VTMBH Article: Body
Security measures taken since September 11th have robbed many innocent people of both time and money. The inefficacy of these new measures becomes more apparent when the victims are world-renowned cultural and academic figures. If the U.S. Department of State censors can defend the denial of visas to lay people because of national security, then their refusal to grant entry to recognized intellectuals only shows their ignorance.
Two years ago, a celebrated Cuban author residing in Paris was denied a visa on the grounds that he was a functionary of a Communist government. Oversights like these have become so common that they seem designed to make the United States the enemy of the global intellectual community. Another recent suspect of terrorism is Cuban artist Salvador González. For many years, González was viewed unfavorably by the Cuban Ministry of Cultural Affairs because of the African influences evident in his work. A documentary about the artist will be presented in the United States; however, González, because he was denied a visa, will not be present at the screening.
In the same vein, Iranian filmmaker Abbas Kiarostami was refused entry to attend the opening of his film at the New York Film Festival. Both artists have suffered from the U.S. governments ignorance, in considering nations terrorist. Cuba and Iran are on this list, along with five other countries: Sudan, Iraq, Syria, Libya and North Korea. Nevertheless, indiscriminately penalizing all citizens of these nations, scientists and artists in particular, will not increase domestic security in the United States. To the best of our knowledge, none of the terrorists involved in the September 11th attacks were artists, athletes, or scientists. Whats more amazing is that State Department officials did not try to verify that the artists presence was requested at these events.
Measures like these do not only deny entry to relevant cultural figures, they also deny Americans the opportunity for cultural enrichment. In other words, the actions of the United States are no better than those of terrorist nations. Salvador González was marginalized as an artist and for years received little support from Cuban cultural institutions. Now that foreign interest in Cuba has turned the country into a cultural legend, the denial of Gonzálezs visa only shows the lack of information and independent thought that characterizes the State Departments ability to determine matters of national security.
These restored political methods impede the free flow of information and ideas globally. Persecuting artists and intellectuals is the most effective way to augment oppression and barbarism. Its not politics, its insanity.
Two years ago, a celebrated Cuban author residing in Paris was denied a visa on the grounds that he was a functionary of a Communist government. Oversights like these have become so common that they seem designed to make the United States the enemy of the global intellectual community. Another recent suspect of terrorism is Cuban artist Salvador González. For many years, González was viewed unfavorably by the Cuban Ministry of Cultural Affairs because of the African influences evident in his work. A documentary about the artist will be presented in the United States; however, González, because he was denied a visa, will not be present at the screening.
In the same vein, Iranian filmmaker Abbas Kiarostami was refused entry to attend the opening of his film at the New York Film Festival. Both artists have suffered from the U.S. governments ignorance, in considering nations terrorist. Cuba and Iran are on this list, along with five other countries: Sudan, Iraq, Syria, Libya and North Korea. Nevertheless, indiscriminately penalizing all citizens of these nations, scientists and artists in particular, will not increase domestic security in the United States. To the best of our knowledge, none of the terrorists involved in the September 11th attacks were artists, athletes, or scientists. Whats more amazing is that State Department officials did not try to verify that the artists presence was requested at these events.
Measures like these do not only deny entry to relevant cultural figures, they also deny Americans the opportunity for cultural enrichment. In other words, the actions of the United States are no better than those of terrorist nations. Salvador González was marginalized as an artist and for years received little support from Cuban cultural institutions. Now that foreign interest in Cuba has turned the country into a cultural legend, the denial of Gonzálezs visa only shows the lack of information and independent thought that characterizes the State Departments ability to determine matters of national security.
These restored political methods impede the free flow of information and ideas globally. Persecuting artists and intellectuals is the most effective way to augment oppression and barbarism. Its not politics, its insanity.