Talk with the Editor: What about Ozzie’s free speech rights?

As you’ve undoubtedly heard, former White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen has been suspended for five games for his remarks in Time magazine in which he says he “loves” Cuban dictator Fidel Castro.

Please give us your thoughts about this dilemma: I understand the significant problems that remark has caused from the Marlins perspective, given that Cuban Americans are a huge part of the team’s market. And I understand what an annoyance Guillen can be. On the other hand, isn’t this essentially political speech on his part?

And whether he’s generally a self-involved goof or not, whether the remark is stupid or insensitive or not, shouldn’t he be allowed freedom of speech like everybody else unless it’s somehow a violation of his contract? He didn’t denigrate Cuban Americans. He made a controversial political comment.

How should all of that be balanced? Yes, I’m deliberately stirring the pot a bit here. What do you think of the dilemma that I laid out?

We may publish some of your comments in the print editions. In fact, we intend to if we get a good conversation here. So please be aware of that. If you want to comment but don’t want to see it in the newspaper, just say so when you leave your comment.

Thanks. I’m looking forward to hearing what you think.

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