  Lowell Moderator Username: Lowell Post Number: 2257 Registered: 09-2003 |
It seems that the rich right-wing Venezuelans, who can afford to go to the World Baseball Classic, have taken to booing Detroit's Magglio Ordóñez for his political beliefs. Magglio supports the democratically elected populist president Hugo Chavez whose economic policies favor the poor and dispossessed as well as keeping Venezuelan oil and national treasures owned by the nation. http://www.npr.org/templates/s tory/story.php?storyId=1020646 96 This is the same constituency that supported and participated in the failed Bush-backed attempted coup in 2002 of a democratically elected government. http://www.npr.org/templates/s tory/story.php?storyId=1020646 96 | ||
Pistonian_revolution Member Username: Pistonian_revolution Post Number: 129 Registered: 05-2006 |
i am generally left-leaning politically, and i originally thought hugo chavez was a good guy in the beginning. but now i think he's gone too far by shutting down TV stations who criticize him, rewriting the constitution, trying to eliminate term limits and generally acting like a crazy person. and i think anyone who mixes politics with sports is wrong. those Venezuelans should cheer magglio for his play and leave his political beliefs out of it. | ||
Wally Member Username: Wally Post Number: 595 Registered: 12-2003 |
"Vote for me, or I'll take power!" Believe what you want about Chavez, but propaganda within our borders certainly shapes our perception of the rest of the world. | ||
Gravitymachine Member Username: Gravitymachine Post Number: 1761 Registered: 05-2005 |
chavez is no less a tyrant than bush | ||
Detroitred Member Username: Detroitred Post Number: 22 Registered: 02-2009 |
I have no problem with political disagreement, but it doesn't belong in a baseball stadium. Especially lashing out at a guy who is risking his health to play for his country. These fans have every right to disagree with Ordonez, but booing him while he's playing for his country isn't the right way. | ||
Lowell Moderator Username: Lowell Post Number: 2258 Registered: 09-2003 |
I see Chavez as a lesser of evils in Venezuela whose social and economic policies have led to the distribution of the oil wealth to the needy. However his attempts to change the constitution [albeit legally through vote] to extend his stay in office are worrisome. It's not like Magglio is a party official or government agent, so it seems ridiculous that he would be a target, especially since other Venezuelan players support the MRV party. He has always been a soft-spoken and non-controversial player. Since most Americans know so little about international politics and once he is out of South Florida he will only hear cheers when he steps to the plate in Detroit. Play ball and check the politics at the turnstile. | ||
Daddeeo Member Username: Daddeeo Post Number: 589 Registered: 09-2008 |
Amen. | ||
Rjk Member Username: Rjk Post Number: 1256 Registered: 11-2003 |
"Play ball and check the politics at the turnstile." Once Magglio starts actively campaigning for Chavaz he can no longer say he's just a baseball player and say that politics should stay out of baseball. Maybe baseball should stay out of politics? What's the big deal? They're just booing him, they're not throwing Duracells at him. Are the boos hurting his feelings? Athletes like Tiger and Jordan have stayed away from taking stances on politics and social issues and don't have to deal with any fall out from such decisions. Magglio obviously made a decision to jump in so he'll have to deal with some negative reaction. | ||
Zimm Member Username: Zimm Post Number: 121 Registered: 10-2006 |
some part of me wonders if high profile, multi-millionare ballplayers are cozying up to Hugo to not only protect their fortunes from him, but to protect themselves and their families from the domestic terrorists and kidnappers that target Venezuela's wealthy. | ||
Gnome Member Username: Gnome Post Number: 2518 Registered: 08-2007 |
Seems strange that some folks believe that Magglio has a human right to express his political opinions, but those who disagree with him should rename quiet. hmmm Do we love Magglio just because he plays baseball? Therefore his special status makes him above the rest of us? I thought being a socialist was all about everyone being equal. | ||
Crash67 Member Username: Crash67 Post Number: 96 Registered: 05-2007 |
Doesn't Chavez and their government-owned oil company own Citgo or some other U.S. petroleum distributor? Not a big fan of Chavez, but I like Maggs. Not so sure about the Tigers' chances for this season, though! | ||
Chitaku Member Username: Chitaku Post Number: 2145 Registered: 03-2006 |
i'll save my booing for the horrendous pitching staff. | ||
401don Member Username: 401don Post Number: 957 Registered: 11-2007 |
I certainly don't know him on any personal level but Magglio is the last guy I thought would be in an ad for Chavez. I read where Magglio, like other athletes, had been to his residence for dinner a couple of times. I get the feeling Hugo called upon him for a favor and Magglio didn't think as much about the politics as he should have. Maybe I'm naive, but I think Magglio was a little naive. Gotta agree with Rjk, you put yourself out there then people have a right to voice their opinion at a ballgame or anywhere else. Chavez did win his vote to extend term limits, so will probably win re-election. | ||
Benfield Member Username: Benfield Post Number: 163 Registered: 06-2008 |
I share the belief that Venezuela's internal politics are none of our business. Same goes for other nations with democratic political processes. But that also means it's not my place to judge Venezuelans chosen form of peaceful political protest. I can't imagine booing a professional athlete for his political views but that's an American more. Perhaps, for reasons I don't understand, the cultural attitudes are different in Venezuela. I doubt Orlando or Livan Hernández would receive polite applause from pro-Castro baseball fans. Actually, if I'm sitting at Comerica Park and the guy next to me wants to boo Jeremy Bonderman or whoever for his politics, it wouldn't bother me. Free speech at the cross roads of participatory government and the national pastime seems American! | ||
Purpleheart Member Username: Purpleheart Post Number: 84 Registered: 01-2009 |
[quote]I share the belief that Venezuela's internal politics are none of our business. Same goes for other nations with democratic political processes.[end quote- Benfield] I might agree with you, unless the leader of that country offers to station high speed long range bombers in their country with nuke carriers and subs. Hey Venezuela is not our friend and getting so close to Russia right now, this is not in our nation’s interest. Baseball aside can we afford to allow Russia to get such a strong footing in our hemisphere? | ||
Erikd Member Username: Erikd Post Number: 628 Registered: 10-2003 |
quote: This happens to professional American athletes and entertainers as well. Just ask the Dixie Chicks... quote: quote: Magglio is a very popular public figure in Venezuela, and his decision to use his popularity to encourage support for Chavez opens him up for justified public backlash. | ||
Rogerjab Member Username: Rogerjab Post Number: 87 Registered: 06-2005 |
I Know A Change is Gonna Come! MA congressman meets Chavez in Venezuela 3/20/2009, 5:13 a.m. EDT The Associated Press CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Massachusetts Congressman William Delahunt has met with President Hugo Chavez in Venezuela and says he's encouraged about the possibilities of improved relations between Venezuela and the United States. The Democrat says he had a "very positive and constructive conversation" with Chavez. Delahunt, who has visited with Chavez previously, says came away from the meeting at the presidential palace on Thursday night "feeling better about the possibilities between the United States and Venezuela." The congressman won't speculate about the possibility of an eventual Chavez-Obama meeting. But he says there is a desire on Obama's part "to have a good relationship" and says he's confident Chavez also wants good relations. |
