Cuban Grammy Nominees Denied U.S. Visas

JME2 · Post by **JME2** » 2004-02-05 10:21pm

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=s ... a_grammy_1

HAVANA - Cuban musicians invited to attend this weekend's Grammy Awards in Los Angeles have been denied U.S. visas needed to attend the ceremony, a Culture Ministry official said Thursday.

"Something as noble as music is being converted into a policy against Cuba," Vice Minister of Culture Abel Acosta told reporters.

Surrounded by some of the Cuban musicians nominated for awards, Acosta showed journalists the letters from the U.S. Interests Section in Havana, denying their visa requests.

The letters cited Section 212f of U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Law, which states that the American president can deny U.S. entry to foreigners when their coming to the country is deemed "detrimental to the interests of the United States."

Officials at the American mission declined to comment on the case, citing confidentiality rules.

Singer Ibrahim Ferrer of the Buena Vista Social Club, a multiple Grammy winner, was among those at the news conference. Other Cuban artists nominated for this year's Grammy awards were percussionist Amadito Valdes, veteran guitarist Manuel Galvan, and singer Barbarito Torres.

Ferrer and pianist Chucho Valdes were among the Cuban artists who missed the Latin Grammy Awards in Miami last fall because their visas didn't arrive in time.

American officials at the time said most of the musicians applied for the visas too late under stricter rules and that several — including Ferrer and Chucho Valdes — didn't apply at all.

Because Cuba is classified by the U.S. government as a state sponsor of terrorism, more extensive background checks are required for citizens of the communist island who apply for visas. The process can take from eight to 10 weeks.

In my simple opinion, this is utter bullshit.

Stravo · Post by **Stravo** » 2004-02-05 10:23pm

Ah...Bush catering to the Cuban community in Miami and like Pavlovian dogs they will now be happy to vote for Bush because he's being tough on Castro. I have never met a constituency more easier to manipulate and please.

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 2004-02-05 10:24pm

While I won't be losing any sleep over this, it seems unfair to the artists.

Howedar · Post by **Howedar** » 2004-02-05 11:45pm

Fuck the Cubans in Miami. Lift the embargo, normalize relations. I reiterate, fuck the Cubans in Miami.

kojikun · Post by **kojikun** » 2004-02-06 12:09am

Ugh. Stupid politics shit like this. Why do we hate them? Because they're communists? Nope. It's because it's been policy to do so since they started being chums with Russia. Who cares that the USSR is dead, the policy of Cuba = Evil is still there, fresh in everyones minds because one generation of politicians foists it on the next and so on. Perhaps if a democrat wins in November this will change, ey?

Howedar wrote:I reiterate, fuck the Cubans in Miami.

I had a Miami Cuban boyfriend once. He was cute. Major metalhead. Man, he had such a hot ass. Cute bubble butt. Great to nuzzle.

Illuminatus Primus · Post by **Illuminatus Primus** » 2004-02-06 12:11am

Stravo wrote:Ah...Bush catering to the Cuban community in Miami and like Pavlovian dogs they will now be happy to vote for Bush because he's being tough on Castro. I have never met a constituency more easier to manipulate and please.

I agree. What a bunch of horseshit. Do people in Little Havana in south Florida really think gimmicks like this does jack or shit against Castro when the CIA tried to assassinate him three times?

Illuminatus Primus · Post by **Illuminatus Primus** » 2004-02-06 12:12am

kojikun wrote:
Howedar wrote:I reiterate, fuck the Cubans in Miami.
I had a Miami Cuban boyfriend once. He was cute. Major metalhead. Man, he had such a hot ass. Cute bubble butt. Great to nuzzle.

Wow! Kojikun's gay! Who woulda thought?

kojikun · Post by **kojikun** » 2004-02-06 12:14am

Illuminatus Primus wrote:Wow! Kojikun's gay! Who woulda thought?

The only reason I commented on the OP was so I could get that in without entirely spamming.

Illuminatus Primus · Post by **Illuminatus Primus** » 2004-02-06 12:21am

kojikun wrote:
Illuminatus Primus wrote:Wow! Kojikun's gay! Who woulda thought?
The only reason I commented on the OP was so I could get that in without entirely spamming.

Man, you guys are incorrigible.

kojikun · Post by **kojikun** » 2004-02-06 12:30am

Illuminatus Primus wrote:Man, you guys are incorrigible.

Atleast I posted something of worth even if it WAS a cover for spam.