To The Point. Published Monday, August 27, 2001 in
The Miami Herald
Losing the Latin Grammys because a nervous impresario worried about
protesters was bad enough. But having another say that "We're the only city
in the nation that doesn't have freedom of expression'' is both insulting and
untrue.
Judy Drucker should know better. A respected cultural pioneer, she has been
on the side of free speech many times. She argued against the county's
ill-conceived Cuba policy that discouraged local arts groups from inviting Cuban
performers. We did, too.
That policy is gone now. Moreover, the First Amendment right of protesters
to demonstrate against Cuban performers remains equally valid.
Ms. Drucker has a right to bring the National Ballet of Cuba to Miami. But
she shouldn't blame potential protesters for her decision not to do so. Alicia
Alonso, the ballet's founder and director, no doubt was a brilliant ballerina in
her day. She also has excelled as a premier apologist for Cuba's repressive
regime for 42 years.
To really see a city with no free expression, an impresario need only try to
arrange a gig for Willy Chirino to sing in Havana.
Copyright 2001 Miami Herald | 
