Cuban scientist barred from receiving U.S. prize

[slingblade]

From MSNBC news online:

A Cuban scientist who helped develop a low-cost synthetic vaccine that prevents meningitis and pneumonia in small children says he was offended the U.S. government denied his request to travel to the United States to receive an award.

Verez-Bencomo said the State Department denied him a visa because the visit would be "detrimental to the interests of the United States."

"Verez-Bencomo won't be here to receive the award," it said, "because he's from Cuba. He's a scientist, not a terrorist, but our State Department nevertheless denies him entry. He brings ideas, not bombs, but we let ideology trump innovation."

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10010619/

Hey, Beerina....
How soon will that moon colony be operational?

 

[Cleon]

Boy, it's a good thing we have that embargo, to protect us from...scientists who develop low-cost synthetic vaccines.

 

[Mycroft]

Boy, it's a good thing we have that embargo, to protect us from...scientists who develop low-cost synthetic vaccines.

Cleon, would you describe yourself as a communist?

 

[Tony]

Boy, it's a good thing we have that embargo, to protect us from...scientists who develop low-cost synthetic vaccines.

C'mon Cleon, we have to protect the business interests of the drug companies. What kind of message would it send if the government praised someone who developed a *gasp* low-cost vaccine?

 

[AnotherSillyAlias]

Cleon, would you describe yourself as a communist?

Ummm.. he's a communist because he thinks it absurd that a person should not be allowed to receive an award for developing something that will help people?



Perhaps I misunderstood you.

 

[slingblade]

C'mon Cleon, we have to protect the business interests of the drug companies. What kind of message would it send if the government praised someone who developed a *gasp* low-cost vaccine?

No doubt.

Now, what sort of message does it send that the U.S. awarded him the prize, but the government refused him entry?

 

[Tony]

Now, what sort of message does it send that the U.S. awarded him the prize, but the government refused him entry?

That the government is out of touch?

 

[Mycroft]

Ummm.. he's a communist because he thinks it absurd that a person should not be allowed to receive an award for developing something that will help people?



Perhaps I misunderstood you.

No, not for just this. Cleon has a long history where he hints at association with radical leftist organizations, but I just don't remember him ever stating his personal affiliation openly.

Keep in mind that what I said was a question, not a statement.

 

[Cleon]

Ummm.. he's a communist because he thinks it absurd that a person should not be allowed to receive an award for developing something that will help people?

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!

Oh, man, I put him on ignore after he implied I was a Holocaust denier. Now he's asking if I'm a communist?

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!



Oh, man, that's PRICELESS...I've actually got tears in my eyes, that's so frikking hilarious...

 

[Ed]

Poor guy has hurt feelings. He'll live. About a 5 on my Care-o-meter.

 

[H3LL]

You mean Cleon isn't a Dalek?

Frankly, I'm shocked.

Death or plumbing?


.

 

[slingblade]

Poor guy has hurt feelings. He'll live. About a 5 on my Care-o-meter.

I'm still somewhat new here. Is there a prize for completely missing the point?

 

[CapelDodger]

Ummm.. he's a communist because he thinks it absurd that a person should not be allowed to receive an award for developing something that will help people?



Perhaps I misunderstood you.

You may be right, there's not much to go on in the post, but it might be to do with Cuba. Cuba produces a lot of low-cost drugs for treating the ailments of the poor, which is not terribly profitable (if at all) and thus a Communistic enterprise. Undertaken by Communists. It justs shouts "Communist". Cleon does not obviously disapprove, ergo he could well be a Communist.

 

[slingblade]

No, not for just this. Cleon has a long history where he hints at association with radical leftist organizations, but I just don't remember him ever stating his personal affiliation openly.

Keep in mind that what I said was a question, not a statement.

I have a question:

What does your question have to do with this thread?

If you want to talk about members' political affiliations, start your own thread.
This isn't it.

 

[Cleon]

You mean Cleon isn't a Dalek?

Of COURSE not.

I'm actually a Cyberman. Resistance is futile!


(And don't give me that crap about the borg. We Cyberman invented that phrase, dammit! The Borg are just cheap Cybermen knockoffs.)

 

[Hutch]

Cleon, would you describe yourself as a communist?

Troll, troll, troll a thread,
Insinuate away;
miserably, sneakily, sourly, ugly,
trolling all the day.



You've just bought a seat in rule 6. You will have no idea what that means-I'll leave it to you to figure out if you wish.

 

[Cleon]

Poor guy has hurt feelings. He'll live. About a 5 on my Care-o-meter.

Hurt feelings aside, do you think this is a rational, productive way to conduct international relations? We're not talking about someone who would come here and give a rousing speech about overthrowing Washington--we're talking about a scientist who made a valuable contribution to medicine.

 

[Mycroft]

Troll, troll, troll a thread,
Insinuate away;
miserably, sneakily, sourly, ugly,
trolling all the day.

Oh c'mon, it was a simple inquiry. A simple yes or no followed by whatever explanation he felt necessary and the issue would have been over. It's over anyway unless folks like you want to beat me up some more for being inquisitive.

You've just bought a seat in rule 6. You will have no idea what that means-I'll leave it to you to figure out if you wish.

Don't care.

 

[CapelDodger]

Hurt feelings aside, do you think this is a rational, productive way to conduct international relations? We're not talking about someone who would come here and give a rousing speech about overthrowing Washington--we're talking about a scientist who made a valuable contribution to medicine.

The counter-productive nature of the Cuban embargo is obvious to most people, particularly those outside the US. I recall, not so long ago, Bush Minor putting Cuba temporarily on the WMD list (Jeb needed a boost at the time, I suspect) because they have medical research facilities - bio-weapons. This gave publicity to the Cuban drugs-for-the-poor policy, which is not well-publicised amongst the not-poor. They invited inspections enthusiastically, and were dropped from the list PDQ.

It could be, of course, that the policy is a ploy to persuade the poor of the world that Communists are more concerned about them than trans-national drug-companies are. I can see that working. But when these poor people become rich and obese, who are they going to turn to? Damn' right.

 

[AnotherSillyAlias]

You may be right, there's not much to go on in the post, but it might be to do with Cuba. Cuba produces a lot of low-cost drugs for treating the ailments of the poor, which is not terribly profitable (if at all) and thus a Communistic enterprise. Undertaken by Communists. It justs shouts "Communist". Cleon does not obviously disapprove, ergo he could well be a Communist.

I've never quite understood the American fascination, (or loathing or whatever), for communism. Sure, I can understand you guys not wanting to be communist, I sure as hell don't want to be communist, it's a nice ideal but, like any utopian dream, it simply won't work. Americans though seem to have a particular passion for hating it, anyone with even slightly left leanings is almost instantly branded communist. That doesn't happen here and I'm a little curious as to how it developed in America.

Obligatory disclaimer:
Before anyone works themselves into a frenzy of indignation that I'm telling them how to live their lives, I'm not. I'm simply curious.