we are fighting another battle against our demons or simply against those who prohibit us the pleasure of watching Major League games. It is absurd in order to watch the Yankees in the 21st Century, Cubans have to make illegal satelite dishes anyway we can and avoid being caught. The World Series started in the last week in October. A few lucky Cubans like me are enjoying the World Series joyfully.

Greetings from one of the Old Habana City parks, Cuba
http://cubanballplayers.blogspot.com/2009/11/ignorants-who-censor-us.html