[Rhodes22-list] This day in history

[Brad Haslett]

Herb,

You're in charge of solving the world's problems.  I'm curling up with my
book for the night.  But testing the 45 year old law against trading with
Cuba (now that's the definition of DUMBASS) reminds me of a couple of
stories.

When I was flying the Pacific Rim twice a month we would always "debrief"
over cocktails and Cuban cigars.  One of our 'braniacs' decided to bring
back a case and then chickened out at the last minute and left them on the
airplane in Anchorage.  The next day, all the US Customs officials greeted
the incoming crews with unlit cigars in their mouth.

I was in Singapore once and a fellow crewmember bought a Tabriz rug for
about $2500.  The rug  dealer broke out the champagne and cigars and we
celebrated.  Going through Customs in ANC this "wizard" produces an invoice
for a $600 Chinese silk rug.  The rug Nazi gets out her magnifying glass and
declares it a product of Iran.  They let him keep the rug but put a notice
in their computer system to hassle the shit out of him every time he entered
the country.

Sometimes it just doesn't pay to screw with the Feds!  No matter who gets
elected, they'll still be there waiting for you.

Brad

On Sun, May 4, 2008 at 9:52 PM, Herb Parsons <hparsons at parsonsys.com> wrote:

> I certainly didn't mean to diminish it's importance by calling it
> "policy". It was actually an expansion of an existing proclamation.
>
> Regardless of what one chooses to call it, and even whether or not one
> agrees with it, diagreeing with it doesn't make it "dumb".
>
> What part of the proclamation do you disagree with? That it expanded
> seizure powers to further enforce an ALREADY EXISTING LAW? Simple
> solution to that, don't break the law.
>
> All those people that were "terrorized" by the proclamation, were these
> people that were breaking the existing law, and were now in fear that
> they might loose their vessel because they were breaking the law? Simple
> solution - stop breaking the law.
>
> You know, if I brought Cuban cigars from Mexico to Texas, I could be
> called a smuggler by the laws of the US. Doesn't matter if they're
> "dumb" or not, doesn't really matter if they're an inconvenience, I
> understand the purpose of the law, and why it encompasses so much. The
> proclamation you're talking about was such a situation, and it even
> cited the particular incidents that helped bring about it's
> implementation. These types of things are real easy to break down. Look
> at all the "Whereas", and find which ones you disagree with. You weren't
> very specific in your objection.
>
>
> FCrawford0707 at aol.com wrote:
> >
> > In a message dated 5/4/2008 10:24:26 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
> > hparsons at parsonsys.com writes:
> >
> > I want  to be sure I understand your position Frone, are you under the
> > mistaken  impression that the order you're talking about was directed
> > specifically  at "our sailboats"? I DO hope you're aware that the
> reports
> > were  sensationalism about the inclusion of sailboats in a broad policy.
> > Of  course, if you have some specific information about some poor sailor
> > in a  small boat that lost his vessel to that policy, I'll be happy to
> > reconsider my opinon; until then, I consider it just more  hyperbole.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > I read the entire "proclamation" - it wasn't just a "policy" and it
>  included
> > anyone considering sailing to Cuba - not just those who did the dirty
>  deed.
> > I don't know of any American sailboats that have been confiscated -  it
> was
> > crystal clear that private boats were included in the  prohibition.   I
> am
> > aware that the proclamation succeeded in  terrorizing those who might
> have
> > otherwise tried to get to Cuba ( there used to  be a race/flotilla from
> - I believe -
> > Tampa, as a "goodwill" gesture to the  Cuban people oppressed by the
> Castro
> > regime).
> >
> >
> >
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> family
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> >
> >
> >
> >
>
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