Abajo Fidel

New York Post Online Edition: postopinion

"At last Thursday's Cuba-Netherlands game in San Juan, Puerto Rico, a fan displayed an "Abajo Fidel" (Down With Fidel) sign - which then showed up on TV back in Cuba. Some Cuban agents took after the fan - and got ejected.

The local police then lectured the thugs on the virtues of free speech.
Good for the San Juan cops.

Alas, by the next morning, the Cubans were threatening to quit the tournament - and organizers apologized for booting Fidel's henchmen.
The WBC then insisted that its "code of conduct" banning signs of an "inappropriate" or "political" nature would be strictly enforced: Anyone not following the policy would be removed.

The next night, fans had to turn in all handmade signs upon entry.
What a pity.

After all, what kind of a message does that send about American values?"
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Nothing. At all. Or rather, it sends the same message that any private entity chooses to send, namely the fact that this is a business, intending to turn a profit, and has nothing to do with the US government, or people. Who cares what the Puerto Ricans, or the WBC allow or disallow? It's their presentation. Can you walk through a Wal-Mart carrying such a sign? Parade around a McDonalds? Stand ever so quietly in a movie theater holding a placard? Of course not. Businesses have the right to expect the sales of their products to go unhampered by protests or unsolicited opinions. We don't get to waltz into Home Depot demanding to save the trees.

Now, did the WBC wimp-out? Sure they did. But what is says about American, or in this case, Puerto Rican values, is that Americans or Puerto Ricans have the right to conduct business without catering to every nutcase wishing to detract from the show. It sucks, but that's life in the big city. Were I to have been in charge I'd have permitted a peaceful protest directed towards Fidel, but I stink at business, and these guys do not.