why did rigo and lara defect cant they cant turn pro?

[Kris Silver]

As someone that's also been to Cuba,met it's people the extremity of a couple if the initial replies strikes more with 'from what I've read' rather than the reality.

It's not slavery and his family would not be punished like made out. There'd be a few more defectors hinting if it were the case.

Times have moved on and not everything you read is accurate,much of it exaggerated.

Christ even ***** just shook hands with Castro. Move on.

[CubanGuyNYC]

cant they just turn pro ? was the cuban government keeping them as amateur so they could win gold in the olympics?

Professional sports were outlawed by the Cuban government back in 1961. Making money from sports was considered a capitalist endeavor, and running contrary to communist and "revolutionary" ideals. For decades, great Cuban athletes were prevented from making money on the world stage. Some were national heroes, like Teofilo Stevenson, who enjoyed benefits beyond those of the average citizen. Most, however, we're absorbed back into the general population and never reaped any real rewards from their athletic abilities.

There has been some recent change, with Cuba now allowing limited participation in professional competition, like the World Series of Boxing. But it's a far cry from what we know in our society. Ultimately, any Cuban citizen that wants personal freedom and the ability to make as much money as they're capable of producing must leave the island, waving goodbye to family and friends.

[DannYankee]

As someone that's also been to Cuba,met it's people the extremity of a couple if the initial replies strikes more with 'from what I've read' rather than the reality.

It's not slavery and his family would not be punished like made out. There'd be a few more defectors hinting if it were the case.

Times have moved on and not everything you read is accurate,much of it exaggerated.

Christ even ***** just shook hands with Castro. Move on.

Cuba belongs to the tourists and ignorance is bliss always has you obviously dont know what you're talking about I lived there. Is not as bad as people in miami make it out to be but is no rose petals like people who go visit think it is. In every block there is a C.D.R leader which is pretty much a guy who snitches on everybody on the block a defectors family wont be flogged but the government will label the defectors traitors to the country on national news. Now you tell me if your dad would have been called a traitor in your country it wouldn't impact your life? Do you really think so?

[CANELOLUJAH]

Cuban athletes are pretty close to ****** no they are not allowed to turn pro and if they leave the island to do so somehow which usually the only way is defecting they are labeled immediately as traitors and smeared all over the news as disgraces to Cuba and loving money more than their country and people.

They are not allowed to return and their families left behind have to carry their shame. That is why leaving is not so easy.

But isnt that true? alot of them leave their families behind just to go to another country and make money and alot of them never reunite with their families or send them back any money back to their loved ones.

[Juof]

So would they kill them if they were to return to their country

[MODAPHUKA]

Cuba belongs to the tourists and ignorance is bliss always has you obviously dont know what you're talking about I lived there. Is not as bad as people in miami make it out to be but is no rose petals like people who go visit think it is. In every block there is a C.D.R leader which is pretty much a guy who snitches on everybody on the block a defectors family wont be flogged but the government will label the defectors traitors to the country on national news. Now you tell me if your dad would have been called a traitor in your country it wouldn't impact your life? Do you really think so?

Ustedes los Cubanos no son faciles. And it starts right at the top , goddamn. People have to be smarter than that , to go along with the government and call someone a traitor. Right?

Let me ask you something. If United States had never put the embargo on Cuba , how do you think your country will be doing today?

[CubanGuyNYC]

Cuba belongs to the tourists and ignorance is bliss always has you obviously dont know what you're talking about I lived there. Is not as bad as people in miami make it out to be but is no rose petals like people who go visit think it is. In every block there is a C.D.R leader which is pretty much a guy who snitches on everybody on the block a defectors family wont be flogged but the government will label the defectors traitors to the country on national news. Now you tell me if your dad would have been called a traitor in your country it wouldn't impact your life? Do you really think so?

There's an old saying: "There are two sides to every story, and the truth lies somewhere in between." Lack of personal freedom and scarcity of food and material items are powerful incentives to leave the island. Yet, many Cubans are unwilling to leave. I think that if it weren't for the US embargo, most Cubans would be content to stay at home.

[CubanGuyNYC]

So would they kill them if they were to return to their country

No. They become political outcasts, in a land where that actually means something. A few guys that finally made it to US shores, like Lara and Rigo, were caught attempting to defect before they actually succeeded. I don't know all the particulars of their experience, but life was definitely made harder for them.

[CubanGuyNYC]

Ustedes los Cubanos no son faciles. And it starts right at the top , goddamn. People have to be smarter than that , to go along with the government and call someone a traitor. Right?

I have no idea what you're trying to say here.

Let me ask you something. If United States had never put the embargo on Cuba , how do you think your country will be doing today?

Hard to say. Cuba would never have received subsidies from the Soviet Union. On the other hand, she would've enjoyed trade with the most powerful country on earth. I'm inclined to believe that Cuban people would've enjoyed a better life. Most wouldn't even have considered leaving. The very thing that was intended to undermine Castro made him stronger.

What do you think would've happened? And where are you from?

[CubanGuyNYC]

But isnt that true? alot of them leave their families behind just to go to another country and make money and alot of them never reunite with their families or send them back any money back to their loved ones.

Every Cuban I've ever met sends money back to their family, or at least they talk about it. It's not as simple as saying they leave for the money. Money, in and of itself, is just paper. What they leave for is what money can buy: good food, good clothing, better shelter, a better way of life, etc. It's not about greed or selfishness. The Cubans that leave tend to share those things with their family. I think you're being a little self-righteous. You need to put yourself in these peoples shoes.