On Venezuelan Little Leaguers

My comments shall be brief as there is not too much that needs to be said on the subject. This is a rather morally black and white issue and so excessive verbosity would do nothing but dilute the message. Henceforth, I will make two points, and I will make them quickly.

First of all, it is true that the Maduro regime is illegitimate and that it must fall. Apart from oppressing Venezuelans themselves, this regime engages in drug peddling and undermines the security of its neighbors by intentionally exacerbating the migrant crisis and through the regime controlled Tren De Aragua street gang. It is essential to exert maximum political pressure to ensure the collapse of Maduro’s illegitimate dictatorship, for the future of Venezuela, and for the future of the entire region.

All this being said though, banning the entry of teenage ballplayers from Venezuela into the United States to chase their athletic dreams does absolutely nothing to advance the goal of a free Venezuela. Furthermore, it does nothing to advance the national security of the United States. What it does do however, is paint the United States government as mean-spirited and callous. It erodes the soft power that drives so much of America’s greatness on the world stage. America is “America The Great” because it is “America The Good”. The American led world order holds in large part because of the perception of America as a uniquely benevolent superpower, one wielding influence through cultural and social capital, including considerable American influence on the world sporting scene. The decision to ban these boys from playing in a tournament that they worked so hard to qualify for erodes that considerable cultural influence, much to the detriment of everyone involved.

In the end, I hope that the State Department will reconsider this decision, and that these boys will find themselves in Williamsport after all, enjoying the fruits of their hard work and dedication. I trust that Secretary Rubio and the rest of the administration will understand that these boys pose no threat to the United States. On the contrary, they could leave behind on the field a lot of great memories for the locals to savor years from now. Also, I trust that the administration will reconsider this decision on the grounds that American soft power and positive cultural influence can do so much more to advance the cause of a free Venezuela and a greater America.